Psychoanalysing Horror Cinema

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.