NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE: THE EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN HORROR FILM (2009)
Horror films celebrated their 100th birthday in 2010, but they still can't get any respect. Although few will deny the pleasures of vintage Universal spookfests like Dracula or The Mummy, dark cinema has rarely achieved any degree of critical adulation. Apart from the occasional breakout hit like Jaws or The Exorcist, scary movies are still looked down upon by mainstream audiences, who see nothing but gore and flimsy story lines. For those who hate horror, any serious discussion about the genre is impossible. Fans intrinsically grasp the brilliance of Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but non-fans will never get it.
Even folks like me, who unapologetically adore terror cinema, often feel guilty about our passion. Our friends simply can't understand why we'd rather watch a film about ghosts, vampires, or serial killers over the latest Oscar-nominated drama about terminally ill children from broken homes in the slums of Nigeria. But astute viewers know that the best horror movies are about more than blood, guts, and nudity; they are a metaphor for our times, a reflection of our deepest fears, and deserve to be seen as the cultural barometers they are.
The defense would like to call its first witness: Andrew Monument's engaging documentary, Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film. Based on the book by Joseph Maddrey (who also wrote the screenplay), this movie walks viewers through the history of scary flicks. The journey is a scenic one, but it's a well-trodden path; any number of other documentaries have performed the same service. What sets Nightmares apart from its peers is its intriguing thematic analysis of dark cinema, and its hypothesis that most major movements of American horror, from the monster movies of the '30s to the slasher cycle of the '80s, reflect the state of America at the time they were made.
The film follows typical movie documentary structure: talking head interviews, interspersed with movie clips. Narration by actor Lance Henriksen (Aliens, The Terminator) helps explain the subtext and historical significance of many of these titles, while genre icons like John Carpenter (Halloween), George Romero (Night of the Living Dead), Roger Corman (Little Shop of Horrors), Joe Dante (The Howling), Mick Garris (Masters of Horror), and Tom McLoughlin (Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives) provide commentary on the origins and significance of dark cinema, and their roles in the genre.
Beginning with the very first horror movie, 1910's Frankenstein (produced by none other than Thomas Edison!), the documentary walks us right up to the modern "torture porn" movement epitomized by films like Hostel and Saw. But this isn't a snide dismissal of a low-brow genre; indeed, Monument's film offers a persuasive argument that these movies are as culturally relevant as any other form of entertainment.
The documentary isn't perfect. Many of its theories are far from original (the assertion that Night of the Living Dead was a primal scream over the failure of '60s flower power has appeared in multiple books), but it's the first time all these theories have been gathered together in one place. However, for the horror novice or anti-horror snob, Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue may seem revolutionary. It might even help your friends and family members understand your obsession with things that go bump in the night, and that's no small thing. True horror buffs probably won't learn much they don't already know, but Nightmares is a fantastic distillation of why horror enchants so many of us. As such, it's required viewing for all dark cinema fans, regardless of whether you (like me) have read just about every book or article on horror movie history every written.
Enough about the movie! What about the DVD?
Well, it's difficult to say. The review copy I received from Lorber Films was a watermarked, pre-release DVD screener, which contained no extra features. Stamped on the disc was the phrase "Does not reflect final version," so I'll just have to offer a questioning shrug. If and when a final copy of the disc arrives, I will update this section of the review.
In the meantime, Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film is now available on DVD. Local readers can find it at Borders or Best Buy, both in Dickson City.
RATING: B+
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Comments
Great article on Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue. I love a good psychological thriller any day of the week. I usually lean toward indie films simply because they seem to be more interesting than the big Hollywood blockbusters, and sometimes they have a spectacular line up of award-winning actors that no one has ever heard of (or so it seems).
Never thought about it from the authors pt. of view.
Do not think that it has changed my mind, as I am one of those masses who does not like, you refer to; but I now have a more open mind. Well written.
Very interesting. I really prefer the old classics more than most of the horror movies that are churned out by Hollywood these days. I think the horror genre loses out to other genres because of this. When quality horror movies come back, we will see a surge of horror movie lovers.
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