mithen

I am writing a research paper about the influence that global politics has on the horror movie industry. I want to be as thorough as I can. Since I obviously don't know every horror movie ever released off the top of my head, I figured Reddit can help me!

Attached is a google form to submit any movies you think were influenced in any way by global politics, legislation, or government. I do ask that you explain why you submitted that movie or movies, but you can be as short or as long in answering as you need to be as long as you think you have provided enough detail.

What a hidden gem of a movie. I am very critical of horror movies because for the most part, they NEVER scare me or creep me out. Which is why I tend to lean into psychological horror.

This movie follows a crew of asbestos cleaners whose job is to clear out asbestos from an old mental asylum. Focusing on Gordon's struggle to provide for his family, the movie highlights just how thin the line of sanity is.

Without giving away too much, this movie is about losing your god damn mind. If you enjoy a slow and unsettled experience, I would highly recommend. It wouldn't be considered analog horror, but I get those vibes a lot in this film and can see how it would inspire a lot of analog horror directors into creating something horrifying.

Also, the music, or lack thereof, fits the vibe of the movie perfectly.

I would rate this movie 7/10 for normal audience. 8/10 for horror fans.

Movie of the day...Piranha (1978).

Our story begins with a pair of backpackers breaking into some kind of deserted facility. While exploring, they find a large pool and decide to take a swim. Then something eats them.

Later, a skip tracer (Heather Menzies) looking for the missing young people coerces an alcoholic living in a remote cabin in the woods (Bradford Dillman) into helping her. She drives up to the abandoned facility. She wants to see if there are bones at the bottom of the pool, and before the one scientist who still works there can stop her, she drains it, not realizing in doing so she is releasing mutant piranha (developed by the government as a bioweapon) into the river. Uh oh.

This may be a controversial review because the film was directed by Joe Dante, the man who brought us both Gremlins and The Howling. However, I have rarely seen a movie so expertly snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It is competently directed, but ruined by an idiotic script. The story and dialogue are so bad it is impossible to suspend disbelief. Possibly the movie is meant to be satire or parody, but if so it lacks the critical element of being funny.

Even if Jeremy Wade, the British angler who brought us River Monsters, had been in this film, I doubt it would have helped very much.

In fairness to Dante, whenever the movie shuts up and lets us watch piranhas killing people, it is not too bad. Unfortunately, far too much time is spent on the characters; the fish are a lot more interesting.

Rating: C-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piranha_(1978_film))

Aside from the typical Christmas slashers & ghost stories, I'm interested in all your slightly sideways movies to set the mood!

Last year, about this time, I watched Oddity (2024) and it was a vibe. So, I'm interested to know what's got you all vibing this year?