Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

As a huge fan of horror, I was initially hesitant to read Nightmare Fuel by Nina Nesseth. I was worried that the book might not live up to my expectations or do justice to my beloved genre. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Nesseth's expert analysis and deep appreciation for horror films. The book exceeded my expectations, providing a thorough and engaging exploration of the science behind horror films and their impact on the human mind and body. Nesseth delves into various elements of the genre, such as jump scares and undead creatures, and examines their effects on audiences. She also includes interviews with industry professionals and in-depth discussions on popular horror films to provide a well-rounded understanding of the subject.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was Nesseth's clear love and appreciation for horror. Her passion for the genre is evident in her writing, and it made the reading experience all the more enjoyable. I also appreciated the way she presented the scientific concepts in a way that was both engaging and easy to comprehend. As someone with a background in science, I know there is an art to science writing that not all science communicators have. However, Nesseth explained things in a way that was accessible and engaging, making the book a pleasure to read.

Overall, I highly recommend Nightmare Fuel to all horror enthusiasts. It's a must-read for anyone who loves the genre and wants to gain a deeper understanding of the science behind it. I enjoyed it so much that I am already planning on rereading it in the future.

Note: this review was written by me but modified by the openAI chatbot to improve it.

I’ve had a bit of a love-hate relationship with horror films (if not the horror genre in general, books included though I love Stephen King). I will concede that a lot of horror movies are pure trash, but I did somewhat enjoy watching these types of movies in the homes of my friends some 15-ish years ago. And I have to admit that some horror films cause me to jump out of the seat of my pants. If you’ll allow me the indulgence, I can tell you a story about watching the first two Friday the 13th films when I was a teenager. It was late one night, and my parents were off somewhere — maybe on vacation — but it was a weekend and I watched these movies on HBO. (We had a grey market satellite dish at the time, as I lived in small-town Canada.) In any event, the Friday the 13th movies are not great films any way you can slice them, but Jason Voorhees was kind of this boogeyman for the AIDS crisis in the ’80s (or, at least, that’s how I read things). I was fascinated. I wanted to see these films. Well, I got more than I bargained for. After I was done watching them, I heard some weird noises outside in the backyard. Stupidly, I went to investigate with a flashlight. No, I did not get slashed by an axe-welding maniac in a hockey mask — there was nothing out there at all. But, to this day, I still have ongoing nightmares about being trapped in any of the first four Friday the 13th movies (since they’re the serious ones, and don’t have the kitschy “zombie Jason” in them). Seriously, I was so scared that night I could have crapped my pants!

This is a long preamble to reviewing Nina Nesseth’s extensively researched (and how!) book on the horror movie genre, Nightmare Fuel. The book is a pop psychology look at why scary movies frighten people so much, and it would be best appreciated by those who have taken both a psychology course and a film studies course (at the very least) at university. While the book is not impenetrable, it does cover a lot of ground about how the brain processes images and sound — and poses the question: does movie violence incite real-life violence or not? The book is fascinating, and there’s an exhaustive list of movies to watch and sources to consult in the final 15 percent of the book’s contents. (I read this on a Kindle.) However, if you don’t know a lot about how the brain works and if this is a subject that you’re not interested in, you’re probably going to be a bit lost. Truthfully, I thought some of the best bits involved interview sections between the author and either academics or filmmakers and the sections that examined classic and recent horror films and what made them tick.

There’s not too much I can fault with this one. I reviewed a galley of the book and did notice that a few of the release dates of movies cited were wrong, but those errors could have been ironed out in the finished book — so I’m hesitant to comment on this. (I can’t check against a finished book as one wasn’t sent to me, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things got sorted out. Even if this aspect didn’t change, the book is still pretty good and immaculately researched and written, so I would consider this to be a minor quibble. I’m a bit anally retentive about getting facts right, so you’ll have to forgive me if I’m carping too much here.) I was struck by the examinations of how horror movies have evolved over the past 100 years and found that particular chapter of the book to be especially eye-opening. Speaking of which, yes, there’s a section on violence to eyeballs in film, and I’ll have to admit that this part of the book made me squirm a little.

All in all, Nightmare Fuel is fun for an academically inclined book. While I’m not kidding when I say that it is probably best appreciated by those who have a little bit of an understanding of brain chemistry, genetics, and film theory, it still has its accessible moments. The author is in love with the subject material and she has a deftly humourous touch. Incidentally, I also appreciate that the book has been written by a woman because I’m not too sure if the horror genre is appreciated by a lot of women — as Nesseth points out, you’re either a wallflower as a woman and are outright scared of horror movies (and thus don’t like them) or have become desensitized to them and aren’t frightened of them (which may be a bit of a turn off to some men). In any event, and looking past that (though let me say it again that I’m impressed that a woman is this invested in what some may consider being grotesque material), Nightmare Fuel should be a volume that sits on any discerning horror buff’s shelf. If you don’t like horror movies at all, you’ll be taking a pass on this — but if you can appreciate even the cheesiest of horror films (Jack Frost, I’m looking at you) then there’ll be something for you to appreciate here. In the end, this book proves that horror films might not be all that bad and the best of them are certainly worth another look. That said, I don’t think you’ll find me wanting to revisit my Friday the 13th experience anytime soon. But to each their own!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for this DRC in exchange for an honest review!

When I read the premise for NIGHTMARE FUEL, I knew that I just had to read it! I'm sort of the odd duck in my friend group for enjoying horror novels. When I tell people whatever messed up book I've just been invested in, I usually get one of two questions: 1. how can you like stuff like that? and 2. who writes stuff like that?

It makes me feel a tad defensive like the implication is that I'm a bad person for enjoying horror. But as Nina Nesseth explained in this nonfiction title, there are plenty of good reasons why people enjoy horror. I personally loved the explanation of the neuroscience involved with being afraid. Nesseth explained everything really well. If she used a term, she defined it right away.

I recommend it to anyone who has had to defend their interests in horror to their friends and family and to anyone who enjoys learning new things.

This book really exceeded my expectations! As a horror movie fan I was interested in the concept of this nonfiction book, and was pleasantly surprised when it actually talked about the science behind why people enjoy horror! It was broken down into easily digestible sections and went really deep into how different parts of our body reactions to horror. I really enjoyed the section about music and how the different tones cause different reactions, it was very well researched and obvious that the author knew what she was talking about. I would definitely recommend this to any horror movie fan!

There are almost as many books about horror movies out there as there are horror movies themselves. Actually, that's not remotely true, but there have certainly been a fair few in recent years.

Nina Nesseth's offering, Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films is both a love song to the horror movie genre and a fairly in-depth look at the science behind why we love (or hate) horror movies, and especially at why certain elements of horror film really get to us. Covering everything from different types of monsters to the "magic" of music and sound editing, and delving into the emotional and psychological impact that all the myriad parts of horror have on the human mind, this book is at times technical (but explained as simply as possible) and also fascinating. There are also sections on the history of horror films (with interesting looks at how real-world events informed the horror of each decade) and on the long-term effects and likely future of the horror film industry.

This is definitely not one to breeze through quickly, but if you have a little time to devote to it (and of course, if you love horror movies), then it's a good read and an excellent addition to your Macabre Nonfiction shelf.

Nightmare Fuel is SUCH a cool book. As a diehard horror movie enthusiast, I was immediately interested in the psychological look behind why I'm so passionate about these movies, and I wasn't disappointed. Nina Nesseth is a great writer who's introduced a fascinating, overlooked part of human psychology. What is fear? Why do we find something scary, but then someone else will find it boring? Nesseth tackles all of these questions with easy to follow psychological history and context along with some of the best horror movie references I've read. I highly recommend this book, especially for people who love horror like myself, or for people who just want to know more about why we feel fear.

I had a difficult time reading this one. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get through it. I think pop psych just isn’t for me. My mind kept wondering, and I kept finding that I wasn’t really paying attention.

Reads as just a bit too pseudo-science to me. I know this stuff has its captivated audience, but I’m afraid I’m not it.

i liked the premise of this as ive been so obsessed with horror films the past year or so but it ended up being a bit different, a bit more science based than i was expecting which isn;t the book's fault! i just like my horror full on and while this look at why i like that was interesting, it just wasnt for me

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I think that was fun. I had a few issues but not enough to detract from the book as a whole. I think this would a good addition to a collection that had similar titles.

This was okay. Not quite what I wanted it to be, but informative enough. I learned a lot and can now talk about science in its relation to horror intelligently. The problem with a lot of these pop-science nonfiction books is that they just could've been an extended article

Okay, it's time to confess a weakness of mine. I love books that dive into the science of my favorite genres. So, naturally, I had to pick up Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films. I was too curious not to!

This is the book for every horror fan that has questioned why they love the genre so much. Nightmare Fuel breaks down the science of why we love to be scared and how these things successfully scare us.

“Anecdotes—and we’ll see a few more in this section—are not evidence.”

As one might expect, Nightmare Fuel is a highly informative read. It delves into the how's and why's of horror fiction, gleaning insight from years of personal and professional experience. Given the nature of this book, it's naturally perfect for all horror fans.

That being said, I can see readers that aren't obsessed with the genre enjoying this read. As I said, it's very informative and interesting. And since the goal isn't to scare us, it will probably appeal to a larger audience.

What sold me on Nightmare Fuel is how carefully researched it is. There are proper citations, not to mention so much attention to detail. It makes it easy to understand how the author is connecting the dots. Better yet, it is quite easy to follow along and understand their train of thought. I thoroughly enjoyed the investigation for this reason.

Horror buffs should consider diving into Nightmare Fuel, even if they don't usually read non-fiction novels. This one should be an exception to the rule, as it covers a subject many hold dear to their hearts.

Divided into eight chapters, Nightmare Fuel is a comprehensive examination of how horror films impact and shape us. More than the science of films, it dives into the chemistry behind fear and how it manifests in our bodies.

The first chapter, “This is your Brain on Horror,” describes the regions of the brain and the types of fear that affect them. The information is scientific, but explained in a clear and concise manner using examples from well-known films to explain the concepts.

From there, the book moves into Chapter 2, “A Brief History of Horror”, which was one of my favourite sections of the book. Beginning with the 1890s and working its way to the modern day, it was interesting to read how each time period has its own trends and dominant fears. While the book is mostly Western in its focus, Nesseth does briefly look at horror in other cultures, such as Japan. Like most sections of this book, I wish this one were expanded.

The next two chapters break down aspects of horror films by looking at the monsters and the use of sound and music. Monsters and villains are key in any film genre, but more so in horror films. While there are memorable heroes, it’s the antagonists that truly stand out in this genre. Using data gathered from various studies, Nesseth examines why certain monsters appeal to us and how filmmakers enhance their stories with sound. These two sections are probably the most interesting to a horror author like myself. Even though I do not write screenplays, looking at how filmmakers create iconic monsters and build atmosphere by engaging the senses is beneficial.

Building on the first chapter about the science behind our fear, Nesseth then examines why some scares impact us emotionally and culturally. In “Violence and Mayhem,” she tackles the argument that violent games and movies make violent people and then looks at the role of gore itself in horror. Then, in the final section, Nesseth explains how horror is for everyone, by looking at the people who love it and what they gain from the experience.

This book is full of information, more than I expected when I agreed to review it, and I haven’t even begun to digest everything I’ve learned from it. My little summary/review has failed to do it justice. Anyone with even a passing interest in horror can get something out of Nightmare Fuel and it is an excellent addition to my library.

Nightmare Fuel is a nonfiction book that delves into the science and psychology of horror films. I’ve read books like this before, specifically The Frighteners by Rev. Peter Laws and Danse Macabre by Stephen King.

There are plenty of people who find joy in horror, but why is that, exactly? What’s so enjoyable about terrifying monsters, gross and gory murders, and stories based on actual crimes? A lot of it comes down to the thrill. Nina Nesseth explores this through eight chapters, where we begin with a small exploration of the science of fear. We then move into the history of horror, and how we’ve got to where we are today. Then, chapters on different subgenres within the horror genre, such as monster movies and slashers.

I am a person who enjoys horror for selfish reasons. I don’t want any of these things to happen in real life, but through fiction, it is a safe way to enjoy the thrill of the hunt, so to speak. Or being hunted. As with The Frighteners, Nesseth also explores how watching or reading horror is healthy for us. Crime may be blamed on the sick and macabre, but horror may actually reduce crime.

I’d love to see more studies on this, and other people’s opinions on the science of horror movies. A lot of people into horror are seen as monsters, but in reality are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. I believe horror is to thank for some of it.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

CW for mentions of rape, violence, blood, and gore

This book delves into the science behind why we like horror movies, how we react, why we react how we do and why people love/hate them. If you are interesting in the science of horror this is definitely a book you should pick up.

It is a fascinating read that is packed with film references, deeper understanding of the brain regarding horror, movies and podcasts. The author even lists movies at the end of the book that got a mention within. Being a horror lover, I have watched 90% (now I have to watch the other 10%).

I will be gifting to some of my horror loving friends this book. I cannot wait to discuss it with them!
I want to thank NetGalley, Nina Nesseth and Macmillan-Tom Doherty Associates, Tor Nightfire for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

For those of you who love horror movies, have you ever wondered why? Why do you find thrill in something so gruesome? Why do you keep coming back for more when they scare you so much you can’t sleep? Nightmare Fuel dives into that question by breaking down the science of fear.

Reading Nightmare Fuel I was hooked from beginning to end. Nesseth does an incredible job outlining their research and providing sources for this book. The breakdown was done so well and really tapped into the physical experience of watching a horror movie.

Interviews with academics to directors to composers and film editors completed this books purpose. Movie spotlights included movies from The Exorcist to Hereditary, encapsulating a range of horror titles. This is truly a love letter to horror movies. If you’re a fan - you need it!

Thank you, thank you @tornightfire for sending me a copy for review! I loved this so much, 5 stars!

An accessible, educational romp through how the emotion of fear ties to horror films. This was not only informative, but illuminating and an interesting tool for self-discovery into how why people attach to horror and experience fear differently--myself included. WIll be purchasing a copy and including this book in my Nonfiction November round-ups.

I liked how this book gave a good overview over the genre and mentioned many different horror movies as examples over the decades. Plus, I had had absolutely no idea of the many horror research studies that had been made over the years.

I absolutely loved this book. Nonfic explorations of things that I find frightening are usually a hit for me- I’m curious even when it’s to my own detriment! If you’ve ever wondered why what creeps you out does, or if your wired differently as a result… this is an excellent choice.

Thank you so much @netgalley & @tornightfire for the eArc!

I love horror movies. Zombies. Ghosts. Serial killers. Monsters. Aliens. Whatever. I've watched it all. Now I can't say that I haven't covered my eyes at particularly creepy bits, screamed occasionally at jump scares, and even turned the volume off to survive really gory parts......but I still love the genre!

This book pulled me right in. Of course I want to know what makes horror movies horrific! I'm all over that immediately! And this book delivers. I had such a fun time reading my review copy of this book. And, to kick off my Halloween season reading this year, I even checked this book out of my public library to read it again! My son says he gets to read it when I'm finished. I can't wait for the discussions after we've both read it. I'm sure we will be talking horror movies and our reactions to them for some time afterwards!

This book is divided into 8 chapters and delves into some really cool aspects of horror itself, why we find it scary, and why people are attracted to entertainment that scares them. So interesting! There is also a list of horror movies in the back of the book, plus a list of books for further reading on the topic.

Loved it! I can't wait to read what this author comes up with next!

If you like horror movies, NIGHTMARE FUEL by Nina Nesseth is a fantastic read. The book is a semi-deep dive into what makes us love the movies that give us the heebie-jeebiees.

The book's description is spot-on: "With the affection of a true horror fan and the critical analysis of a scientist, Nesseth explains how audiences engage horror with both their brains and bodies, and teases apart the elements that make horror films tick. Nightmare Fuel covers everything from jump scares to creature features, serial killers to the undead, and the fears that stick around to those that fade over time."

Nina gives more than 40 examples of horror movies in her book. I enjoyed reminiscing about the way certain movies brought me terror. Like when my parents took me to see Jaws at the age of three. I'm still not quite comfortable swimming in the ocean, but that's the power a horror movie had over me.

I became lost off and on throughout the book with dissections of the way the brain works under stress. There was too much medical terminology that was difficult to follow (you could argue I'm not that smart).

I also thought some chapters made points already brought up before. I felt like some of the terms used regarding men were too negative, particularly when at least half, if not more, of horror fans are men. It felt like a point was being made regarding social issues rather than movie stats.

However, if you are a fan of horror movies, you will enjoy learning more about horror movies and the affects it has on our mental and physical states.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tom Doherty Associates, Tor Nightfire for an e-copy of NIGHTMARE FUEL to review.

I rate NIGHTMARE FUEL three out of five stars.