5 Horror Films You Should Watch To Understand America Today
America’s politics and societal issues have always been questioned and scrutinized by it’s own citizens. Through written publications, speeches, and protests, the American people have always had they say about what's going on in their country. But, when we think about socio-political commentary, we don't necessarily think of horror movies. That's a mistake. Here's why.
Horror films have long served as a way for filmmakers to explore their criticisms and opinions in a way that can be aesthetically pleasing, entertaining, and most importantly, have the ability to reach a large audience. From John Carpenter’s They Live (1986), a blatantly obvious and direct opinion of Reagonomics and capitalism, to Saw VI (2009), a less subtle critique of America’s healthcare system, audiences in America and around the world witness different judgments of politics, life, culture, and society in the United States through the medium of horror films.
Many writers and directors in recent years have analyzed American society through horror movies. Here are five horror films you should watch to better understand America today.
The Invisible Man (2020)
Promotional photo for The Invisible Man from Universal Pictures
First, bit of context. Created in 2006 by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke, the #MeToo movement really took off in 2017. It was initially driven by famous actresses bringing attention to the now convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein's years of sexual abuse. The purpose of the movement was to inform the world of the degree of this issue that many women have faced in their lifetime.
It's against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement that we need to understand Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man. The movie is technically a remake of the 1933 movie of the same name, based on H.G. Well’s 1897 novel. It takes source material from 123 years ago, and makes it extremely relevant in today’s present.
The movie focuses on Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss), who has recently fled from her abusive partner and optics engineer Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). When Griffin kills himself and leaves her with $5 million, it seems as if Cecilia's life is finally making a positive turn around. As suddenly as things start looking up for Cecilia, they go awry. She starts experiencing strange things, believing that Adrian has turned himself invisible to continue harassing her. With her sanity doubted by family and friends alike, Cecilia must find a way to prove herself.
This movie explores the difficulties of someone attempting to leave an abusive relationship, as well as not being believed and being gaslighted by your significant other. Through this horror film, we take a look at what individuals in abusive relationships must feel when they are not being taken seriously by the people closest to them. That's precisely the message the women behind the #MeToo movement have been trying to convey. The fact that sexual abuse is widespread and so many people refuse to acknowledge these serious allegations.
Us (2019)
Us movie still from Monkeypaw Productions
Jordan Peele’s second entry into the horror genre, Us, centers around a family vacationing in Santa Cruz, CA. While in their holiday home, they are visited by dopplegangers, who call themselves the Tethered. They explain that they live underground in tunnels, forever attached to people who are unaware they even exist, and they have come to the surface, to live the life they’ve always wanted.
Us has seen many interpretations and readings from movie buffs, critics, and scholars alike. From the duality of man to discussion on privilege, there are so many different meanings within this movie. Within the context of understanding America today, systemic oppression in Us is a reading that should be analyzed.
The Tethered are the lowest rank of American society. They are completely unknown. In this instance, they represent the poor and homeless, the disabled, and other marginalized groups. Their lives are completely dictated and controlled by people who do not acknowledge them, they are the forgotten people in society, with no voice or ability to change their circumstances.
Peele is trying to explain to his audience that there are groups of people who are forgotten, whose fate is dictated by out of touch elites, who can’t even begin to understand their lives and circumstances.
Ready or Not (2019)
Samara Weaving as Grace Le Domas in Ready or Not via IMDb
A horror fan favorite in 2019, Ready or Not is the perfect blend of scares, gore, and comedy. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of the filmmaking collective “Radio Silence”, this movie focuses on Grace (Samara Weaving), a young woman who is about to marry into the extremely wealthy Le Domas family. The Le Domas’ gained their wealth through board games and entertainment. However this success was only from an ancestor of theirs making a deal with the Devil. This deal entails that if a new member marries into the family, he or she must play a game on the night of their wedding. If the newlywed has the unfortunate circumstance of drawing “Hide and Seek”, the family must hunt down and sacrifice them to Satan. However, if the family fails to complete the task, they will meet an untimely demise.
This movie is not subtle with getting to its point: rich people have no souls. Ridiculous as it is, this movie depicts this 1% family as willing to make deals with the devil and murder family members to keep their way of life afloat. We even see the maids and butler willing to help the Le Domas family achieve their sick and Satanic objectives, as they too are comfortable with their way of life.
American society has become increasingly aware of the wealth gap, and the fact that over half of the world’s wealth is now owned by the 1%. The United States suffers from wealth disparity and income inequality, and people are rightfully upset with it. So why not make the 1% the ultimate horror villains?
Girl on the Third Floor (2019)
Phil Brooks as Don Koch in Girl on the Third Floor via IMDb
This movie was not given a wide release like the others on this list, however it should not go unnoticed. Directed by Travis Stevens, and starring Phil “CM Punk” Brooks of WWE fame, Girl on the Third Floor has the audience witness toxic masculinity and it’s downfall through a female revenge story.
Don Koch, a hyper-masculine ex- lawyer, buys a dilapidated house in the Chicago suburbs, intent on living there upon completion of repairs with his pregnant wife Liz. He is there on his own, convinced he is completely capable of taking on this massive task on his own, with very little help from others. We learn more and more about Don, his dishonesty, his anger, his aggression, and his unfaithfulness.
In a #MeToo movement world, the term “toxic masculinity” has been thrown about. This term emphasizes what it means to follow “traditional” male gender roles that can lead to traits such as misogyny. Don is a representation of this, his lack of respect for his wife and other women in blatant. His ignorance and unfaithfulness ultimately leads to his demise.
Get Out (2017)
Get Out movie still from Monkeypaw Productions
Another great movie from Jordan Peele, this time centered around a young American couple. African American Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), discovers some disturbing secrets while visiting his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), and her family at their wealthy estate. This film is chalk-full of uncomfortable remarks from the Armitage parents in regards to Chris’s race. Though the family claims to be liberal, their ignorance is flagrant.
The family patriarch, Dean (Bradley Whitford), is a brain surgeon running a very disturbing side gig. He uses his daughter to seduce and date young African American men and women, to then bring them to their home to be auctioned off to their wealthy white neighbors and friends. He then takes the highest bidder, places their brains into the unwilling black victim’s body.
This movie touches on numerous societal and political issues in regards to race in America. From the very obvious criticism on America’s history of slavery, to more subtle discussions on micro-aggressions and white feminism, this film is made for the cultural, social, and political climate of today’s twenty first century world. For his innovative writing of Get Out, Jordan Peele won Best Original Screenplay at the 90th Academy Awards.