April 25, 2022
Nesseth (The Science of Orphan Black), a senior scientist at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, digs into “the hows and whys of all of the bits and pieces that make horror work” in this thoughtful survey. To examine how “horror taps into its audiences’ psychology and biology,” Nesseth first breaks down the components of scary movies and links them to the human brain. The amygdala, for example, is responsible for putting a person on alert (and has been shown through brain scans to become activated when spooky music is played), while the insula processes disgust. Nesseth covers the workings of body horror (“The human body is an ideal site for horror: the body is personal, and even on a good day it’s kinda gross”), and what makes a movie monster memorable (“While it definitely helps if the monster clearly looks like an obvious threat, this isn’t a hard and fast rule”). Beyond the science, Nesseth is a skilled historian of the subject, too, describing how horror “ up a mirror to the anxieties gripping society at the time when their film is being made.” This is an enlightening—and fun—look at what goes on when one’s blood runs cold.
December 1, 2022
"Horror is a genre as broad as the range of human fears," writes Nesseth. Despite a frequent lack of critical acclaim, horror movies have a diverse and devoted audience. Nesseth has a background in human biology and a special interest in the relationship between science and pop culture. Nesseth (coauthor, The Science of "Orphan Black") makes her solo debut with this thought-provoking analysis of what scares us and why. From slashers to spiders, Nesseth leaves no trope unturned. Though there is a great deal of professional terminology, both scientific and film-related, Nesseth's explanations are comprehensible and conversational. Owing to the interpretive and analytical nature of the text, spoilers abound, though most of the plot points are largely common knowledge for fear fanatics. Narrator Raquel Beattie expertly brings an intensity and adrenaline that horror readers will appreciate, creating a compelling atmosphere reminiscent of fiction. Some of the content is understandably gory and graphic, but Beattie keeps the tone more captivating than crude. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an in-depth but accessible analysis of the psychological and biological basis for their favorite frights. Recommended for fans of horror fiction and films.--Lauren Hackert
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