“Men, Women, & Jigsaws:” A Review Of The New Book “Millennial Nasties!”

With this cover, you got your “Saw,” your “Hostel,” and hey, it’s Dollface from “The Strangers!”

Not only does 2024 mark the 20th anniversary of the original “Saw,” we’re also slated to get the 11th entry in the franchise by September (if “Saw” makes it to the 13, Sean S. Cunningham has to move to Canada).  This year is also the 20th anniversary of the derogatory “torture porn” moniker given to films of that time period, such as the “Hostel” films and Rob Zombie’s grisly oeuvre.  The timing is perfect for author Ariel Powers-Schaub to release “Millennial Nasties: Analyzing a Decade of Brutal Horror Film Violence,” her new book about the era’s many horror films and how they rose to prominence.

Powers-Schaub explains why “torture porn” isn’t the most accurate name for the subgenre, even though we’ve used it as a shorthand for years.  She analyzes the hallmarks of these films, such as their grittiness, bleak endings, and distrust of strangers both at home and abroad. While these motifs may ring several bells, Powers-Schaub contextualizes them in ways we may not have put together at the time. 

I can definitely say I wasn’t thinking about a post-9/11 world when I bought tickets to see some hillbillies rip apart hapless trespassers, nor was I thinking about the inherent misogyny of watching mean sorority sisters get killed just for opening their mouths.  Powers-Schaub connects the dots with each film, creating an engrossing spider web of depravity and sickly green and yellow lighting.  Really, the “Saw” films, alone, are lit in green and puke-yellow hues. Were we trying to make ourselves nauseous back then?

Speaking of “Saw,” the first section runs through the first 7 films since, let’s be real, everything comes back to “Saw.”  There’s even a reference section in the index, showing how many “Saw” alumni worked on the other films in the book, which range from the 2006 “Black Christmas” remake to the “Hatchet” and “Final Destination” films, most of which are covered within.  She even dissects a few direct-to-DVD sequels, which you won’t find anywhere else.  Who would bother to look for valuable context in “Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead?” 

Powers-Schaub doesn’t cover all the entries of the franchises (sorry Declan O’Brien), but finds relevance in all the films included.

While the book covers a wide array of films from the 2000’s, “Millennial Nasties” still feels too short. It dives well below below the surface, but I honestly would’ve preferred it to go even deeper and explore some contradictions.  For example, I never previously took note of the relentlessly positive portrayals of police and military figures in these films, but where does Detective Hoffman from the “Saw” sequels fit in?  Is he closer to the “other” that seeks to destroy the “normal” characters like Powers-Schaub mentions in chapters on “The Hills Have Eyes” and “Wrong Turn?” 

There’s also an assertion that “The Strangers” is inherently pro-Christian because of the two missionary boys who appear at the end, which I don’t entirely agree with, but it’s absolutely worth discussing.  There’s so much more to talk about here, but Powers-Schaub gets the ball rolling in a fascinating way.

It’s satisfying to get some scholarship on this particular generation of horror films, even if it feels like just yesterday when John Kramer rose from the bathroom floor.  Fans of torture porn (it’s going to take a while to expel that phrase from my brain) will appreciate the celebratory nature of the book, though there isn’t a ton of new information.  Powers-Schaub is more interested in examination than revelation, and her book is better for it.  When future generations of horror fans look back and wonder what the hell was wrong with us, they’ll have “Millennial Nasties” to provide the answers.

Author Ariel Powers-Schaub. Photo from Instagram.

“Millennial Nasties: Analyzing a Decade of Brutal Horror Film Violence” releases on September 17, 2024 in hardcover, paperback, and ebook.   Pre-order is available now from Encyclopocalypse Publications. 

Stay up to date with “The Dark Side Of Pop Culture” by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.