What role does Twilight play in the story of women in horror?

The Twilight book and film franchise is one of the most incendiary and divisive pieces of media of the 21st century. It’s unique in countless ways, from it’s characters to its impact. At it’s core it’s a coming of age story that sits atop of a horror-inspired backdrop. Written by a woman with a woman as it’s main protagonist, I wanted to talk about Twilight regardless of how quote unquote good it is. I find Twilight interesting because it both follows and ignores popular and effective horror tropes, as well as asks us to really try to figure out what a feminist character really looks like.

Sources Referenced:

• Ten Years of Twilight: The Extraordinary Feminist Legacy of the Panned Vampire Saga
• Twilight is a Horror Movie, Just Not the Way You're Thinking
• Why Twilight is Not Gothic Literature
• Mormon Influence, Imagery Run Deep Through Twilight