Enjoyable horror read that is a lot of fun for the spooky season and Halloween. Look forward to more by this author.

I originally requested this book on an impulse -- I don't watch a lot of horror films, but I write both horror and romance (and horror and romance are, imo, two sides of the same coin in terms of styles; both require a certain reliance on genre-defining terms of agreement, and both require creating a connection between the reader/viewer and the emotional experience that must by essence make the A plot of whatever story it is -- something which is essentially backed up by the Ch 7 Conversation with John Fawcett, director of Ginger Snaps and Orphan Black). I wanted to pick it up to see more viewpoints about how some of that atmosphere was created (though obviously the parts about sound, camera use, visuals, jumpscares etc aren't exactly applicable).

I very much enjoyed this read, which goes deep into the science of horror on all levels, the social impetus behind changing trends, different types of horror, the people who like different types of horror, what's going on in our brains, etc. It is very easy to read and accessible, while still not shying away from talking about genetics, specifics of neuroscience, and so on. I think someone who is more widely-watched than I am may have gotten even more out of it than I did, but even for me (who has seen a fraction of the horror movies talked about), enough context is given, especially into the deep dives, to follow along.

One thing I did find lacking was a discussion about spiritual terror and its role in a huge portion of horror films. Nesseth talks a lot about different types of horror and the primal fears they speak to in us, but the only mention of possession horror was under the category of infection fear. I found that very lacking in a book that otherwise went into social impetus; it seemed to me that there could have been an entire chapter on fundamental religious beliefs (especially in the United States) and how that plays into Possession Horror rather than treating it as essentially an intangible fear on the same lines of bacteria.

4/5 stars, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has interest in genre construction, film theory, or horror movies.

Nightmare Fuel by Nina Nesseth has created a must-read for horror fans and creators that can be used as an insightful guide for those who would like to learn more about how our bodies and minds react the way they do when watching horror movies. For example, Nesseth explains why some of us still jump at jump scares even when we know they are coming!

https://katenread.wordpress.com/2022/07/28/20booksofsummer22-review-nightmare-fuel/

Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films by Nina Nesseth

An electronic copy of this book was supplied to me by the publisher.

Last year, I read a book called The Science of Women in Horror. It was a mildly perplexing book. The History of Women in Horrors or The Roles of Women in Horror might have been better titles. It wasn’t an uninformative book, but other than touching on some sociology issues, it was pretty light on science. So, I was a little wary about Nightmare Fuel.

Luckily, there are quite a few ways in which to investigate horror films through science. Nina Nesseth starts with a quick primer on our biological fear reactions and how horror movies use certain tropes and techniques to trigger (or try to trigger) those responses. Chapter two takes a quick sociological detour to examine how horror films often reflect societal fears. (We have, it would seem, spent decades fearing communism . . .) Subsequent chapters look at how horror filmmakers design monster and soundscapes and how different types of horror (slashers, body horror, ghost stories, etc.) affect us in different ways. Nesseth wraps up the book with a lengthy chapter looking at what impact horror movies have on audiences. Do scary movies offer cathartic release or prepare viewers for dangerous situations? Why do people enjoy being scared? And do horror movie lead to desensitization to violence and asocial behaviors? These are all good questions to addressed, even if scientific findings aren’t always conclusive.

Nesseth is an engaging writer with an obvious love for the horror genre. She presents the science at a fairly basic level with clarity and humor. The book covers its subjects with a decent amount of detail. Included are interviews with filmmakers that, while sometimes interesting, don’t add a whole lot. In general, though, I enjoyed Nightmare Fuel. I’ll be keeping a couple of things from it in mind during my Countdown to October.

Nightmare Fuel delves into some of the reasons our brains respond to horror, how different horror tropes function, and more. The style of writing is both informative and accessible, even when introducing different parts and processes of the brain. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of interviews with horror movie makers and critics. There are a wide range of movies referenced including sci-fi horror classics to the range of Stephen King adaptations to more recent horror films like Hereditary and Get Out. This is an excellent book for anyone fascinated by the reasons we respond to and enjoy horror.

Okay I normally don't read a lot of non-fiction unless it's on a topic I am really interested in and Nightmare Fuel is that. This book called out to me on Netgalley and I am so glad I got the chance to read it. I love Horror movies I am (according to this book) a casual fan bordering on encyclopedic. I read this book one chapter a day so that way I could fully have time to absorb the information given to me. And there was some really in depth things that my brain needed time to process, like an entire chapter on how our brains react and perceive fear, jump scares, gore, and just about everything else that goes along with this genre. Also going into the history and how society anxieties tie into the type of horror that are being produced at that time. This was a very informative book and it really gives me a new way to watch and enjoy horror. If you read non-fiction, enjoy horror movies, and don't mind a bunch of scientific talk (it really isn't that hard to understand it was pretty laymen) this is a great book

In Nightmare Fuel, Nina Nesseth approaches horror films through a variety of lenses, from neurobiology to social psychology. While that sounds like it could be overwhelming or tedious, it is neither in the author's hands. There are some pretty science-heavy explanations of some aspects of horror, but they're presented in a way that's accessible, and enjoyable even.

The book does a good job of covering a wide range of films, from those you've never heard of to big screen blockbusters. There are also interviews and insights along the way from people who work in the industry in a variety of roles.

I am a huge horror fan so I had really high hopes going into this book, and it did not let me down. That being said, I feel like horror haters could get something out of it as well, even if it's just understating the horror fans in their lives a little better.

I can't recommend this enough. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this enjoyable sneak peek.

I had a lot of fun with this book. I’m not a huge horror fan (I’m a scaredy-cat to the extreme), but I grew up with an older sister who loved them and constantly forced me to watch horror movies with her. Being older now, I’m still a scaredy-cat that she has to force to watch those movies, but I have a greater appreciation for the work that goes into them. This book put in a lot of effort to talk about what goes into the fear we feel, how the movies are made, etc. It was easy to understand, engaging, and I’m definitely going to be recommending this book to my sister.

So thankful my wish was granted for this book! I'm an avid horror fan and so this was right up my alley but I think even if you're not a fan of horror movies this is just as an enjoyable (& interesting!) read as well. The book that got me back into reading was a book about the science of fear so this feels very full circle (and this definitely expands on that). I loved the writing style Nesseth uses were even in paragraphs that feel like they're full of academic-smart talk, she still finds a way to make it fun, funny, or relatable. Highly recommend!

As a fan of horror movies, tv, books, etc. this book called to me. It's fascinating to not only see that there are people out there like you, but to see the studies and science behind your favorite genre.

Nina Nesseth is a lover of horror and sets out in her book to give some science behind some aspects of the intriguing genre. From what makes horror so appealing (or unappealing) to the ways society has influenced horror over the decades this book brings some great science, history, interviews, personal anecdotes, and more.

While some of the science was over my head I really enjoyed this book. You can tell Nesseth is a lover of the genre and I related to her on that level. I learned a lot about this weird, polarizing, and wonderful genre (and all of the many subgenres). While this is going to make you think, it's also not a difficult or dense read. And also it has enough movies listed throughout the pages to keep you Watch List packed for a while!

Do you like scary movies?
The famous line from Scream is also the opener for Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films by Nina Nesseth.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for my eARC for review.
This great little tome is chock-full of all things horror.
It breaks down exactly what about horror movies scare us - from the physiological and psychological, to behavioral and cultural elements. It's not all just monsters and masks, jump scares and ominous music.
Famous horror films are examined alongside societal issues, and how those fears may be translated and reflected on screen.
Nightmare Fuel looks at the elements that make up the visual/auditory language of terror, and the effect of violent media on real-life behaviors.
It's like reading Eli Roth's History Of Horror series from AMC! The author absolutely knows her stuff.
This may be a rather niche read, but personally I found it super interesting - a deeper look into the genre of movies I grew up with, and continue to seek out today!
Recommended!
Released on July 26.

What is it about horror movies that despite them bringing some of our fears to life make them so popular??

I for one have a probably unhealthy obsession with horror & I am so not sorry about it. I was recently sent a galley of Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films by Nina Nesseth & I am absolutely loving how detailed this book is.

Not only am I finding so many more movies to watch that I’d surprisingly never heard of but, now I kind of want to branch out into the older horror movies from the likes of Hitchcock.

Any who.. if any of you are as into horror as I am, make sure you check this book out! It’s an entertaining read if anything, & though I did find myself skimming the last half.. I did enjoy getting new horror movie rec’s!

How do people respond to fear? Why do people like watching horror movies? How do film makers use their skills to make movies more affecting? All of these questions and more are answered in this nonfiction book exploring the science of horror films.

The book is heavy on the science and references many scientific studies. All of the resources and further reading on the subjects can be found in the back of the book. I really appreciated that the scientific answers given in this book were so well researched.

Nightmare Fuel is also written in a fun way with a lot of the authors voice coming through. It is not a dry read at all. It also references and huge list of horror movies. All of the films referenced can be found listed in the back as well. I would make sure that you have seen a lot of the major most popular horror movies before reading this book, because it does give away major scares and plot points to make the points in the book. You can probably skip over any parts the reference a movie you haven't seen yet.

If you don't like reading about anything science related this may be one to skip. If you love horror films. If you would like to know more about methods to make them scarier and how they affect us physically than I would highly recommend Nightmare Fuel for you.

What can I say? I've loved horror movies since I first watched The Midnight Hour in 1985 at the tender age of four. Witches, werewolves, zombies, and psychopaths spontaneously give me goosebumps and weirdly put a smile on my face, all at the same time. So, it's a no-brainer why I wanted to read Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films.

The first few chapters were a drag because they were a bit too scientific-heavy for my liking. I have nothing against science, but it's never been my favorite subject. Why? Let's say the science technical jargon typically goes in one ear and out the other without me learning anything. I'm going to take a wild guess that most people who'll take an interest in reading this book aren't scientists or medical professionals. The author should have gone with layman's terms and summed all the physiological, biological, and scientific aspects in a few paragraphs instead of chapters. I skipped over many parts to get to the good stuff, such as the author's scientific analytics of classic horror movies.

Overall, Nightmare Fuel is a detailed researched-based look into why we love to be scared to death by watching horror movies. I thought it was a middle-of-the-read at best.

A while back, Tor Nightfire reached out to me after I reviewed one of their horror titles. They asked if I was interested in an upcoming non-fiction book about horror, and why people like it. I, naturally, said yes. So I was sent a copy of Nina Nesseth’s Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films, and reader, I loved it.

Nightmare Fuel digs deep into the reasons that people like me enjoy horror movies. A breakdown of the techniques used in horror, like jump scares and repetition, sheds light on the false assumption that horror movies are “switch your brain off” entertainment. Nesseth covers the definitions of fear, horror, terror, and various other terms that tie in to the film watching experience. The book examines the physiological structures in the human brain that respond to particular aspects of horror movies, explaining why our bodies respond the way they do (and consequently, how we create a barrier in our minds to help us understand the difference between a real threat situation and one that’s being shown to us in film).

As I’ve said before, I’m not much of a non-fiction reader under normal circumstances. However, Nina Nesseth has knocked this one out of the park. Nightmare Fuel is a must-read for horror movie fans, combining the science of fear with the history of the genre into a beautiful, quick read. It’s out in the world as of yesterday, so go check it out.

My utmost gratitude to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for an eARC of the book in exchange for a fair review. This review originally appeared here: https://swordsoftheancients.com/2022/07/27/nightmare-fuel-a-review/

This book is so much fun.  Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films is chatty and scientific examination of what makes horror films scary and interesting.  

It combines neuroscience and psychology with media criticism and a history of horror movies.  

I love that the scientific aspect was discussed in detail (I felt like I was actually learning something about how my brain works) and mixed so cleverly with horror movie trivia.

There are chapters about why monsters and masks scare us, what in our brains causes fear and disgust, why horror films cycle through different topics in response to politics and society, the sound design of horror films, transformation and body horror, and much more.

Nesseth has a conversational way of writing that made the book a breeze to read.

In addition to her own observations and research, I loved Nesseth’s  “In Conversation” segments with different horror movie creators.  My favourites were interviews with Jamie Kirkpatrick, a film editor, who explains how editing makes The Shining terrifying, Alexandra West, a writer who discusses body horror and sense of place in Canadian horror, and director John Fawcett who made my favourite film, Ginger Snaps. (As a Canadian I adored the CanCon in this book!!)

Beyond the science aspects, I loved how many horror references Nesseth discusses.  There were so many of my favourite films referenced, and also new-to-me movies, websites, and podcasts.  It’s packed full of horror goodness.  

Although I received this one as an e-book advance review copy, I’m planning to buy a paperback copy because I need to read through it again, making notes and highlighting media and further resources I need to check out.  

I’ve already recommended it to so many of my horror-loving friends.  Seriously, you want to read this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for my review copy of this book.

This was a really interesting read, I've been a fan of horror movies since I was a kid and I saw JAWS for the first time. So I was excited to read this book explaining the science of horror movies, it was a wonderfully done read with a lot of interesting facts in the book. Nina Nesseth was able to write a great researched book and I was never bored when reading this. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Nesseth.

"The feeling might wear off after the sun comes up and you wake up whole and unharmed by the movie monsters, but sometimes the scares are deeper and stay with you for much, much longer."

I received this as an ARC for an honest review. I will say, I only sign up for ARCs I believe I will enjoy. This book met and surpassed my expectations. It is incredibly clear, interesting and informative.

It includes a history of horror films which was more informative than I had imagined. Explaining not only the general history but the history of rating systems and other mechanisms of controlling content. What sort of affect technological advances had on the genre as well as what the fears and concerns of the times. Godzilla representing the fears associated with nuclear fallout for one example.

There is an in depth scientific and yet layperson-friendly explanation of what we understand as far as the actual cause and development of fear and phobias. I might have done better in high school biology if Nina has broken it down.

The book covers a variety of topics, including the panic that violence on screen contributes to real world violence and the not so fantastic studies on the subject. How sound can contribute to fear, jump scares versus the nagging scare that stays with you long after the movie is over and the lights are on and so much more.

If you are a film buff, a horror fan, or even simply have an interest in psychology, I would highly recommend this book.

This is a really good, dense exploration on the science of why we like what we like in the horror genre. Naturally, this varies from person to person. In turn, my attention span wavered in sections about things that were less my cup of tea. I'll still absolutely recommend this for horror fans. The book features spoilers for many films, of course. Personally, I enjoyed this. By the end, we have a long and great list of recommendations, some of which I'd chosen to pass on but am reconsidering thanks to the author. Both a love letter to the genre and a deep dive into pop psychology, this is a good read. Put it on your shelf next to Danse Macabre.

I used to avoid horror movies at ALL costs because I was just so terrified. In the last 6 years or so I’ve started warming up to them, but I’m still incredibly picky about which ones I watch. So, Nightmare Fuel is right up my alley!

I will say that I’m also incredibly interested in HOW things work as well as the history of them, and this is definitely very heavy on the HOW. So if psychology/slightly more technical nonfiction isn’t your bag, this one might not be for you. This is definitely less of a primer on the creative ways horror movies are structured and more of an explanation of how your brain makes those techniques successful.

That caveat aside, I really enjoyed this book. Nesseth uses a LOT of examples across the genre, which makes the theories she’s talking about pretty accessible even if you aren’t a big horror fan.

This is definitely one I would recommend to horror fans.