Horror Films and Grief

Becky Millar; Jonny Lee

doi:10.1177/17540739211022815

Horror Films and Grief

Becky Millar, Jonny Lee

Philosophy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	171–182
Number of pages	12
Journal	Emotion Review
Volume	13
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/17540739211022815
Publication status	Published - 8 Jul 2021

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

10.1177/17540739211022815Licence: CC BY

17540739211022815
© The Author(s) 2021
Final published version, 156 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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