Deep Horror Films

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rmross622 4 posts
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Here is my latest blog post, a project I’ve been working on for over two years. I wrote this thing because I have always believed that the horror genre can be so much more than people think it is, Marxist and cultural studies scholar Robin Wood saying it has “revolutionary” potential. My hope is that perhaps this post will elevate the discussion of at least one type of horror film. Also, I would love to hear about any horror films I may have missed or haven’t seen. Ditto on any really good written works on the films that I have listed. And I welcome any thoughts on whether you think a film is too high or too low or shouldn’t even be on the list. I am open to being influenced! Because this post ended up being so long (82 films!), I have had to break it up into four posts. Just follow the links for the next parts of it. https://www.yourfilmprofessor.com/best-deep-horror-films-of-all-time-part-1-82-54/
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Black_Phillip 27 posts
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#1
I highly recommend the German YouTube Channel "Die Filmanalyse"! It is hosted by Wolfgang M. Schmitt, one of Germany's smartest ideology critics. He has also two other channels as a co-host, one about economy ("Wohlstand für Alle") and one about the changes during the 2020s ("Die Neuen Zwanziger"). Very intelligent and inspiring discussions there. He does talk about all kinds of movies in "Die Filmanalyse" but has a special heart for horror and what is behind these stories. He tried for some episodes to do that format in English but without enough response ("The Filmanalysis"). https://m.youtube.com/@thefilmanalysis2044 And here is a German analysis for Backrooms for example: https://youtu.be/X6AETqBGVFg?si=wsZOfrAv2f_AMpfH
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Black_Phillip 27 posts
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#2
One of the most underrated movies (at least for it's director) is Jordan Peele's Us. Sure, it was a Hit with critics and at the box office but when I talk with horror fans many say that it is just weird or doesn't make sense. I think Us does make sense in every scene and people miss what an angry movie about an revolting social class it is. I'm sure Peele knows a bit or two about Marx. Same with Nope which is much more than a flying saucer shocker. I couldn't get through your whole blog but I totally agree with most I read (The Brood is also one of my all time favourites). I think Guadagnino's Suspiria (which I saw at it's European premiere in Cologne with Guadagnino attending) has a lot of themes but it doesn't always get the mix right and it might be a bit overstuffed. I personally love his Bones & All which, I think, is also about generational conflict with the young eaters having still morals and feeling guild and the older ones just literally eating the planet away.
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rmross622 OP 4 posts → Black_Phillip
#3
Thanks so much for this recommendation, I will definitely check this out!
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rmross622 OP 4 posts → Black_Phillip
#4
Both Us and Nope are on my list. As you smartly say, Peele definitely speaks to so much about the human condition, class consciousness in Us and "spectacle" (consumerism) in Nope (white supremacy/liberal racism in Get Out), a truly gifted filmmaker, and I am so grateful that he seems to (for now) want to stay in the horror genre. He seems to understand how ripe this genre is for allegorical (deep) messaging. And I'm with you on Suspiria, a flawed but still interesting and deep film. I saw Bones and All but it has been a while. I will give it another watch. Thanks so much for your thoughts!
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rmross622 OP 4 posts
#5
Oops, I have NOT seen Bones and All! I will definitely give it a watch soon. Thanks for the recommendation.
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