A review by cheye13
It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror by Joe Vallese

challenging reflective medium-paced

4.0

Approaching this as a queer reader (which I am) rather than a horror fan (which I am not), I found this an excellent book. The audiobook is very good, readers specifically chosen for each essay, and the physical version has cool art pieces, so either edition has something special.

The essays read easily as narrative and/or memoir rather than dry academic papers. There is film analysis (good, relevant interpretations of subject matter) but always in conversation with personal (and often highly specific) voice and experience. A couple essays flopped for me, but the collection is edited and composed very well.

Favorites (5⭐️)
  • Both Ways (Jennifer’s Body) by Carmen Maria Machado
  • Imprint (Grace) by Joe Vallese
  • Three Men on a Boat (Jaws) by Jen Corrigan
  • Loving Annie Hayworth (The Birds) by Laura Maw
  • The Same Kind of Monster (The Leech Woman) by Jonathan Robbins Leon
  • The Trail of His Flames (Nightmare on Elm Street) by Tucker Lieberman
  • Bad Hombre (Is That You?/Eres tu Papa?) by Sarah Fonseca
  • The Healed Body (In My Skin/Dans ma peau) by Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Honorable Mentions (4⭐️)
  • The Wolf in the Room (Good Manners/As Boas Manieras) by Prince Shakur
  • The Wolf-Man’s Daughter (The Wolf Man) by Tosha R. Taylor
  • Centered and Seen (Candyman) by Sumiko Saulson
  • The Me in the Screen (Us) by Steffan Triplett
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