Abstract | Keywords | Export | Availability | Bookmark

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

What is it about 'Jaws, Alien, Little Shop of Horrors and Poltergeist' that plays on men's fear of women? And what is it that they fear most? 'The Monstrous-Feminine' examines the role of women in horror films. The author argues that when a woman is constructed as monstrous, it is almost always in conjuction with reproduction and mothering functions. In this exploration, using detailed analysis of 'Carrie, The Exorcist, Psycho' and 'Alien' among others, Creed identifies the seven faces of female monstrosity--archaic mother; monstrous womb; vampire; witch; possessed monster; deadly 'femme castratrice' and castrating mother. The argument then moves on to challenge the Freudian concept that a woman terrifies because she is castrated--Creed holds forth that the woman acting as castrat'or' is what creates horror for men. 'The' 'Monstrous-Feminine' goes on to discuss and analyze what these images mean for feministfilm theory, as well as revealing important clues about masculinity.

Film --- Depth psychology --- Monsters in motion pictures. --- Horror films --- Women in motion pictures. --- Psychological aspects.