Nightmare Fuel
Books | Performing Arts / Film / Genres / Horror
4
Nina Nesseth
Nightmare Fuel by Nina Nesseth is a pop-science look at fear, how and why horror films get under our skin, and why we keep coming back for more.Do you like scary movies?Have you ever wondered why?Nina Nesseth knows what scares you. She also knows why.In Nightmare Fuel, Nesseth explores the strange and often unexpected science of fear through the lenses of psychology and physiology. How do horror films get under our skin? What about them keeps us up at night, even days later? And why do we keep coming back for more?Horror films promise an experience: fear. From monsters that hide in plain sight to tension-building scores, every aspect of a horror film is crafted to make your skin crawl. But how exactly do filmmakers pull this off? The truth is, there’s more to it than just loud noises and creepy images.With the affection of a true horror fan and the critical analysis of a scientist, Nesseth explains how audiences engage horror with both their brains and bodies, and teases apart the elements that make horror films tick. Nightmare Fuel covers everything from jump scares to creature features, serial killers to the undead, and the fears that stick around to those that fade over time.With in-depth discussions and spotlight features of some of horror’s most popular films—from classics like The Exorcist to modern hits like Hereditary—and interviews with directors, film editors, composers, and horror academics, Nightmare Fuel is a deep dive into the science of fear, a celebration of the genre, and a survival guide for going to bed after the credits roll.“An invaluable resource, a history of the horror genre, a love letter to the scary movie—it belongs on any horror reader’s bookshelf.” —Lisa Kröger, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Monster, She WroteAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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More Details:
Author
Nina Nesseth
Pages
304
Publisher
Tor Publishing Group
Published Date
2022-07-26
ISBN
1250765226 9781250765222
Community ReviewsSee all
"I loved this book - no surprise there, as I tend to be a big fan of horror movies. I loved the way the author broke down the research of reacting to horror moments, and all various horror movie spotlights. There’s definitely a sub genre of horror for everyone."
Olivia Huie
"As a fan of horror movies, tv, books, etc. this book called to me. It's fascinating to not only see that there are people out there like you, but to see the studies and science behind your favorite genre.<br/><br/>Nina Nesseth is a lover of horror and sets out in her book to give some science behind some aspects of the intriguing genre. From what makes horror so appealing (or unappealing) to the ways society has influenced horror over the decades this book brings some great science, history, interviews, personal anecdotes, and more.<br/><br/>While some of the science was over my head I really enjoyed this book. You can tell Nesseth is a lover of the genre and I related to her on that level. I learned a lot about this weird, polarizing, and wonderful genre (and all of the many subgenres). While this is going to make you think, it's also not a difficult or dense read. And also it has enough movies listed throughout the pages to keep you Watch List packed for a while!"
Meg