Horror films influenced by an era's social/political realities

[Klownzilla]

I was talking with some friends the other day on how certain horror flicks were influenced by the issues that went on during the periods they were released. The 50's was the atomic age and the giant-monster-caused-by-nuclear-testing flicks showed for that. Godzilla was definitely the most popular cautionary tale about nuke war. Then there are others about viruses and technology gone awry. Can anyone think of other films that show an influence or try to make a statement about something that was happening in a time period?

[deadeye]

Prophecy, the Frankenheimer movie about a mutant bear, stands on the platform of what could happen from dumping pollutants into the environment. Similarly themed movies are Food of the Gods, Frogs, Tentacles, and Phase IV, which are of the 70's era when the flower children-love nature philosophy was strong. Most of these movies choose to deliver the pollution/nuclear waste/radiation message by using animals gone berserk, but I think I remember one called The Children that used kids instead of animals.

[krazy drako]

Alot of people felt this movie bashed on Ronald Regan and reganomitcs in general. Making fun of the yuppies and anybody rich. This is an awesome movie if you like the idea of Roddy Piper "kicking ass and chewing bubble gum" against rich alians.

If you seen the movie you will defenitley get the quote :D .


Oh... My rating of this movie would be a 8/10.

[pyscho dude]

Well Dawn of the dead reflected it's time of commercialism and Day of the dead reflected it's time of war and mistrust. At least I think I may be wrong.

[krazy drako]

I never really looked for a deeper meaning in Romero's Dead Triology. I wonder if he had one? :cool:

[*Escapade*]

SCREAM -- It was the whole ideal of the nineties: "Scary movies are cliched and stupid, but we're aware of it even though this is a scary movie."
BATTLE ROYALE seemed to connotate Columbine.
TALES FROM THE HOOD had a story that was similar to the Rodney King case.
Obviously DAWN OF THE DEAD reflected comsumerism, greed, and racism of the time (and even so today).
PSYCHO flipped the idea that innocent-looking people can be crooked too (Marion Crane's embezzlement, Norman Bates' murderous habits).
THE UNBORN touched on themes of abortion and fertility drugs.

[rtatick]

Originally posted by krazy drako
I never really looked for a deeper meaning in Romero's Dead Triology. I wonder if he had one? :cool:

You bet he did! He's said a couple of times (most recently on the House of the Dead DVD) that his films are products of and commentaries about the decades they were made in! Those films are amazing because of how deep they are but how enjoyable they are even on a shallow level.

[krazy drako]

Very Interesting. Next time I watch these movies I will look for them.

[Romero&Juliet]

Last House On The Left and TCM come across as VERRRY strong anti-hippy statements. In both cases, the victims were all very trusting, free-loving, etc. and it BIT THEM IN THE ASS!

[The Limey]

For starters, almost every teen slasher has the obligatory "Kill all Sluts" underlying theme. While the vestigial virgin/Heroine that's done no drugs during the film and spent the entire movie refusing the advances of any guys is the last one left standing.

I've always found that in itself, which is always taken so lightly, probably because it's so common, to be rather blaring evidence of how pathetically prudish our society still is without even realizing it.

While not traditionally considered Horror next, you can consider pretty much any Dystopian Fantasy as social comentating horror. 1984, Brave New World, The Lottery, etc. etc. are such classics and the newer ones that tend to slip into sci-fi like Terminator or Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers can also be considered as such especially when you listen to the Paul Verhoven Audio commentary's.

Also there are the Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy Anthology TV Shows and Movies like Twilight Zone and Night Gallery. All of Rod Serlings work is packed to the brim with Social Commentary, Alfred Hitchcock as well.

As deadeye mentioned there are any mutant animal, insect, vegatable or mineral movies which are still popular as B Sci-Fi Channel Movies even today. For example Python, Python 2, Octopus, Spiders, etc etc. Almost everyone one of them has either the monster being created by toxic waste or by dangerous government experimentation with DNA tampering. Both politcal subjects.

[heretic]

Exorcist has themes of female empowerment and the threat of communism from the east as well as the battel between science and nature/religion.

Ring has themes of how the media is taking over our live affecting our behaviour ect.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre has themes of unemployment and how machines are making people useless as well as the role of the family

Dawn Of The Dead had stong hints of how shoppers and consumers act like zombies and how the world is becoming more and more consumerist / advertisment / media focsed

theres quite a few more but thats enough for today and yes I do think about things to much :(

[TheDeadWalk]

I've heard things about Cannibal Holocaust.

Also, what about Alien Nation?

It's been a decade or so since I've watched it. I just remember it had aliens mixed in as citizens on Earth working, and being scumbags and shit just like ordinary humans. I think there might of been racial overtones.