American Nightmare [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

We get a roll call of the giants of North American horror - Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter, Wes Craven, John Landis, George Romero, David Cronenberg, Tom Savini - explaining their influences and commenting on the reactions to their work. It seems they were often damned as un-American, as being subversive, purely because they might suggest that American society could break down in that way. Tobe Hunter, for instance, has his "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" hinging on a fuel shortage; George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" is a commentary on consumerism as the dead are still drawn to the Mall.

It's a very entertaining and thought provoking work which most horror fans will thoroughly enjoy. I would, however, advocate buying it as part of "The Wes Craven Collection", where it is packaged as an extra along with four of Craven's films and represents much better value in that form.

The films on offer show the best of late 60’s to late 70’s American horror, from Night of the Living Dead to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and beyond, and features thoughtful insight to why they are championed today, from academics to other directors. Of course, all of the directors involved are interviewed as well, and add more texture to the themes of horror and social upheaval in equal measure.

The films themselves are covered in numerous ways – on the level of a fan of the film (John Landis’ comments on …Living Dead especially), an analytical level to what themes are below the work (such as Tobe Hooper relating childhood nightmares and Ed Gein to TCM), and the socio-political backdrop. Of course, Vietnam comes up for discussion early on, and provides us with Tom Savini’s memories or his time in the field, which is easily one of the highlights of the film, as he sets the scene so vividly it will be memorable. Yet there is no soapboxing about Vietnam, it is just an element that sculpted the times and the attitude. Wes Craven also provides insight to the Kent State Massacre while discussing Last House on the Left, also wondering where the sadism that went into the film came from thirty years later, which is bizarre.

The directors do come across well when talking about their films, especially Tobe Hooper and a fascinating interview with David Cronenberg, and the academics never come across as shoehorned in for the sake of academia. However, there are a few minor blips with the documentary – Dawn of the Dead isn’t given as much time as it deserves, while Halloween doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest. However, the most striking part of the film is saved for last, as all the directors relate their tales of growing up in the Cold War under the threat of nuclear war. Even today, you can still see how this has affected them deeply, and you can understand how.

This documentary is a must, not just for fans of the films in question or horror in general, but for film students and those wanting unique insight into America’s mentality as the Summer of Love dissipated. However, be warned, there is some extreme gore on show, from some of the films and news footage. It isn’t for the squeamish.