B-Movie Gothic: International Perspectives

Explores the neglected subject of Gothic B-movies in the Americas, Europe, Asia and AfricaFollowing the Second World War, low-budget B-movies that explored and exploited Gothic narratives and aesthetics became a significant cinematic expression of social and cultural anxieties. Influencing new trends in European, Asian and African filmmaking, these films carried on the tradition established by the Gothic novel, and yet they remain part of a largely neglected subject. ‘B-Movie Gothic: International Perspectives’ examines the influence of Gothic B-movies on the cinematic traditions of the United States, Britain, Scandinavia, Spain, Turkey, Japan, Hong Kong and India, highlighting their transgressive, transnational and provocative nature. It shows how B-movie Gothic is a relentlessly creative form, filled with political tensions and moving from shocking conservatism to profound social critique.Key featuresExamines the Gothic in B-movie narratives and techniques in different national cinemasCovers US, British, Spanish, Turkish and Japanese Gothic, as well as the influence of Gothic on Scandinavian, Chinese, Tanzanian and Indian low-budget cinemaIncludes chapters on the transnational tradition of B-movie Gothic from the 1950s to the presentExplores how modes and tropes from Gothic fiction have been integrated into B-movies