Misfit sisters

About this book

How are tales such as 'Cinderella', 'Red Riding Hood' and 'Bluebeard' referenced and revised in modern screen horror? What aims motivate female protagonists, and what obstacles do they encounter? If these are cautionary tales for the 21st century, what do they tell us about gender roles and expectations, romantic ambitions and angry wishes? Misfit Sisters breaks new ground in evaluating how recent horror texts articulate a female rite of passage, uncovering thematic parallels that update many cautionary concerns found in fairy tales of the past, particularly in warning against predatory men, treacherous females, and unhappy family situations. By focusing on women struggling to survive various perils, examples including Carrie and Carrie II, The Craft, Ginger Snaps, the Scream trilogy, Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, What Lies Beneath, The Gift, the Ring films and Dark Water are each shown to provide contemporary coming-of-age narratives, with female identity, aspirations, and agency duly examined.