Politics play a part of nearly every aspect of our lives these days.
Just ask any NFL fan his or her thoughts on Rush Limbaugh, and you’ll probably get an earful.
So I had mixed feelings reading a new column recommending horror films for conservative movie goers.
Sure, horror directors have routinely inserted left-wing commentary into their features, from “Night of the Living Dead” auteur George A. Romero to Wes Craven (“The People Under the Stairs”).
And this site often explores the intersection between ideology and filmmaking.
But horror movies should remain above the fray, even if they’re as tilted as a Michael Moore joint. Let’s keep enjoying our scares no matter where they come from, even if the zombies, vampires and other monsters try to preach to us in between bites.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
AMEN.
I wish all movies would stay above the fray, but now I’m really dreaming.
A proud liberal should love a good conservative movie … and vice versa.
Romero is a committed liberal, and it shows in his films. But the best of his work demands a horror junkie’s attention no matter what lever he or she pulls on election day.
I’m usually a big fan of John Hawkins’ column, but some of his suggestions on that list are just plain goofy. “The Mist?” He really thinks the most anti-Christian horror movie I’ve seen in years is a good choice for conservatives?
At any rate, I’m with you, Christian: horror films are a bad place for politics. They’re about entertainment, not about preaching a point-of-view. I don’t mind politics being injected in my movies if it’s done in a subtle way, but the horror genre doesn’t lend itself to sublety.
I think all horror movies are ultimately conservative. Usually the troubles start in these types of films because someone strayed from a conservative value.
What about “Tremors”? Sure, the survivalist couple is a little kooky, but they clearly demonstrate that being armed to the teeth can be very useful when the bad guys come calling.
There is a puritanical streak to some slasher flicks … the couple who ‘does it’ gets stabbed. And yeah, sometimes the nutty gun collector saves the day, Paula – “Zombieland” has a funny scene in which Woody Harrelson says, “thank Gawd for rednecks” when he finds a cache of weapons in a person’s home.
The girl in The Exorcist played with the occult.
Dr. Frankenstein tried to play God.
The killing of Freddie Kruger by vengeful parents created the supernatural version of him.
The guys from Hostel only out for drink,drugs and easy sex.
A lawyer who gives or all most gives in completely to temptation in the Devil’s Advocate.
How about Fatal Attraction, adultery.
Poltergeist, the developer disrespected an Indian burial ground.
I wouldn’t call any of those puritanical. The bad things happened because people strayed from traditional conservative beliefs.
I agree with Opus and I like his examples. Horror films in general are technically conservative stories even down to the very basic idea of good versus evil. As opposed to gray versus gray.