2021/07/01 by Becky Millar, Jonny Lee · 1 citation
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health #Gothic Literature and Media Analysis #Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/17540739211022815
openalex publication_date 2021/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Many of the most popular and critically acclaimed horror films feature grief as a central theme. This article argues that horror films are especially suited to portraying and communicating the phenomenology of grief. We explore two overlapping claims. First, horror is well suited to represent the experience of grief, in particular because the disruptive effects of horror “monsters” on protagonists mirror the core experience of disruption that accompanies bereavement. Second, horror offers ways in which the experience of grief can be contained and regulated and, in doing so, may offer psychological benefits for the bereaved. While our focus will be squarely on film, much of what we say applies to other media.