Horror films and grief

Millar, Becky and Lee, Jonny 2021. Horror films and grief. Emotion Review 13 (3) , pp. 171-182. 10.1177/17540739211022815

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Abstract

Many of the most popular and critically acclaimed horror films feature grief as a central theme. This article argues that horror films are especially suited to portraying and communicating the phenomenology of grief. We explore two overlapping claims. First, horror is well suited to represent the experience of grief, in particular because the disruptive effects of horror “monsters” on protagonists mirror the core experience of disruption that accompanies bereavement. Second, horror offers ways in which the experience of grief can be contained and regulated and, in doing so, may offer psychological benefits for the bereaved. While our focus will be squarely on film, much of what we say applies to other media.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	English, Communication and Philosophy
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	1754-0739
Last Modified:	14 Mar 2024 17:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/167168

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