A review by illtakethenightshiftx
Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film - Updated Edition by Carol J. Clover

informative slow-paced

4.0

I understand why this is a classic and cornerstone of horror film criticism, but good lord there is so much Freud and it’s extremely binary. BUT, the binary framing makes sense because it was written in the late 80s/early 90s. I think both horror fans and folks who don’t like or look down on horror as a genre should read pieces of this book and other books like it. Horror is so much more than what meets the eye!!

The chapters about slasher films and rape revenge films were the highlights of the book for me. (Slashers are my favorite subgenre)

The latter chapter impressed me the most because of what Clover analyzed and discussed. I have been hesitant to explore the subgenre for various reasons but after reading Clover’s analysis and learning more about the subgenre and feminine rage in horror, I think I’ll be giving Last House on the Left (1972) and I Spit On Your Grave (1978) a try.

All the content warnings - this is a book about horror films.
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