Healing through Horror Films

A little dead on arrival, but this is my post for Halloween!

During the fall semester of my sophomore year, I was interested in film, screenwriting in particular. I used to peruse the upper level of the library for books about films — making them, the history, how to write them, etc.

I checked out this book, House of Psychotic Women: An Autobiographical Topography of Female Neurosis in Horror and Exploitation Films by Kier-La Janisse from the library. The book was a thick, glossy collection of writings about films and the examples of female neurosis depicted in them. There were photos, movie posters, and film stills.

Janisse writes in the introduction that her relationship with horror articulates “a desperation I recognized in myself, in my ability to communication effectively, and the frustration that would lead to despair, anger and hysteria.”

The Women’s Liberation movement influenced her writing about horror films in relation to women. She parallels the horror films she watches to her own personal experience: “every woman I have ever met in my entire life is completely crazy, in one way or another.”

I enjoyed Janisse’s decision to build off her own experience and love of horror films. The book was encyclopedic as well as autobiographical. The personal connections made reading it memorable.

Seeing horror films aired on television this time of year, I feel the same sentiment as Janisse: we’re all a little crazy and I see it reflected in my favorite films. There’s something psychological and primal about horror movies. Characters are forced into life or death situations and it brings out aspects of human nature in them that we all share.

My high school band teacher once made a statement that I recall when things aren’t going well. More or less: it’s okay to go through something and come out on the other side a little crazy. I see this reflected in the Final Girls and Scream Queens who finally make it out of long night of running, adrenaline and near-death experiences. They’re tired, sweaty, and blood-stained but what matters is that they survived the night.

I remind myself of this when my situation is stressful, which makes one hour and half movie feel like a long night.

Good night!