It is hard to explain why, but this book did not work for me. I think it's more me than the book though. I was looking for something that I probably can't find in books, an understanding that resonates with me for why horror appeals so much to some people. I actually do believe this was answered in many ways, but I did not feel I understood any better after reading it.

As with any book that brings together different authors, some essays were better written than others, but none of them were bad.
I did find the essays based on movies and stories that I was familiar with were more effective and easier for me to read, which is rather obvious and just makes sense. And in the end I found myself skipping or barely skimming the ones that were based around horror movies or characters I didn't recognize at all.
For fans of horror, that have a greater depth of experience than I do would probably find a lot to take away from this book, but in the end I found it more frustrating than meaningful for me. ( )

I haven't watched a ton of horror (not great for watching in the background with young kids), nor am I queer, but this still has a lot to offer to someone like me (read: average straight guy).
It's an anthology, so essays that have appeared here and there by a wide variety of queer authors, all likening their experience with different horror movies. There's a lot to chew on here, and it's very gripping even for someone on the outside. ( )

For information, contains:
-Introduction by Joe Vallese
-A Demon-Girl's Guide to Life by S. Trimble (The Exorcist)
-Both Ways by Carmen Maria Machado (Jennifer's Body)
-My Hand on the Glass by Bruce Owens Grimm (Heredity)
-The Girl, the Well, the Ring by Zefyr Lisowski (The Ring; Pet Cemetary)
-Imprint by Joe Vellese (Grace)
-Indescribable by Carrow Narby (The Blob; Society)
-A Working Definition of Monstrous by Ryan Dzelzkalns (Godzilla)
-The Wolf in the Room by Prince Shakur (Good Manners / a boas manières)
-Three Men on a Boat by Jen Corrigan (Jaws)
-The Wolf Man's Daughter by Tosha R. Taylor (The Wolf Man)
-Twin/Skin by Addie Tsai (Dead Ringers)
-Loving Annie Hayworth by Laura Maw (The Birds)
-The Same Kind of Monster by Jonathan Robbins Leon (The Leech Woman)
-Centered and Seen by Sumiko Daulson (Candyman)
-Blood, Actually by Grant Sutton (Friday the 14th, Part II)
-The Trail of His Flames by Tucker Lieberman (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
-The Men in the Screen by Stephan Triplett (Us)
-Sight Unseen by Spencer Williams (The Blair Witch Project)
-Bad Hombre by Sarah Francesa (Is That You? / Eres tu, papa?)
-Black Body Snatchers by Samuel Autman (Get Out)
-Long Nights in the Dark by Richard Scott Larsen (Halloween)
-On Beauty and Necrosis by Sachiko Ragosta (Eyes Without a Face)
-Good Guys, Doll by Will Stockton (Child's Play)
-The Healed Body by Jude Ellison S. Doyle (In My Skin / Dans ma peau)
-Notes on Sleepaway Camp by Viet Dinh
-Artist's Notes by Bishakh Som

I'm really glad I got to read this. It wasn't what I expected, but is still valuable for social commentary. ( )

A great collection of essays, this book shows how queer people see themselves in horror movies. I thought the cover was hilarious. ( )