This work investigates the representation of the female monster in horror cinema through the lens of psychoanalytic theory and feminist critique. Barbara Creed, a prominent film theorist, utilizes a framework rooted in Julia Kristeva’s concept of abjection to analyze how the monstrous-feminine is constructed in film. By examining the intersection of gender, horror, and the unconscious, the author argues that the female body is frequently positioned as a site of horror, challenging traditional patriarchal views of the feminine. The text systematically deconstructs the cinematic tropes that define the monstrous-feminine across various subgenres of horror.

Experts and scholars in film studies identify this text as a foundational work for understanding gender dynamics in horror cinema. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a working knowledge of psychoanalytic terminology to fully grasp the author's arguments.