Overview

Combining industrial research and primary interview material with detailed textual analysis, Contemporary British Horror Cinema looks beyond the dominant paradigms which have explained away British horror in the past, and sheds light on one of the most dynamic and distinctive - yet scarcely talked about - areas of contemporary British film production. Considering high-profile theatrical releases, including The Descent, Shaun of the Dead and The Woman in Black, as well as more obscure films such as The Devil's Chair, Resurrecting the Street Walker and Cherry Tree Lane, Contemporary British Horror Cinema provides a thorough examination of British horror film production in the twenty-first century.

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9781474429399

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Reviews

Excellent --The Dark Side In taking an approach that considers the various industrial changes and circumstances which surround the contemporary films in question, Walker's work stands as an excellent British counterpart to recent academic work on contemporary American horror films by Richard Nowell (Blood Money (2011) and Merchants of Menace (2014)), Mark Bernard (Selling the Splat Pack (2015)) and Steve Jones (Torture Porn (2013)). As a result, Walker's work makes important inroads into the business of making horror films in a contemporary British context, as well as providing detailed and insightful textual analysis of key texts from the past decade or so of film-making. -- Nia Edwards-Behi, Journal of British Cinema and Television .. . anybody interested in the horror film ... and ... British cinema, owes [Walker] a huge debt of gratitude. -- Julian Petley, Brunel University London With this volume, Johnny Walker brings up to date both horror film criticism and writings on British national cinema. 'Contemporary British Horror Cinema' seamlessly weaves together narratives of changing film finance and distribution, aesthetic tropes of twenty-first century international horror cinema, fan culture and reception, and genre films' vital engagement with contemporary social reality. British horror cinema is experiencing a commercial and artistic renaissance, and now there is a critical study worthy of the films themselves. -- Kevin Heffernan, Southern Methodist University What ties together the new Hammer films and Hoodie Horror? This wonderful book has the answers. Meticulously researched and bold in asserting connections between film practice and cultural sensitivities, Johnny Walker's comprehensive overview covers dozens of British horror movies since 2000, many of them worthy of (re-)discovery, that testify to the vibrancy of a volatile industry. -- Ernest Mathijs, University of British Columbia A pleasingly fact-laden study, which draws together many strands - from commercial to the creative - which affect the contemporary industry (such as it is - in an ever more parlous state). The book is essential reading for any aficionado of the genre. -- Barry Forshaw, Crimetime

'A pleasingly fact-laden study, which draws together many strands -- from commercial to the creative -- which affect the contemporary industry (such as it is - in an ever more parlous state). The book is essential reading for any aficionado of the genre.'--Barry Forshaw Crimetime '... anybody interested in the horror film ... and ... British cinema, owes [Walker] a huge debt of gratitude.' --Julian Petley 'Excellent'. --The Dark Side 'In taking an approach that considers the various industrial changes and circumstances which surround the contemporary films in question, Walker's work stands as an excellent British counterpart to recent academic work on contemporary American horror films by Richard Nowell (Blood Money (2011) and Merchants of Menace (2014)), Mark Bernard (Selling the Splat Pack (2015)) and Steve Jones (Torture Porn (2013)). As a result, Walker's work makes important inroads into the business of making horror films in a contemporary British context, as well as providing detailed and insightful textual analysis of key texts from the past decade or so of film-making.' --Nia Edwards-Behi Journal of British Cinema and Television 'This excellent overview of British horror films from the year 2000 to the present contextualizes them with the international ones. The study shows these films moving away from Hammer's gothic style (a la The Woman in Black) and putting greater emphasis on contemporary societal concerns (Eden Lake, Attack the Block). Scholarly but readable, informative and incisive - essential!' --Dejan Ognjanovic Rue Morgue

Author Information

Dr Johnny Walker is Lecturer in Media at Northumbria University.

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