Scream with Me
Full title - Scream with Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism 1968 - 1980
Scream with Me by Eleanor Johnson is a must-read for anyone who thinks about or wants to learn about how horror reflects or can impact society - in this case with a focus on feminist issues such as bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.
Textbook-level research has gone into this (which makes sense as the author teaches horror history in her curriculum at Columbia), but Scream with Me is as easy and engaging to read as a novel.
The first 2/3 or so (discounting appendices) of the book examines 6 classic horror films released between 1968 and 1980 through a feminist lens.
I was 7 years old in 1980, so by the time I saw these films as a teenager (and probably budding feminist horror fan me was also influenced by them), the world had already started to change, at least somewhat, for the better in regards to reproductive rights and acknowledging domestic abuse (acknowledging that it was then and even more so again, still far from ideal), so it was really interesting to consider how contemporary audiences would have reacted to seeing these things depicted onscreen. Even more, it’s impressive to think of the power these films had in teaching those same viewers and inspiring the changes that occurred in society and laws because of them. it’s hard to imagine film having that kind of power en masse now, but it’s nice to dream.
Armed with the insight on the earlier films as well as Johnson’s examination of 6 feminist films from the last several years, I most appreciated the call to action in the epilogue. We have to use our voice any way we can before we lose that voice altogether - whether it’s through art, protests, writing our legislators , or - as the women in Women Talking do - creating an archive by writing it down, even if it’s just for ourselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Pub. Date: 9/30/25
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