I’ve been on the lookout for a good overview of modern horror for a while now, and it feels like it’s finally here in the form of Feeding the Monster: Why Horror Has a Hold on Us, the new book by critic and film programmer Anna Bogutskaya.
This charming, readable state-of-the-genre analysis skillfully guides us through the last decade of horror cinema, teasing out connections and trends, and never losing sight of the personal responses that make horror what it is. Feeding The Monster is an insightful, heartfelt and provocative exploration of the horror genre, and Bogutskaya offers a thoughtful examination of why horror, in its ever evolving forms, continues to captivate audiences across the globe. She makes the subject matter accessible to both horror aficionados and those who might be more hesitant to engage with the genre. Her writing is sharp, witty, and, at times, deeply personal, allowing readers to connect with her on an emotional level – and she writes not just as a critic, but as someone who has been deeply affected by horror, making her insights all the more compelling.
The book is structured around various themes: fear, hunger, anxiety, pain and power. Bogutskaya’s analysis is both broad and deep; while her focus is on contemporary horror, she jumps back to reference classic films where needed, and touches everything from mainstream blockbusters like IT and breakthrough successes like The Witch, to contemporary indie gems like camgirl doppelganger horror Cam and leftfield choices such as the magnificently titled All Jacked Up And Full Of Worms.
Throughout, Bogutskaya writes with a keen eye for how these films resonate with or challenge societal norms. She is sharp on the ways horror has historically treated women—both as victims and as monsters—and how contemporary horror subverts these tropes in fascinating ways. Drawing from Barbara Creed’s The Monstrous Feminine and The Return of the Monstrous Feminine, and from other writers in this area, Bogutskaya provides an excellent primer on this subject, touching on the ways modern horror treats less-than-perfect mothers (The Babadook), alienated sex workers (Cam), and high school queen bees (Jennifer’s Body) as well as the modern ‘hagsploitation’ aspects of The Taking of Deborah Logan, Barbarian and X.
The strongest sections are the ones closest to Bogutskaya’s heart – such as the horror of anxiety, the pain of bodies in rebellion (Crimes of the Future), and dance horror (a subject that draws in such varied nightmares as Black Swan, Suspiria, Climax, The Devils, and Strasbourg 1518.) In particular, she is not afraid to get to the root of what makes modern cannibalism films so attractive to their audiences. Unlike the 80s Italian trend of gross-out Cannibal movies, modern treatments are often erotic and romantic – and from the barely sublimated sexual tension of the Hannibal tv show to the melancholy young love of Bones and All, Feeding The Monster honestly conveys the true draw of this material to modern audiences – it’s just very, very horny.
Feeding The Monster never loses sight of the emotional and psychological impact that horror has on its audience, effectively conveying the cathartic power of horror—the way it allows us to confront our deepest fears in a controlled environment, and the relief that often follows. Bogutskaya also links her responses to certain films to her own memories of childhood, adolescence, anxiety and medical trauma, always keenly aware that what makes horror arguably the most important genre in cinema are not dry rules about what constitutes a vampire or a zombie, but rather the unique psychological and emotional space where horror meets its audience. This empathetic approach makes the book feel not just like a study of horror, but a tribute to the genre’s ability to make us feel more alive, even as it terrifies us.
On the other hand, she’s not afraid to give short shrift to any film that gets lazy and strays into just being yet another film about (as the saying goes) being chased around a nice kitchen by your own trauma. Smile, I’m looking at you.
Feeding the Monster: Why Horror Has a Hold on Us is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the enduring appeal of horror. Bogutskaya has crafted a work that is as entertaining as it is enlightening, offering readers new ways to think about fear, culture, and the stories we tell ourselves. Whether you’re a seasoned horror fan or someone who usually avoids the genre, this book offers valuable insights that will change the way you see horror—and perhaps even the way you see the world.
Published by Faber & Faber on 15 August 2024. Available to purchase here.
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