If art is a mirror of society, there is perhaps no more perfect medium to reflect the current struggles of women in America than classic horror films—a notion that the author and Columbia University professor Eleanor Johnson has fully taken on board.

In her new book, Scream With Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism 1968–1980 (Atria Books), Johnson adeptly analyzes how six classic horror movies— Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, The Stepford Wives, The Omen, Alien, and The Shining —map onto real-world topics like domestic violence, bodily autonomy, and the oppression of women, forcing the viewer to be horrified by what they see. We sat down with Johnson to discuss her illuminating survey.

Eleanor Johnson Photo: Jill Shomer

Vogue : What led you to write this book?

El

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