Pass the popcorn and don't spare the carnage -- the new issue of Entertainment Weekly reveals that women have now become the primary audience for horror flicks. Why are females flocking not just to tight psychological thrillers but even so-called "torture porn" like the "Saw" movies? Journalist Christine Spines talks to filmmakers, stars, and writers including "Jennifer's Body" scribe Diablo Cody and finds a variety of surprisingly warm and fuzzy explanations.

Horror movies almost always rely on a female protagonist. While it never hurts the box office that she's inevitably a hot babe, the enduring allure of these films hinges on the girl in jeopardy's ultimate heroism.