Abject Terrors

The Author: Tony Magistrale is Professor of English at the University of Vermont. He received his Ph.D. in English from the University of Pittsburgh and is the author of two other books published by Peter Lang: Writing Across Culture: An Introduction to Study Abroad and the Writing Process (1995) and Poe’s Children: Connections Between Tales of Terror and Detection (1999).

«‘Abject Terrors’ is remarkable for its brilliant focus on the turning point in the psychological appeal of the horror film, moving from the externalized modernist monsters of the B-movie creature feature to the inward-bending and increasingly gory terrors of the postmodern age. Although the author calls ‘Abject Terrors’ an analysis of the «greatest hits» of horror cinema in the previous century, this book also coherently assembles and synthesizes the diverse film scholarship on the genre as well. This book provides a much needed sequel, of sorts, to Noel Carroll’s important text, ‘The Philosophy of Horror’, both updating and improving on its theory of «horror-art». And by reading them through the dark lens of terror films, Magistrale makes critics like Julia Kristeva easier to understand. Bringing his skill in literary analysis and genre fiction studies to film form, Tony Magistrale’s ‘Abject Terrors’ is a compulsively readable and unflinchingly intelligent work of horror film scholarship – and an important contribution to any cinema theorist’s bookshelf. I recommend it to teachers, librarians and cinema lovers everywhere.» (Michael A. Arnzen, Associate Professor of English, Seton Hill University and Bram Stoker Award Winning Author of Grave Markings)«Tony Magistrale’s ‘Abject Terrors’ is the single best book published about the horror film. Ever. Internationally known at the top Stephen King scholar, Magistrale has expanded his keen and perceptive analytical eye to the larger cinematic landscape, writing a marvelous study that is both highly entertaining to read and critically engaging. This is a book that is equally appealing to the student or ardent fan of horror movies, and is a ‘must have’ for any bookshelf.» (Gary Hoppenstand, Professor of American Studies, Michigan State University and Editor of ‘The Journal of Popular Culture’)