Why Americans Watch Horror Films

Here's an interesting interview that sparks the debate in my head of what exactly makes horror films necessary and cherished in our society



A common argumentative question against horror films asks that during times of great suffering and turmoil in our nation, why do people enjoy the genre?

Before going any further it must be realized that this time in American history, and in fact world history, is not witness greater atrocities by mankind than any other age. Ever since man climbed out of the primordial soup, climbed down for that fig tree in Africa, cruelty and sadism were in our DNA. Murder, torture, any physical crime against another human being (which is a fundamental theme to the horror genre) has been in existence since the beginning.

With that being said, our current society needs these visceral feelings from horror films in order to cope with the popularity of what my mother likes to call "upppers," which she describes as films that make her feel good about the world. Take for example the film Marley & Me, a movie about two good looking journalists (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) who succeed at the American dream of having a large house, a full and happy family, a wonderful dog and job opportunities that would make any real journalist wet themselves. The film is full of "feel-good" moments, right out of the pages of Disney's playbook. A certain size of the American movie-going population may enjoy this film, and there's nothing wrong with that, however, there must be a genre that balances the cultural scales. This is where we get the continuing popularity of the horror genre.

Now the realism could be debated in films such as Marley & Me, or other romantic comedies, Disney tales or family pictures, but it is safe to say that this idealized notion of the American dream is not real to a lot of people anymore. I would contend that the chances of me stumbling into the hands an international torture club as featured in Hostel and Hostel Part II is about as likely as marrying another journalist with Jennifer Aniston's looks, being able to write a weekly column about my pet dog, threaten to quit and being offered double my salary to stay and continue to right about said canine. As a recent graduate of a journalism program, a film like Marley & Me is insulting in the same way Slovakia was offended by the Hostel movies. The contemporary horror film genre helps offset other films at the opposite end of the spectrum.

People in our America culture need have the ability to see films which present dark and pessimistic views of the world. The genre and its noteworthy sub-genres seem provide an escape from the failure, or the complete myth, of the American dream. As Wes Craven aptly put it: rage.
Posted by Panic Picture at 5/17/2010 9:42 PM
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Marley and Me Eli Roth Fox News
 

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