Fatal Attraction (Wiley-Blackwell Series in Film and Television)

Since its famed introduction of the “boiled bunny,” Fatal Attraction (1987) established itself as one of American cinema’s most controversial films. This insightful new book surveys the film's formal features and its ideological impact, paying special attention to the film’s signature mix of sexuality, fear, and family values. * Features detailed breakdowns of the formal techniques the film employs to create suspense, such as turning ordinary household objects into agents of terror * Considers the film’s mixed-genre status as a thriller, melodrama, horror picture, and film noir * Offers an explanation and analysis of the cultural storm ignited by the film, especially due to its treatment of single career women * Investigates the film’s handling of extramarital sexuality, pregnancy, birth control, and AIDS * Discusses the film’s lasting role in shaping American gender politics Content: Chapter 1 “I'm Not Going to be Ignored, Dan” (pages 6–33): Chapter 2 American Genres in Fatal Attraction (pages 34–61): Chapter 3 Career Women of the 1980s (pages 62–86): Chapter 4 Erotic Sexuality, AIDS, and the Case for Staying Faithful (pages 87–107): Chapter 5 Female Identities and Postfeminist Paradigms (pages 108–120): Fatal Attraction (1987) established itself as one of American cinema's most controversial films. This book surveys the film{u2019}s formal features and its ideological impact, paying special attention to its signature mix of sexuality, fear, and family values. It examines the formal techniques the film employs to create suspense, such as turning ordinary household objects into agents of terror. It considers the film's mixed-genre status as a thriller, melodrama, horror picture, and film noir. It offers an explanation and analysis of the cultural impact of the film, especially due to its treatment of single career women. It also investigates the film's handling of extramarital sexuality, pregnancy, birth control, and AIDS and discusses the film's lasting role in shaping American gender politics "I'm not going to be ignored, Dan" : narrative cues for suspense and intimidation American genres in Fatal attraction Career women of the 1980s : feminism and the reception history of Fatal attraction Erotic sexuality, AIDS, and the case for staying faithful Female identities and post-feminist paradigms.