Seeing Things: Spectral Materialities of Bombay Horror

In the 1980s, Indian filmmakers produced horror movies about soul-sucking witches, knife-wielding psychopaths, and dark-caped vampires. Kartik Nair's book "Seeing Things" explores these failures as clues to the conditions in which the films were made, censored, and seen, revealing the spectral materialities informing the genre's haunted houses, grotesque bodies, and graphic violence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 13 February 2024
Publisher: University of California Press

In the vibrant tapestry of Indian cinema during the 1980s, a wave of horror movies swept across the screens, captivating audiences with their spine-tingling tales of soul-sucking witches, knife-wielding psychopaths, and dark-caped vampires. Among these cinematic masterpieces, "Seeing Things" takes center stage, delving into the realm of the unexpected. Kartik Nair, in his insightful exploration, uncovers the hidden gems of these films—the sudden cuts, botched makeup effects, continuity errors, and celluloid damage that often go unnoticed. By meticulously analyzing these flaws, Nair offers a unique perspective, peering into the conditions under which these movies were created, censored, and consumed. Through a combination of close analysis, extensive archival research, and captivating original interviews, "Seeing Things" unveils the spectral materialities that shape the genre's haunted houses, grotesque bodies, and graphic violence. This captivating book sheds light on the lesser-known aspects of Indian horror cinema, providing a deeper understanding of its cultural significance and its enduring impact on audiences worldwide.

Weight: 424g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520392281