Horror Noir
Where Cinema’s Dark Sisters Meet
$39.95
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About the Book
This critical survey examines the historical and thematic relationships between two of the cinema’s most popular genres: horror and film noir. The influence of 1930s- and 1940s-era horror films on the development of noir is detailed, with analyses of more than 100 motion pictures in which noir criminality and mystery meld with supernatural and psychological horror. Included are the films based on popular horror/mystery radio shows (The Whistler, Inner Sanctum), the works of RKO producer Val Lewton (Cat People, The Seventh Victim), and Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological ghost stories. Also discussed are gothic and costume horror noirs set in the 19th century (The Picture of Dorian Gray, Hangover Square); the noir elements of more recent films; and the film noir aspects of the Hannibal Lecter movies and other serial-killer thrillers.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Paul Meehan
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 310
Bibliographic Info: 77 photos, filmography, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4597-4
eISBN: 978-0-7864-6219-3
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Introduction 3
1. Horror and Fantasy Elements in Classic Films Noir 11
2. Horror Noir in the 1930s 30
3. The Val Lewton/Jacques Tourneur Noir Legacy 53
4. Horror Noir from Radioland 73
5. Monster Noir 93
6. Gothic and Costume Noir 115
7. Horror Noir in the 1950s 145
8. Hitchcock’s Psychological Ghosts and Doppelgangers 167
9. Modern Horror Noir in the 1960s 186
10. Horror Noirs of the 1970s and 1980s 211
11. The Noir Horrors of Hannibal the Cannibal 237
12. The Mean Streets of Hell 254
Conclusion: Horror and Film Noir—The Dark Genres 277
Filmography 281
Chapter Notes 289
Bibliography 291
Index 293
Book Reviews & Awards
- “a fascinating study, indispensable for aficionados”—Booklist
- “a solid contribution to film literature…recommended”—Journal of American Culture
