Contemporary Taiwanese Horror Cinema

Explores how contemporary Taiwanese horror cinema uses ghostly narratives to address identity, trauma, and cultural change, blending folklore and futurity within global, queer, and art-house film contexts

This book examines how contemporary Taiwanese ghost films reimagine trauma, folklore, and identity within a dynamic and globally connected cinematic context.

Contemporary Taiwanese Horror Cinema investigates the resurgence of horror and ghost films in Taiwan’s vibrant cinematic landscape. By analyzing a range of works, from postmodern horror comedies to art-house meditations, the book reveals how ghostly motifs serve as powerful metaphors for identity, historical trauma, and cultural renewal. Bridging traditional folklore with the digital age, Taiwanese filmmakers explore issues of memory, spirituality, and societal transformation, responding to both local and global shifts. Through a multidisciplinary lens combining film studies, cultural history, and media theory, this book offers a fresh and comprehensive examination of contemporary Taiwanese cinema. It highlights the dialogue between genre cinema and art-house aesthetics, and situates Taiwan’s “ghost island” narratives within broader conversations on globalization, queer representation, and cinematic innovation. Accessible and richly documented, Contemporary Taiwanese Horror Cinema addresses scholars, students, and cinephiles interested in Asian cinema, horror studies, and cultural identity.