Overview

Inspired by her Wild About Horror segments on the Evolution of Horror Podcast, Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema sees Mary Wild investigate 50 films across six core subgenres—Mind, Body, Nature, Aliens, Vampires, and Home Invasion—through close readings of key titles including Mulholland Drive, Black Swan, Jaws, Predator, Twilight, and Misery. Informed by Freudian, Lacanian, and Jungian theory, Wild deconstructs each film with her signature blend of insight and playfulness. Writing with startling emotional clarity, she invites readers to engage with popular media through a psychoanalytic lens, treating films as projective tests to uncover meaningful subjective associations. Spanning an eclectic range of titles, from arthouse to blockbuster, these case studies reveal how genre cinema expresses universal psychological truths. Referencing both classic and contemporary horror, this stylish compendium renders complex theory accessible without sacrificing depth. Featuring a foreword by Mike Muncer, Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema speaks to students, cinephiles, and curious general readers alike. Practising and trainee analysts seeking fresh ways to engage with clients will find inspiration in its pages. Addressing both seasoned theorists and those new to psychoanalysis, Mary Wild champions horror as a vital site of introspection, catharsis, and erotic awakening.

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9781032545097

Table of Contents

Reviews

‘Even though an intrinsic connection exists between psychoanalysis and the horror film, the number of books addressing this intersection has been scant, and none has gotten to the foundation of the connection. This all changes with the publication of Mary Wild’s Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema. Wild has long engaged with both psychoanalytic thinking and the horror film. Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema is the result of this lengthy study, and it promises to influence how we look at the horror film both as a genre and as a cultural phenomenon. It’s a groundbreaking work not to be missed.’ Todd McGowan ‘Mary Wild makes a unique and timely contribution with her book Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema. Using both psychoanalysis and related critical paradigms to explore a series of classic and new examples of the horror genre, Wild offers concise and insightful explorations of each film in a welcoming tone. The reader senses the genuine pleasure Wild takes in the interpretive act that each film elicits her to undertake. Readers ranging from the casual fan to the dedicated viewer of horror cinema–whether their bookshelf exists in physical or digital space–will find Wild’s book merits a place.’ Richard C. Ledes, Filmmaker

‘Even though an intrinsic connection exists between psychoanalysis and the horror film, the number of books addressing this intersection has been scant, and none has gotten to the foundation of the connection. This all changes with the publication of Mary Wild’s Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema. Wild has long engaged with both psychoanalytic thinking and the horror film. Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema is the result of this lengthy study, and it promises to influence how we look at the horror film both as a genre and as a cultural phenomenon. It’s a groundbreaking work not to be missed.’ Todd McGowan, philosopher ‘Mary Wild makes a unique and timely contribution with her book Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema. Using both psychoanalysis and related critical paradigms to explore a series of classic and new examples of the horror genre, Wild offers concise and insightful explorations of each film in a welcoming tone. The reader senses the genuine pleasure Wild takes in the interpretive act that each film elicits her to undertake. Readers ranging from the casual fan to the dedicated viewer of horror cinema–whether their bookshelf exists in physical or digital space–will find Wild’s book merits a place.’ Richard C. Ledes, filmmaker

Author Information

Mary Wild is a writer, lecturer, and podcaster based in London, England. She is the creator of the Projections lecture series at Freud Museum, where she applies psychoanalytic theory to film interpretation.

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