Men, Women, and Chainsaws
Encyclopedia
Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film is a 1992 book by American
academic Carol J. Clover
. In it she investigates the appeal of horror cinema
, in particular the slasher
, occult, and rape-revenge
genres, from a feminist
perspective. Although these films seem to offer sadistic pleasure to their viewers, Clover argues that these films are designed to align spectators not with the male tormentor, but with the female victim—the "final girl
"—who finally defeats her oppressor. The book was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award
for Best Non-Fiction
in 1992.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic Carol J. Clover
Carol J. Clover
Carol J. Clover is an American professor of film studies, rhetoric language and Scandinavian mythology. She has been widely published in her areas of expertise...
. In it she investigates the appeal of horror cinema
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, in particular the slasher
Slasher film
A slasher film is a type of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a knife or axe...
, occult, and rape-revenge
Rape and revenge films
Rape and revenge films are a subgenre of exploitation film that was particularly popular in the 1970s. Rape/revenge movies generally follow the same three act structure:...
genres, from a feminist
Feminist film theory
Feminist film theory is theoretical film criticism derived from feminist politics and feminist theory. Feminists have many approaches to cinema analysis, regarding the film elements analysed and their theoretical underpinnings.-History:...
perspective. Although these films seem to offer sadistic pleasure to their viewers, Clover argues that these films are designed to align spectators not with the male tormentor, but with the female victim—the "final girl
Final girl
The final girl is a trope in thriller and horror films that specifically refers to the last woman or girl alive to confront the killer, ostensibly the one left to tell the story...
"—who finally defeats her oppressor. The book was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award
Bram Stoker Award
The Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing. The awards have been presented annually since 1987, and the winners are selected by ballot of the Active members of the HWA...
for Best Non-Fiction
Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction
The Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction is an award presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing for non-fiction.-Winners and nominees:Nominees are listed below the winner for each year....
in 1992.
External links
- "Men, Women and Chainsaws" reviewed by Lizzie Francke ScreenScreen (journal)Screen is a journal of film and television studies based at the John Logie Baird Centre at the University of Glasgow and published by Oxford University Press. It is co-edited by John Caughie, Alan Durant, Simon Frith, Sandra Kemp, Norman King, and Annette Kuhn.- History :Screen originated in the...
(1995) - "Men, Women, and Chain Saws" reviewed by Branislav L. Slantchev (2001)