More often than not, horror education (or at the very least, an introduction to the genre in its myriad of derivations) is anchored in a frisson for film, where the indelibly phantasmagoric images are imprinted upon one’s mind, all haunting, elating, and expanding the subconscious. Included for your ravenous consumption are a few analytical ruminations regarding some notable entries in the horror genre. Certainly not intended as an exhaustive resource by any means, the TWHFFC merely offers the following explorations of sinister cinema for your casual perusal in order to spread the dark gospel of the genre, as well as serve as a modest academic resource for our students… Enter if you dare, Fiends.
(Chuck Russell, 27 February 1987) “In my dreams, I’m beautiful…and BAD.” Released on this day in 1987, and arguably one of the best horror sequels of all time, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS was a risk as far as producer Bob Shaye and New Line Cinema was concerned, as the previous entry in the franchise was a seen as a critical failure and the colloquial “house that Freddy built” stood upon shaky foundations.Read more
(Andre Øvredal, 9 September 2016) “Whatever the hell happened in here…we are way past possible.” Reframing André Øvredal’s THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE in a context to aptly serve as a fitting installment with which to celebrate Women in Horror Month is not difficult. Although our primary characters are a father and son team of small-town coroners (portrayed brilliantly — and believably — by Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch), it is in many ways aRead more
(John Gilling, 6 April 1966) “That vile thing underneath that blanket is my daughter, Anna! Oh, not the Anna you know; not that lovely girl, but a hideous parody of herself, a loathsome thing…!” For last year’s celebration of Women In Horror Month, we highlighted significantly influential personalities across the genre — writers, directors, actors, academics, and assorted luminaries who all identify as female — as a way to turn our unholy beacon on thoseRead more
(Thomas Eberhardt, 16 November 1984) “You may as well face the facts, Samantha: the whole burden of civilization has fallen upon us…” On this auspicious day in 1984, Thomas Eberhardt’s criminally under-seen, mixed-genre cult classic, NIGHT OF THE COMET was released. Boasting the effects of David B. Miller and an epic synth-and-pop soundtrack, COMET boldly features strong female protagonists who confidently carry the film, and who are humanized rather than made the butt of stereotypicalRead more
(John Carpenter, 23 October 1987) “Hello…Hello? I’ve got a message for you…and you’re not going to like it.” Inspired by John Carpenter’s burgeoning interest in quantum mechanics and the challenges to classical reality contained therein, PRINCE OF DARKNESS is an existential terror of a film where a dizzying blend of impressive concepts take root — a place where the supernatural, armageddon, religion, and science all converge at a subatomic level.
(George Waggner, 12 December 1941) “It is said there is no sin in killing a beast, only in killing a man. But where does one begin and the other end?” On this day in 1941, Siodmak and Waggner deliver one of the most potent Universal monster films via potent metaphor. Culled from his experiences as a German-born Jew fleeing the occupation, and rife with the classic Greek structure and Aristotelian arc, THE WOLF MAN standsRead more
(Robert Fuest, 18 May 1971) “Nine killed you. Nine shall die. Nine times…nine! Nine eternities in DOOM!” On this day in 1971, Vincent Price maniacally commands the screen as the abominable Dr. Anton Phibes — a genius of music, theology, and of murder most foul, long thought to be dead and gone — a man hellbent on carving a vengeful and bloody swath through London’s medical community…all to the infectious swing-stylings of his animatronic band,Read more
(Tommy Lee Wallace, 22 October 1982) “I do love a good joke and this is the best ever: A joke on the children.” Perhaps you’re like us and you’ve defended HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH your entire life — often making you the butt of horror-jokes and taunts of “8 more days, Loser!” — and you eye all those Johnny-come-lately’s who now see fit to proselytize its pure autumnal majesty with just a littleRead more
(Mark Herrier, 1 February 1991) “Buy a bag…go home in a box.” The oddly disturbing — and borderline hypnotic — artwork adorning the original one-sheet for Mark Herrier and Alan Ormsby’s 1991 foray into the cinematic ballyhoo of horror’s yesteryear, POPCORN, is, no doubt, indelibly imprinted in the minds of horror fans over the age of 35.
(James Whale, 20 April 1935) “It’s a perfect night for mystery and horror!” Though it premiered in Chicago on April 19, 1935 (and would eventually receive a full U.S. release in May of the same year), James Whale’s epic sequel, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN came alive on this day for an initial, limited release. Often heralded as one of the few sequels to surpass its original, BRIDE is truly a masterpiece: bold, subversive, darkly comic,Read more
