30 review for Recreational Terror: Women and the Pleasures of Horror Film Viewing

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Carla Remy – Sep 19, 2016

   An academic type book written completely by one person (as opposed to consisting of different essays by different scholars). I really liked what she has to say about horror and psychology. Things like "The horror film is an exquisite exercise in coping with the terrors of everyday life." She makes a good point about horror being for women because it's for everyone. Apparently a certain amount of criticism just assumes it is completely misogynistic? I did have to skim through the end though, beca An academic type book written completely by one person (as opposed to consisting of different essays by different scholars). I really liked what she has to say about horror and psychology. Things like "The horror film is an exquisite exercise in coping with the terrors of everyday life." She makes a good point about horror being for women because it's for everyone. Apparently a certain amount of criticism just assumes it is completely misogynistic? I did have to skim through the end though, because she writes about specific films, and I hate reading a synopsis.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Autumn – Apr 04, 2013

   This book is full of answers. Pinedo really nails the appeal of 80s horror and anticipates the 90s boom for self-aware horror. The text is readable and approachable. Great for any feminists who feel weird about loving horror movies sometimes.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Cait – Dec 31, 2020

   a book to read with pen and highlighter in hand; a book I loved so much that it is not humanly possible for me to include a list of favorite quotes here, as that would just involve typing up half the book. I worked through it slowly, reading it before bed on nights when I had the time to do so, as a treat for myself. I've wanted to read this book for a long, long time. I finally got my hands on a copy via thriftbooks, who acquire a copy of the paperback version only very rarely, but you can add b a book to read with pen and highlighter in hand; a book I loved so much that it is not humanly possible for me to include a list of favorite quotes here, as that would just involve typing up half the book. I worked through it slowly, reading it before bed on nights when I had the time to do so, as a treat for myself. I've wanted to read this book for a long, long time. I finally got my hands on a copy via thriftbooks, who acquire a copy of the paperback version only very rarely, but you can add books to your "wish list" to be notified when a copy comes in. thanks, thriftbooks! really, though, this was exactly the book for me. I screamed most of the way through. an utter delight. chapter titles, for the interested: 1. recreational terror and the postmodern elements of the contemporary horror film 2. the pleasure of seeing/not-seeing the spectacle of the wet death 3. ...and then she killed him: women and violence in the slasher film 4. the cultural politics of the postmodern horror film 5. race horror ugh! ♡♡♡!

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Taylor – Sep 17, 2019

   The pleasure of recreational terror depends on the tension between not (fully) seeing, the pleasure of recoil, and seeing (more fully), the pleasure of the gaze. [54] If pornography is the genre of the wet dream, then horror is the genre of the wet death. [61] this book is a REVELATION!! list of classic/recommended horror that is now about 60% recs from this book: https://letterboxd.com/diken/list/cla... (add me on letterboxd xoxo) The pleasure of recreational terror depends on the tension between not (fully) seeing, the pleasure of recoil, and seeing (more fully), the pleasure of the gaze. [54] If pornography is the genre of the wet dream, then horror is the genre of the wet death. [61] this book is a REVELATION!! list of classic/recommended horror that is now about 60% recs from this book: https://letterboxd.com/diken/list/cla... (add me on letterboxd xoxo)

5. 

   4 out of 5

   saïd – Apr 17, 2022

   Man, this was just so fun. Reinforced my viewpoint that sexual porn and torture porn might be as nominally different as imaginable, but both are functionally just porn.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Sophiaalmaria – Mar 27, 2008

   More of the same 90s gender-based horror criticism...still...it's a hobby of mine. More of the same 90s gender-based horror criticism...still...it's a hobby of mine.

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Andrew – Sep 25, 2019

   Engaging, thorough, detailed yet efficient and economical. Bringing a feminist and social-justice-oriented perspective to fine-grained analysis of what is going on for the viewer of horror films. In-depth discussions of The Stepfather (1987) and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986). Final section on "Race Horror" makes a good accompaniment to Robin R. Means Coleman's work on Horror Noire. Engaging, thorough, detailed yet efficient and economical. Bringing a feminist and social-justice-oriented perspective to fine-grained analysis of what is going on for the viewer of horror films. In-depth discussions of The Stepfather (1987) and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986). Final section on "Race Horror" makes a good accompaniment to Robin R. Means Coleman's work on Horror Noire.

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Victoria Timpanaro – Mar 01, 2021

   I really enjoyed this look at post-modern horror from the feminist lens that takes into account (and even argues with) both Clover and Creed. A book that points out the shortcomings of so many academic looks at horror films: the female audience! I was practically cheering as this is a topic I hope to explore in my own work.

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Amelia – Jul 24, 2021

   Loved!! So refreshing to read an analytic assessment of horror that isn't seated in subtle sexist! I true celebration and analysis of female enjoyment of horror and the depth of reasons why women enjoy grisly entertainment! Loved!! So refreshing to read an analytic assessment of horror that isn't seated in subtle sexist! I true celebration and analysis of female enjoyment of horror and the depth of reasons why women enjoy grisly entertainment!

10. 

    4 out of 5

    spookybooksonly220 – Mar 17, 2022

    if you wanna analyze post 9/11 horror you gotta learn about what came before. the similarities and differences. really fascinating stuff.

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Heather Clitheroe – Apr 25, 2011

    Fantastic resource for anybody working on cultural studies as it pertains to horror. Though Pinedo's book focuses on horror films, I think you could easily stretch her theories to cover gaming and fiction. I hope that she writes a revised edition...I'd be very curious to know what her thoughts on are the nature of horror in a post 9/11 context. Fantastic resource for anybody working on cultural studies as it pertains to horror. Though Pinedo's book focuses on horror films, I think you could easily stretch her theories to cover gaming and fiction. I hope that she writes a revised edition...I'd be very curious to know what her thoughts on are the nature of horror in a post 9/11 context.

12. 

    4 out of 5

    David Maguire – Sep 07, 2014

    Finally a film feminist who doesn't advocate that every movie is about penises and castration! Very refreshing, well written look at why women enjoy horror films just as much as men, without having to be labelled traitors to their gender. Heartily recommended. Finally a film feminist who doesn't advocate that every movie is about penises and castration! Very refreshing, well written look at why women enjoy horror films just as much as men, without having to be labelled traitors to their gender. Heartily recommended.

13. 

    5 out of 5

    most fertile tabby-chan♡ – May 10, 2013

    This could have been more developed... I think personal insight would have made it a lot more engaging and rich.

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Ren – Jun 19, 2009

    Pinedo shatters a number of notions about horror movies and female spectatorship. I enjoyed her even handed tone and open minded critique.

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Morgan –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Dave –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Lucille Virene Quintanilla –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Maggie –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Jenna –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Maddy –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Paul –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Sherrel Jae –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Harris –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Christine –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Katie –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Tory Lowe –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Melissa –

28. 

    4 out of 5

    Nikola –

29. 

    5 out of 5

    Tori –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Marta –