Skip to product information
1 of 1

Brandon West

At the Edge of Existence: Liminality in Horror Cinema Since the 1970s

At the Edge of Existence: Liminality in Horror Cinema Since the 1970s

💎 Earn 213 Points (£2.13) on this item.

Important: Dispatches within 2 to 4 weeks
Regular price £42.79 GBP
Regular price £44.95 GBP Sale price £42.79 GBP
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

YOU SAVE £2.16

  • Condition: Brand new
  • UK Delivery times: Usually arrives within 2 - 3 working days
  • UK Shipping: Fee starts at £2.39. Subject to product weight & dimension

Bulk ordering. Want 15 or more copies? Get a personalised quote and bigger discounts. Learn more about bulk orders.

  • More about At the Edge of Existence: Liminality in Horror Cinema Since the 1970s


Liminal horror is a subgenre of horror that blurs the line between fiction and reality, pushing audiences to consider where fiction ends and reality begins. This book surveys a variety of liminal horror films and discusses why horror films are obsessed with the natures of and borders between fiction and reality. It explores the role liminal horror plays in the human psyche reality and the various functions of the human mind in perceiving or misperceiving reality.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 223 pages
Publication date: 19 November 2021
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc


Few scary stories begin with a disclaimer that they are fictional. Instead, they claim to be true even when they are not. Such stories blur the line between fiction and reality, pushing audiences to consider where fiction ends and reality begins. These kinds of horror stories comprise the understudied subgenre of liminal horror.

As the first book on this subject, this volume surveys a variety of liminal horror films. It discusses the different variations within liminal horror's sub-genres and considers why horror films are obsessed with the natures of, and borders between, fiction and reality. After first laying out the basic traits of the horror genre in the context of liminality, this book then dives into film more specifically and how the medium is uniquely situated to explore the movement between the fictional and the real. Through lenses such as dreaming, memory, and perception, the following chapters explore the role liminal horror plays in the the human psyche's subconscious/unconscious, and the various functions of the human mind in perceiving, or misperceiving, reality.

Few scary stories begin with a disclaimer that they are fictional. Instead, they claim to be true even when they are not. Such stories blur the line between fiction and reality, pushing audiences to consider where fiction ends and reality begins. These kinds of horror stories comprise the understudied subgenre of liminal horror.


As the first book on this subject, this volume surveys a variety of liminal horror films. It discusses the different variations within liminal horror's sub-genres and considers why horror films are obsessed with the natures of, and borders between, fiction and reality. After first laying out the basic traits of the horror genre in the context of liminality, this book then dives into film more specifically and how the medium is uniquely situated to explore the movement between the fictional and the real. Through lenses such as dreaming, memory, and perception, the following chapters explore the role liminal horror plays in the the human psyche's subconscious/unconscious, and the various functions of the human mind in perceiving, or misperceiving, reality.


Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476681405

This item can be found in:

UK and International shipping information

UK Delivery and returns information:

  • Delivery within 2 - 3 days when ordering in the UK.
  • Shipping fee for UK customers from £2.39. Fully tracked shipping service available.
  • Returns policy: Return within 30 days of receipt for full refund.

International deliveries:

Shulph Ink now ships to Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, India, Luxembourg Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, United States of America.

  • Delivery times: within 5 - 10 days for international orders.
  • Shipping fee: charges vary for overseas orders. Only tracked services are available for most international orders. Some countries have untracked shipping options.
  • Customs charges: If ordering to addresses outside the United Kingdom, you may or may not incur additional customs and duties fees during local delivery.
View full details