No More Chainsaws - by Dan Vena (Paperback)

About the Book

No More Chainsaws offers an in-depth analysis of some of the earliest and underrated releases within the New Wave of Women's Horror cinema. This book articulates the ways in which these contemporary films attempt to liberate horror from an over-determining gendered lexicon of violence and terror.

Book Synopsis

"Welcome to the Golden Age of Women-Directed Horror." Over the last fifteen years, there has been a sustained global influx of women artists working in mainstream and independent horror cinemas earning notable public and industry acclaim. As a result, now, for the first time in horror history, there is also a concentrated corpus of films that explicitly address topics of identity, sexuality, trauma, and monstrosity from women's perspectives. No More Chainsaws offers an in-depth analysis of some of the earliest and underrated releases within this New Wave of women's horror cinema: Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight (2008), Karyn Kusama's Jennifer's Body (2009), Jennifer and Sylvia Soska's American Mary (2012), and Kimberly Peirce's Carrie (2013). No More Chainsaws articulates the ways in which these contemporary films attempt to liberate horror from an overdetermining gendered lexicon of violence and terror.

Review Quotes

"By centering female-directed horror, this book not only rewrites the history of the genre but also shows how feminist critique can sharpen our understanding of cinema itself. Essential reading for anyone who cares about horror, feminism, or film history."

--Dahlia Schweitzer "author of Haunted Homes"

"This is a fascinating exploration of the new wave of women filmmakers reshaping the horror genre. Engaging in a critically sophisticated conversation with the work of feminist scholars such as Carol Clover and Barbara Creed, the book offers sharp and lucidly written readings of popular films, bringing fresh insights into debates about women and horror."

--Katarzyna Paszkiewicz "author of Genre, Authorship and Contemporary Women Filmmakers"

About the Author

DAN VENA is a continuing adjunct associate professor in the Department of Film and Media at Queen's University in Ontario.