The Horror Genre: From Beelzebub to Blair Witch is a comprehensive introduction to the history and key themes of the genre. The main issues and debates raised by horror, and the approaches and theories that have been applied to horror texts are all featured. In addressing the evolution of the horror film in social and historical context, Paul Wells explores how it has reflected and commented upon particular historical periods, and asks how it may respond to the new millennium by citing recent innovations in the genres development, such as the urban myth narrative underpinning Candyman and The Blair Witch Project.

Paul Wells is Director of Animation at The Animation Academy, Loughborough University, UK. He is the author of Animation: Genre and Authorship (Wallflower Press, 2002).

2000
144 pages
978-1-903364-00-0    £12.99 (pbk)

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reviews
'A valuable contribution to the body of teaching texts available … a book for all undergraduates starting on the subject.'
Linda Ruth Williams, University of Southampton

‘An informed and highly readable account that is theoretically broad, benefiting from a wide of cinematic examples … An interesting and accessible overview of the genre. This volume is theoretically broad and benefits from a wide range of cinematic examples. The work on focus groups/audience responses to the horror film makes an interesting and welcome addition to the field of the study.’
Xavier Mendik, Director of the Cult Film Archive, University College Northampton

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