Hardcore Horror Cinema in the 21st Century : Production, Marketing and Consumption

The first of its kind, this study examines the exemplars of hardcore horror—Fred Vogel’s August Underground trilogy, Shane Ryan’s Amateur Porn Star Killer series and Lucifer Valentine’s “vomit gore” films. The author begins with a definition and critical overview of this marginalized subgenre before exploring its key aesthetic convention, the pursuit of realist horror. Production practices, exhibition and marketing strategies are discussed in an in-depth interview with filmmaker Shane Ryan. Audience reception is covered with a focus on fan interaction via the Internet. Cover Acknowledgments Table of Contents Introduction: Beyond Videodrome—An Archaeology of 21st-Century Hardcore Horror One. “Not like how Hollywood shows us”: A Definition of Hardcore Horror in the 21st Century Two. The Genealogy of Extremity in North American Film Three. Global Currents of Extreme Horror Four. “A malignant, seething hatework”: The Films of Hardcore Horror in the 21st Century Five. The Realist Aesthetic of Hardcore Horror Six. “These movies have brought me many problems”: Performance and the Traumatized Self Within Hardcore Horror Seven. Hardcore Horror Production: an interview with Amateur Porn Star Killer Director Shane Ryan Eight. “I’ll pay you in cash to slip this thread into the purge”: Navigating Fandom in Hardcore Horror Conclusion: “It has no redeeming features whatsoever that I could discern”—The Cultural Value of Hardcore Horror Chapter Notes Bibliography Index Introduction: beyond videodrome: an archaeology of 21st-century hardcore horror -- "Not like how Hollywood shows us": a definition of hardcore horror in the 21st century -- The genealogy of extremity in North American film -- Global currents of extreme horror -- "A malignant, seething ": the films of hardcore horror in the 21st century -- The realist aesthetic of hardcore horror -- "These movies have brought me many problems": performance and the traumatized self within hardcore horror -- Hardcore horror production: an interview with amateur porn star killer director Shane Ryan -- "I'll pay you in cash to slip this thread into the purge": navigating fandom in hardcore horror -- Conclusion: "it has no redeeming features whatsoever that I could discern": the cultural value of hardcore horror "The first of its kind, this study examines the exemplars of hardcore horror. The author begins with a definition and critical overview of this marginalized subgenre before exploring its key aesthetic convention, the pursuit of realist horror. Production practices, exhibition and marketing strategies are discussed in an in-depth interview with filmmaker Shane Ryan"--Provided by publisher