The 'Evil Child' in Literature, Film and Popular Culture

This collection of scholarly essays provides a comprehensive examination of how the figure of the evil child operates across literature, film, and television, analyzing characters from Tom Riddle to the possessed Regan. The book employs a global perspective, utilizing sociohistorical, cinematic, and psychological frameworks to dissect why these unsettling young figures hold such a powerful grip on the cultural imagination. It moves beyond simple horror tropes to investigate the deeper anxieties these characters represent about childhood, innocence, and societal fears.

What makes this analysis particularly compelling is its focus on the "cultural work" these evil children perform, revealing them as complex reflections of adult concerns rather than one-dimensional monsters. Teen and young adult readers who are fascinated by the darker corners of pop culture will find a rich, academic toolkit for understanding the stories they love on a much deeper level. The book ultimately offers a chilling and insightful exploration of why the evil child remains one of our most potent and enduring narrative archetypes.