Labors of Fear: The Modern Horror Film Goes to Work, edited by Aviva Briefel and Jason Middleton

From the gory cover art of VHS tapes to the iconic imagery of chainsaws, horror films have long been misconstrued as mere vehicles for shock and sensation. However, Labors of Fear: The Modern Horror Film Goes to Work challenges the common misconception that these items are used because they're horror staples and instead offers a socioeconomic analysis of the genre that explores representations of work and leisure with scholarly rigour and depth. Briefel and Middleton build upon the foundational work of Robin Wood to present a fresh framework for understanding horror cinema, delving into overlooked aspects of the genre and challenging conventional interpretations concerning how horror films depict work.