Tony Williams wrote:
>Also, the family horror stream deals with problematic relationships whereby
>tensions become manifested in supernatural motifs. See, for example, THE
>EXORCIST, THE OMEN, IT'S ALIVE, THE NIGHT WALK (a.k.a. DEAD OF NIGHT), and
>Robin Wood's essays on the subject.
> Contrary to Carol Clover and other recent critics, family horror did not
>die out or diminish during the 80s and 90s. It really took on a new form as
>any viewing of examples from FRIDAY THE 13TH, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET show.
>What about THE STEPFATHER films or other neglected items such as FLOWERS IN THE
>ATTIC?
>  The family is one of the key ideological bonds affecting relationships
>so it is natural that many diverse films deal with this.
 
But really, Tony, you can't possibly mean that you've found more than a handful
of watchable horror films the last 8-10 years. Yes, the family horror lives -
quantitatively but not qualitatively - as a lame rehash of the same old themes
of the 70's and early 80's. As far as I am concerned the only freshness in the
horror genre the last decade is the splatsticks/parodies - a sure sign of genre
decline.
But there's hope. The way US politics is "developing", I predict a revival and
revitalisation for the family horror. Why not a remake of The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre, with Newt as grandad and Rush as Leatherface. You know, "The Saw is
Family".
 
Ulf
 
 
 
 
Ulf Dalquist                iNEW! Phone:  +46 46 2224266
Dept. of Sociology          iNEW! Fax:    +46 46 2224794
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'When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.'
                                                                                                                                                                                                Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
 
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