"The authors offer a provocative exploration of the conventions and aesthetics of the supernatural via close readings of selected fiction features . . . such as The Vampire (1957) and Shiver (2008). The key themes of these movies (among them, patriarchy in crisis) are fruitfully examined within the historical-sociopolitical context of the disorienting forced leap into modernity undergone by both Mexico and Spain in the 20th century. Rodíguez-Hernández and Schaefer's research is in-depth and up-to-date."—D. West, Choice
“The human psyche envisions the future in terms of hopes and fears. This volume skillfully explores the ghosts of those fears. A welcome work, indispensable for understanding the gothic supernatural in films from Spain and Mexico over six decades.”—Andrés Lema-Hincapié, coeditor of Despite All Adversities: Spanish-American Queer Cinema
“Finally, a long-awaited comparative examination of the supernatural in Mexican and Spanish horror and hybrid films. These case studies illuminate historical and contemporary sociopolitical problems through highly readable yet philosophical close readings grounded in film analysis. An indispensable and exciting contribution to genre studies.”—Sergio de la Mora, author of Cinemachismo: Masculinities and Sexuality in Mexican Film
“The pairing of Mexican and Spanish films leads to innovative readings that move beyond the framework of the national to identify the potency of supernatural tropes and motifs in posing questions about the limits of science and reason in tackling the most important themes regarding the nature and meaning of human existence. The authors bring to bear an impressive grounding in psychoanalysis, Marxist theory and analysis, and other relevant thought from a variety of fields.”—Kathleen Vernon, coeditor of A Companion to Pedro Almodóvar
