Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films

by Nina Nesseth

Overview

Nightmare Fuel by Nina Nesseth is a pop-science look at fear, how and why horror films get under our skin, and why we keep coming back for more.

Do you like scary movies?
Have you ever wondered why?

Nina Nesseth knows what scares you. She also knows why.

In Nightmare Fuel, Nesseth explores the strange and often unexpected science of fear through the lenses of psychology and physiology. How do horror films get under our skin? What about them keeps us up at night, even days later? And why do we keep coming back for more?

Horror films promise an experience: fear. From monsters that hide in plain sight to tension-building scores, every aspect of a horror film is crafted to make your skin crawl. But how exactly do filmmakers pull this off? The truth is, there’s more to it than just loud noises and creepy images.

With the affection of a true horror fan and the critical analysis of a scientist, Nesseth explains how audiences engage horror with both their brains and bodies, and teases apart the elements that make horror films tick. Nightmare Fuel covers everything from jump scares to creature features, serial killers to the undead, and the fears that stick around to those that fade over time.

With in-depth discussions and spotlight features of some of horror’s most popular films—from classics like The Exorcist to modern hits like Hereditary—and interviews with directors, film editors, composers, and horror academics, Nightmare Fuel is a deep dive into the science of fear, a celebration of the genre, and a survival guide for going to bed after the credits roll.

“An invaluable resource, a history of the horror genre, a love letter to the scary movie—it belongs on any horror reader’s bookshelf.” —Lisa Kröger, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Monster, She Wrote

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250765215
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/26/2022
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	112,021
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

NINA NESSETH is a science communicator and writer based in Sudbury, Ontario. She is the co-author of The Science of Orphan Black (ECW Press, 2017). Her writing can be found across the web, usually digging deeply into the intersection between horror and science. Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films is her solo debut.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1: This is Your Brain on Horror
Chapter 2: A Short History of Horror
Chapter 3: How to Make a Monster
Chapter 4: Putting Fear in Your Ears
Chapter 5: Why Some Scares Stick With You
Chapter 6: Violence and Mayhem
Chapter 7: Blood, Gore, and Body Horror
Chapter 8: Horror's Long-Lasting Appeal
Afterword
Movie Watch List
Further Reading

Editorial Reviews

04/25/2022

Nesseth (The Science of Orphan Black), a senior scientist at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, digs into “the hows and whys of all of the bits and pieces that make horror work” in this thoughtful survey. To examine how “horror taps into its audiences’ psychology and biology,” Nesseth first breaks down the components of scary movies and links them to the human brain. The amygdala, for example, is responsible for putting a person on alert (and has been shown through brain scans to become activated when spooky music is played), while the insula processes disgust. Nesseth covers the workings of body horror (“The human body is an ideal site for horror: the body is personal, and even on a good day it’s kinda gross”), and what makes a movie monster memorable (“While it definitely helps if the monster clearly looks like an obvious threat, this isn’t a hard and fast rule”). Beyond the science, Nesseth is a skilled historian of the subject, too, describing how horror “ up a mirror to the anxieties gripping society at the time when their film is being made.” This is an enlightening—and fun—look at what goes on when one’s blood runs cold. (July)

Publishers Weekly

A must-read for any serious horror fan, Nightmare Fuel is a smart look at not only what scares us, but why it scares us. Nesseth masterfully dissects the horror genre in an immensely readable fashion.” —Lisa Kröger, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Monster, She Wrote

“Perfect for horror buffs and dabblers alike.... Nesseth covers everything from social history to sound design to cognitive neuroscience, and does it with a confident hand and an ever-present love for the macabre.” —Caitlin Starling, bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence

“If you've ever wondered why horror movies are scary and how, precisely, they affect our brains and bodies, then Nightmare Fuel is for you. Nesseth breaks down scientific research related to horror and the effects of fear in accessible prose. A fascinating read for both casual and committed fans of horror media.” —Melanie R. Anderson, co-author of Monster, She Wrote

“Whether you’re here for the science, the psychology, or just a touch of blood magic that makes for Nightmare Fuel, Nesseth delivers. An intriguing consideration of terror and its mechanics. Highly recommended.” —Angela Slatter, award-winning author of All the Murmuring Bones

“This is an enlightening—and fun—look at what goes on when one’s blood runs cold.” —Publishers Weekly

“In Nightmare Fuel, Nesseth picks apart the stitching from the unquiet corpses of our fears to better shine a light on each dismembered limb, taking their measurements and puzzling out the how and why they spring so eagerly to life in the dark night of our imaginations.” —Jordan Shiveley author of Hot Singles In Your Area

“Nesseth combines savvy science writing with a deep love of horror movies, resulting in something both scholarly and eminently readable. Even horror aficionados may stumble across an unfamiliar title she cites.” —Library Journal

“Educational, thought-provoking, and just plain fun....Readers who love horror, regardless of format, will eagerly seek out this title, but it is also a great suggestion for fans of Mary Roach or Grady Hendrix’s Paperbacks from Hell (2017).” —Booklist

“A fantastically inclusive exploration of the genre.” —Tor.com

“As compelling as it is instructive, Nightmare Fuel is a unique and vital addition to the bookcase of any genre film lover. Nesseth expertly guides readers through the dim and tangled corridors of the human brain in an accessible and engaging journey.... I couldn’t put it down.” —Valeska Griffiths, founder of anatomyofascream.com & co-editor of Scared Sacred: Idolatry, Religion and Worship in the Horror Film

“Like a lab coat-clad wizard with the most factually potent of powers, Nesseth pulls back the dark velvet curtain separating the science from the scares. Expertly researched and beautifully written, Nightmare Fuel is an absolute must-read.” —Rachel Reeves, Horror Journalist

From the Publisher

06/17/2022

What is the attraction to fear, and what drives audiences toward images that should repulse them? Nesseth (The Science of Orphan Black) takes readers on a tour of the science behind the scary, showing the parts of the brain that light up when exposed to horror. In discussions with directors, editors, and sound designers, readers learn how moviemakers exploit the senses and perceptions, hacking people's brains as much as any on-screen slasher. The author's innovative approach traces the history of horror as well as the literature on what happens to people psychologically when they're exposed to images of terror. Strengthening the text is her personal reaction to horror—not only her passion for horror movies (and a seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of the genre) but also her understanding of the horror community. VERDICT Nesseth combines savvy science writing with a deep love of horror movies, resulting in something both scholarly and eminently readable. Even horror aficionados may stumble across an unfamiliar title she cites.—Terry Bosky

Library Journal