ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author looks at category of horror film: those that blast the viewer with graphic gory visual excess. She discusses important examples of the graphic horror genre. The author begins with one of the most notorious horror films of the twentieth century, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This film helps her to describe a transition from uncanny horror to graphic horror that often occurs in horror-film series. In graphic horror films, the spectacle becomes so vast and overwhelming that it makes sense to consider again how visual spectacles can be related to the concept of the sublime. Graphic horror sequels enable fans to study and comment upon cinematic techniques: plot variations, allusions, style, effects wizardry, parody, and "in-jokes". In fact, the graphic horror of the Hellraiser movies actually reinforces conservative conceptions of good and evil. Graphic horror shows more pain, screams, blood, wounds, and gore than is really possible or believable.
