What better way to celebrate the 4th than checking out this 2009 documentary (available for Instant Viewing on Netflix). It traces the history of horror cinema, from Lon Chaney's silent films to present-day screamfests like the Texas Chainsaw remakes. The critical analysis offered is hardly groundbreaking (as the films are situated within the cultural context of the Great Depression, World War II, Cold-War concerns about atomic fallout and Communist takeover, etc.), but it is still fascinating to listen to legendary directors (Romero, Carpenter, Corman, et al.) discuss their work. Without a doubt, though, the documentary's most compelling element is its incorporation of countless clips, replaying unforgettable scenes from classic movies. The colorful chaos flashing onscreen (many of the clips are shown in skillfully-edited montage sequences) makes the most brilliant fireworks display seem dull by comparison. Every American who likes his/her movies red-blooded will be awed by this spectacular documentary.
2 comments:
I did see this on Netflix and have been meaning to check it out. Great review!
Thanks, Real Queen. Definitely check out the documentary when you get a chance. It's fun stuff for horror lovers (makes you want to load up your Netflix queue with old favorites).
Post a Comment