Labors of Fear

A groundbreaking collection, framed thoughtfully by the editors, with consistently excellent chapters that tackle the underexamined central question of “work” in creative, provocative, and original ways.

— Dawn Keetley, author of Making a Monster: Jesse Pomeroy, the Boy Murderer of 1870s Boston

Employing an expansive understanding of work, Labors of Fear is a valuable intervention that centers economic and labor issues. I know of no other book that examines how work or capitalism and fear are intertwined in the horror film.

— Isabel C. Pinedo, author of Difficult Women on Television Drama: The Gender Politics of Complex Women in Serial Narratives

An intriguing array of essays that consider horror and various forms of labor and work. . . By analyzing and reflecting on these films—and how labor and work in all their forms relate to the terror of the contemporary—this collection illuminates the fears and frights to be found not only in the cinema but also in one's own occupations.

— CHOICE

Labors of Fear makes a strong case that the horror genre has, in fact, understood that work is a monstrous presence in most of our lives all along, and the genre has been offering the resources to help us rethink what work can and should be . . . Thus, one of the main accomplishments of Labors of Fear is the simple act of lingering on aspects of work . . . It’s all presented in clear, readable prose, with a minimum of footnotes—well suited for both academics looking to use these essays as jumping-off points for their own work and for horror viewers wanting to find new ways to pay attention to their favorite films.

— Los Angeles Review of Books

From the very introduction of Labors of Fear: The Modern Horror Film Goes to Work, editors Aviva Briefel and Jason Middleton posit that modern horror films challenge the concept of the so-called American dream in unique and complex ways . . . The beauty of such a conception is that is allows for a plethora of approaches and associated themes, as evidenced by the chapters that follow . . . Labors of Fear presents ground-breaking additions to the field. Altogether, the innovative nature and plasticity of this text makes it an invaluable addition to the library of many scholars interested in horror studies, film, and associated topics.

— The Journal of Popular Culture

Not only a groundbreaking study of its own accord, but also stands as an inspiring call for further work on horror and/of labour. It is both a fascinating critical accompaniment to the films it covers, and an important standalone scholarly intervention.

— Monstrum