Hearths of Darkness: The Family in the American Horror Film by Tony Williams Published by Fairleigh Dickinson University Press This work examines the family horror motif existing within the parameters of the genre. Far from being an absent or temporary feature of the genre, the author argues that it is a fundamental component of the entire corpus. Works examined include the 30s Universal series, the Val Lewton works, selected examples of Hitchcock and 50s horror, the films of Larry Cohen, up to and including the Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Nightmare on Elm Street series.

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