The study of the national specificity of horror film in Post-socialist China

Abstract

This thesis is a study of post-socialist Chinese horror cinema – namely, horror films of the period from the film industry reform in 2003 to the present – and centres around the question of how Chinese horror filmmakers are responding to the new policies and regulations and achieve their financial success by fulfilling audiences’ expectations from the perspective of cultural traditions. It contributes to an overview of the Chinese film industry and the production value chain of horror films that is rarely accessible to the English-speaking world, thus it is also intended as a practical guide for producers and potential investors interested in entering the contemporary Chinese horror film market. This thesis argues for the essential role of government regulation and the cultural context of China in shaping the generic attributes of Chinese horror film in both post-socialist China and post-socialist cinema.