This is a fresh and well-researched discussion of the contemporary horror film. Bogutskaya attempts to answer (which she does successfully) why fans enjoy horror, while also calling for it to be recognised as the serious art form it is.

The book is broken down thematically by the emotions experienced by both character and audience, examples being pain, hunger, anxiety, and fear. Bogutskaya discusses a wide range of topics explored throughout horror cinema, from vampirism to cannibalism to Black and hag horror.

It primarily focuses on films, particularly those made in the last two decades, while also making references and links to much older works and some literature. A true horror movie buff will be familiar with most, if not all, of the films mentioned here, but those new to the genre will find a wealth of recommendations to go and seek out. But, in saying that, if you haven’t watched many horror films from the last decade you’ll find yourself in a web of spoilers! Beware!

Overall, though, this was an incredibly interesting read that kept me turning pages.

If you don’t just want to watch horror films but truly understand them and what they’re trying to communicate, this is a great place to start.

Thank you to @netgalley and @FaberBooks for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts.

I asked for this book just because it was about Horror Movies but as soon as I started reading I instantly heard Anna’s voice in my head - and thought wait a minute - of course it’s one of my favourite podcasts! I liked the different sections - and of course all the recommended watching! I think even if you weren’t an extreme horror fan that you would find this book interesting - so much information is held between these pages plus also Anna’s love for the genre is so prevalent. Have already recommended to a few friends that love horror films too.

As someone who works in the making and teaching side of film and TV, I can attest to the challenges the striking of a balance between a critical/scholarly and enjoyable read.
Bogutskaya’s approach to horror genre (mainly films) allows the readers to easily engage with the text and its discussions.
This book is structured into different themes (emotions/thoughts) that the horror genre evokes in us, and Bogutskaya masterfully discusses these.
I often get the questions, ‘why do we watch horror? is there something wrong with us?” from my audiences and loved ones, and I was glad to see that these were answered here. The wide range of examples discussed were also appreciated.
This is a good collection of essays for horror film fans, overall.

Feeding the Monster is a book that explores the horror genre through the feelings it evokes, like pain, hunger, anxiety, power, and fear. Bogutskaya goes on a journey through horror, mostly film but with some TV series and books mentioned too, to consider if and why it might still be seen as something weird, something for people who aren't quite right, and to argue that it works with very real feelings in the audience. Each chapter is centred around one of these feelings, picking out works that connect with these feelings and looking at how they do it.

There's a lot of interesting stuff in this book and it works well as a pop culture analysis that is accessible and broad, whilst citing material like personal and video essays that readers might not have encountered before. I liked that it mentioned a lot of things I like (particularly the part looking at haunted houses) and I appreciate how Bogutskaya touches upon lot of the nuances of horror around marginalised people and outsider experiences, even though it's not the sort of book to go in depth about anything, as it is such an overview. At times I found some of the style a bit annoying, particularly the jokey footnotes which I don't think added anything to the book, but generally this is an approachable way of looking at horror that takes a wide definition of the genre, meaning that it is more tied to feelings evoked in horror than specific genre conventions.