Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema

Inspired by the Wild About Horror segments on the Evolution of Horror Podcast, Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema investigates fifty films across six core subgenres—Mind, Body, Nature, Aliens, Vampires, and Home Invasion—through close readings of key titles including Mulholland Drive, Black Swan, Jaws, Predator, Twilight, and Misery.

Mary Wild introduces each film before offering an interpretation informed by Freudian, Lacanian, and Jungian theory, deconstructing each film with her signature playfulness, insight, and style. Writing evocatively and with startling emotional clarity, Wild invites readers to approach popular media through a psychoanalytic lens—treating the films like projective tests to excavate meaningful subjective associations. Spanning an eclectic range from arthouse to blockbuster, these case studies show how genre cinema illuminates universal psychological truths. Referencing both classic and contemporary horror, this compendium renders complex theory accessible without compromising depth.

With a foreword by Mike Muncer, this essential companion speaks to film students, cinephiles, and curious general readers alike. Practising and training analysts seeking a fresh way to engage with clients will also find inspiration in its pages. Addressing both seasoned theorists and newcomers to psychoanalysis, Wild embraces horror as a vital site for introspection, catharsis, and erotic awakening.