Brilliantly executed and revealing in terms of material, Nightmares in Red, White And Blue is a riveting and highly engaging documentary that is a terrific expose on exploring our deepest fears through horror films. From the aftermath of World War I all the way to 9/11.
In-depth interviews with many of the nation's greatest horror filmmakers reveal that the appeal of the genre is rooted not only in timely fears but in the spirit of rebellion -- a spirit that consistently defines American life, as well as many of its best horror filmmakers.Nightmares in Red, White and Blue is narrated by horror icon Lance Henriksen and features exclusive interviews with legendary auteurs like John Carpenter, George A. Romero, Joe Dante, Larry Cohen, and Roger Corman, as well as film historian John Kenneth Muir and Fangoria editor Tony Timpone and others. This documentary does two things: it reflects back on the history of the horror movie, as well as gives some reasons as to why they have evolved over the years. After all, there were plenty of examples of events & movies, not fitting in with the chronological order, they were establishing with. 4.2 out of 5. Another problem with this approach, is how it cut down, on the suspense, that these scary imageries, were, original shown.
However, I just wish, the information, that the filmmaker gave Heriksen wasn't so broad, without much context.
Also, who though, it was a good idea, to brings in footage from 1969's "Easy Rider" and the James Bond films in a horror documentary? This is the closest I've ever seen to a "Ken Burns" history lesson on Horror Movies. With each coming decade, the history of horror films has always reflect the changing times, and the fears that accompany them.
The changing times definitely reflected the tone of the movies and inspired most of the genre films. |
This review may seem as though it outlines the entire documentary, but believe me, it only scratches the surface.
Maddrey’s narration (sonorously voiced by genre fave Lance Hendriksen) identifies various trends as responses to national crises and anxieties: The physical grotesques played by Lon Chaney in the 1920s channeled discomfort with the large number of maimed WWI veterans, radiation-created monsters in the ’50s reflected fear of the bomb, etc.Horror didn’t really take off until Universal gambled on “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” in the early ’30s. Just confirm how you got your ticket.Fandango
Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. And the film fails to consider other factors, besides culture, in what shaped the horror genre.
Was this review helpful? Customer Review: Nightmares In Red, White And Blue. The loosening of social mores helped drive the slasher films of the 70s and 80s. Lance Henrickson narrates. October 2, 2010 Nightmares in Red, White and Blue Movie Review are added by registered customers. Nevertheless, it's still has problems in two important ways. It would had work better.
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This begins is quite possibly the best documentary ever. Paperback. Really interesting, only if they went more behind the classics of how they made them, the behind the scenes. A thing that really stands out is how different types of horror films have made their mark to help form the genre for what it is. 16 out of 27 found this helpful.