The Horror Genre

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 genre's development, such as the "urban myth" narrative underpinning "Candyman" and "The Blair Witch Project."

Over 300 films are treated, all of which are featured in the filmography.

About the Author

Paul Wells is head of the media portfolio at the University of Teesside, UK. He has written widely on many areas of film studies and is a contributor to An Introduction to Film Studies.