1990s Teen Horror Cycle - by Alexandra West (Paperback)

About the Book

"Many critics and fans refer to the 1990s as the decade that horror forgot. Yet horror went mainstream in the '90s by speaking to the anxieties of American youth during one of the country's most prosperous eras. This in-depth study examines the youth subculture, history and politics of the era"--

Book Synopsis

Many critics and fans refer to the 1990s as the decade that horror forgot, with few notable entries in the genre. Yet horror went mainstream in the '90s by speaking to the anxieties of American youth during one of the country's most prosperous eras. No longer were films made on low budgets and dependent on devotees for success. Horror found its way onto magazine covers, fashion ads and CD soundtrack covers. "Girl power" feminism and a growing distaste for consumerism defined an audience that both embraced and rejected the commercial appeal of these films. This in-depth study examines the youth subculture and politics of the era, focusing on such films as Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), Scream (1996), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Idle Hands (1999) and Cherry Falls (2000).

Review Quotes

- "West may not have intended to write a feminist book about horror films, but in many ways that's exactly what she did.... West is a self-professed devotee of the genre...well-researched... An interesting read for horror fans and cinephiles alike."--Booklist

- "West's invaluable insight is educational but rarely dry. Even if you're familiar with every movie profiled in the book, you're likely to look at them in a new light - in addition to learning a few interesting facts"--Broke Horror Fan

- "[West] makes a very convincing argument for the re-evaluation of these [films], particularly through a fiminist lens. West shows herself to be an incredibly talented and gifted writer, able to deftly analyze films that were otherwise disrespected and actually make the case stick.... a very, very good, very effective book that should be placed in the pantheon of must own books about horror movies"--Daily Grindhouse

- "An interesting chronicle of one of the most overlooked decades of horror cinema.... The book reads like a trip down memory lane, and West never condescends or trash-talks the quality of the lesser entries of the decade.... Fans of this unique period in horror films will surely find a lot to reminisce over and think about from a new perspective in this text"--Horror News Network

About the Author

Alexandra West has written about genre films for The Toronto Star, Rue Morgue Magazine and Offscreen Film Journal. In 2012, she co-founded the Faculty of Horror podcast, exploring the films' analytical side. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.