Synopsis:
Nightmare Fuel by Nina Nesseth is a pop-science look at fear, how and why horror films get under our skin, and why we keep coming back for more.
Do you like scary movies?
Have you ever wondered why?
Nina Nesseth knows what scares you. She also knows why.
In Nightmare Fuel, Nesseth explores the strange and often unexpected science of fear through the lenses of psychology and physiology. How do horror films get under our skin? What about them keeps us up at night, even days later? And why do we keep coming back for more?
Horror films promise an experience: fear. From monsters that hide in plain sight to tension-building scores, every aspect of a horror film is crafted to make your skin crawl. But how exactly do filmmakers pull this off? The truth is, there’s more to it than just loud noises and creepy images.
With the affection of a true horror fan and the critical analysis of a scientist, Nesseth explains how audiences engage horror with both their brains and bodies, and teases apart the elements that make horror films tick. Nightmare Fuel covers everything from jump scares to creature features, serial killers to the undead, and the fears that stick around to those that fade over time.
With in-depth discussions and spotlight features of some of horror’s most popular films—from classics like The Exorcist to modern hits like Hereditary—and interviews with directors, film editors, composers, and horror academics, Nightmare Fuel is a deep dive into the science of fear, a celebration of the genre, and a survival guide for going to bed after the credits roll.
“An invaluable resource, a history of the horror genre, a love letter to the scary movie—it belongs on any horror reader’s bookshelf.” —Lisa Kröger, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Monster, She Wrote
Edition:
ARC via Net Galley
My Thoughts:
Nightmare Fuel is a certain kind of book, for a certain kind of reader. I don’t mean to make it sound inaccessible, but I also don’t want to hear about it if you go in unprepared and find it’s not to your liking. Personally, I like reading this type of scholastic non fiction. I spent too long (and waaaay too much money) taking college courses – I can’t get out of the student mindset. Nightmare Fuel isn’t quite a textbook, but it’s also not light reading.
Nesseth digs deep into such things as
- what happens to your brain on horror
- why jump scares are so effective
- how horror reflects the fears of the times/places it comes from, and much more.
If you found your eyes filming over during that list (oh, come on – I left it super short!), I can promise you this – Nightmare Fuel is anything but boring. It is fascinating! I loved learning about all the ways that scary shit makes the human body and mind react.
If you’re at all interested in the psychology or physiology of horror, or human reactions to terrifying stimuli, period – I highly suggest checking this one out.
Rating:
A fun premise carried out thoughtfully and with loads of receipts.
Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films By Nina Nesseth Tor Nightfire ISBN: 9781250765215 Published: July 26, 2022 304 Pages Hardcover, E-book, Audio
