As any self-respecting horror fan will attest, the United States of America has been responsible for creating some of the most iconic, transgressive and memorable horror films ever made. The country’s incredible history, combined with the upheaval of governmental conspiracies, social unrest and several wars has resulted in countless filmmakers drawing hefty inspiration from the public zeitgeist to deliver audiences with cinematic experiences many consider among the finest in their lifetime. Whether it’s the old classic Universal monster movies of the 1930-40s, the subversive cinéma verite of the 60-70s or the contemporary nihilism of today, America has made – and continues to make – its contribution to the horror genre with both innovation as well as inclination.
Narrated by genre veteran Lance Henriksen and punctuated by interviews with well known horror personalities such as John Carpenter, George A. Romero, Mick Garris, Larry Cohen, Darren Lynn Bousman and many more, Nightmares in Red, White and Blue is a thoroughly expansive, if somewhat undemanding documentation of the country’s fright fare history, serving as both a terrific introduction for beginners and a reflective analysis for life-long fans.
Segmented into eight individual chapters - each covering a specific period of time and the socio-political context with which that era’s films were made – Andrew Monument’s film immediately establishes itself as a fusion of both critical examination and cinematic eye candy. The academic commentary ranges from evident observation (eg, metaphorical zombies in Dawn of the Dead, the xenophobic overtones of Hostel etc) to far-fetched assertions on the verge of absurdity (i.e., the comparisons of Leatherface to Osama bin Laden and Jason as a symbolic avenger sent from God are rather laughable), making some of the content a little uneven at times. The film also makes the conscious decision to disregard the possibility that even the most iconic horror films in the country's history may simply exist to entertain, but ultimately this depends on your intellectual outlook on the subject and how willing you are to delve into the endlessly fascinating/potentially pretentious.
Likewise, there are moments when the films’ narration becomes a little too cheesy for its own good. No doubt cast for his profoundly subterranean pipes, Henriksen often unnecessarily exaggerates the script and his speech - particularly when referring to historical events and societal influences – that often end up generating sniggers rather than genuine contemplation upon the points being discussed. It’s not a major problem but the camp quality of the beloved actor’s characterization does induce a cringe or two from time to time.
By its conclusion, Nightmares in Red, White and Blue paints a rather grim portrait of the American dream and the erosion of the middle class through social and political unrest. It also draws an interesting full-circle summary that compares contemporary horror cinema to that of the material being produced during the 60s-70s, stating that the cultural fears of the past are in many ways being relived through a new generation today. The most powerful country in the world is also one of the most creative and destructive and as long as it maintains both of these traits it will always play a part in the invasion our dreams. Need I mention fans will keep paying to see it happen?
Dir: Andrew Monument
Writers: Joseph Maddrey
Cast: John Carpenter, George A. Romero, Mick Garris, Larry Cohen
Country: USA
Run Time: 96mins
Rating: MA15+
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