One of the common theories used to explain the horror paradox is that people watch horror movies as a way of coping with actual fears or violence. Since one source of our fears in undoubtedly the world in which we live, I thought it would be interesting to look at the popular horror movies of different decades to see how they reflect the general fears and uncertainties of the times.
The 1960s
The horror boom of the late 50s continued into the 60s, where it reached new heights. However, the teenagers who made horror so big at the drive-in were now adults whose fears were more deeply rooted in reality. In a rapidly changing world, the monsters of the 50s seemed silly. And since there had not been a nuclear holocaust in the years following World War II and aliens had never landed (that we know of), society looked inward, focusing on its own psyche rather than any external threats.
With all the changes happening in the 1960s, social stability was gone. The Vietnam War and the anti-war movement. The Sexual Revolution and the feminism movement. The Cuban Missile Crisis. The civil and gay rights movements. Collectively, the turmoil produced an underlying counterculture movement that would provide ample opportunity for horror movies to explore new ways of exploring sex and violence.
The decade in horror began with the B-movies of William Castle and Roger Corman, but one movie soon changed the entire landscape forever. Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho not only ushered in an era of intense psychological horror, but was also the first horror movie in the "slasher" sub-genre. Other movies also took a minimalist approach compared to those of the past. They featured characters, usually women, who don't believe what is happening to them until the end, at which point the forces of evil usually win.
Among my favorite all-time horror movies are these four American films from the 60s: House of Usher, The Innocents, The Pit & the Pendulum and Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte.
Hammer Films from England continued to go strong through most of the 60s until late in the decade when it took the same route as Universal in the 40s and began trotting out multiple sequels for its signature monsters, each with diminishing quality. But in this decade, the United States was also exposed to unique genre movies and directors from other foreign countries: Mario Bava from Italy and Jess Franco from Spain, to name two.
Among my favorite all-time horror movies are these six from foreign lands: The Brides of Dracula, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, Frankenstein Must be Destroyed, Mothra vs. Godzilla and Repulsion.
The turmoil and social upheaval of the decade may best be demonstrated by the fact that there were four assassinations of important public figures: President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Malcolm X in 1965 and Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. And the state of the horror movie in the decade may best be demonstrated by the release of three landmark films: Night of the Living Dead, Rosemary's Baby and Targets, each excellent in their own rights, but also terrifying reflections of the 60s.
Four landmark horror movies of the 60s: Psycho, Night of the Living Dead, Rosemary's Baby and Targets.
At the end of the decade, two events occurred that couldn't have been any more different. In August of 1969, "3 days of peace & music" was celebrated at Woodstock, while only a week earlier the Manson Family murders had occurred on the other side of the country. Calling the 1960s "turbulent" would be an understatement. What in the world was going to happen in the 1970s? Check back tomorrow and find out...
Other 1960s milestones:
1960. The contraceptive "Pill" was released after FDA approval.
1961. The Peace Corps was established.
1963. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
1964. The first trans-Pacific satellite broadcast ocurred.
1964. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted.
1965. The National Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted.
1967. The MPAA removed its Production Code.
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