Horror as a genre has long been viewed as less-than. While some films are appreciated in their time, even the classics are often misunderstood and derided. Horror is almost always a no show at awards shows
There are certainly vast swathes of the genre that are every bit as vapid as critics of the genre say, many great films illuminate the fears, anxieties and values of the times.
The ending of Night of the Living Dead is shocking. In the final moments of the 1968 film, The Black protagonist, Ben, is shot dead by a white mob. While the credits roll several photographs show the posse dispassionately dragging Ben’s body to a burn pile.
Beyond the obviously brutal and violent nature of a murder, the film’s imagery echoes much of the real world violence that was so present in the public’s consciousness at the time. By 1968 Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers had all been assassinated.
The film takes place in the south, which was at the epicenter of decades of racial violence perpetrated by the KKK against Black Americans.
I would argue that this scene, more than any other in ‘60’s cinema, encapsulated the cultural fears and racial tensions of the era. It is a simple, horrifying statement that deeply resonates with the rage and pain of the times.
This is by no means an isolated incident, most great monsters are reflections of the times.
The way Dracula sits in a castle and feeds off the lifeblood of the peasants can be read as a political statement against the aristocracy. Frankenstein enters God’s domain by creating life and is suitably punished for his hubris.
The Body Snatchers are the fear of communism encroaching on America, and the cavalcade of masked slashers reflect a fear of serial killers and random, violent crime.
On top of commentating on society much the way that science fiction does, many of these films push the boundaries in terms of directing and cinematography. Films like “The Evil Dead” and “Alien” make bold, resonant, visual choices.
Horror has blossomed in recent years, with many new directors tapping into the genre’s unique storytelling potential.
“The Babadook” is so scary because it accurately represents a relationship falling apart in a sickeningly believable way. It uses horror as a tool to make you empathize with characters who would normally be difficult to connect with.
Modern horror continues to explore these avenues much to its benefit, so far the 2010s are arguably the best decade for horror since its explosion in the ‘70s
And with the impending releases of large scale crowd pleasers like “It Chapter Two” as well as more intimate experiences like the upcoming “The Lighthouse,” it shows no signs of slowing.