Global Horror Cinema Today: 28 Representative Films from 17 Countries

Film critic Towlson’s (The Turn to Gruesomeness in American Horror Films, 1931–1936; Subversive Horror Cinema) latest is a thoroughly researched international overview of the horror genre. Each chapter chronicles the history of horror in a different country, examines contemporary productions, and explores two recent films for a deeper look at common national themes. For instance, Towlson highlights feminist leanings in many recent Australian horror films that he says counter the hypermasculine Ozploitation movies of the past. He also details the work of Argentinian filmmakers who tap into issues such as the tension between urbanity and ruralization. These readings could perhaps be developed into a longer volume or even a series of books that focus on one country at a time and would allow for a more thorough study, but as it stands, this is a fascinating introduction for readers looking to learn more about horror films outside of the United States.