American Nightmare

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Keith A The doc is fantastic. Well made, keeps you on the edge of your seat with a truly shocking reveal. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/24 Full Review Audience Member This is definitely one of the best horror documentaries I've seen. Not only does it go into horror films but also what inspired them and how they were a reflection of the time they were released. At times it can be disturbing but its always intriguing. From Tom Savini discussing his personal experiences in Vietnam to an exploration of the slasher and so much more. The film is a must see for genre fans. 4.5/5 Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Doesnt quite doo too much in order to excell as a documentary, but it does enough to give all this infamous horror movies a social context that does shine some light on why these movies happen and how they affect people. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Is Interesting In Aspects But There Are Better Documentaries Out There Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Essentially just a talking head piece with influencial horror icons giving their 2 cents on why horror is what it is. Much of what is mentioned in the film is standard scholastic material with regards to horror and can be found in any number of books out there. Where the film manages to out perform any previous works is when someone such as Tom Savini can relate horror films to his activities in Vietnam and the real life horrors that clearly affected him. Had the film been about Tom Savini and delved into great depth about him not only would the film have been a completely different beast but it would have been more entertaining and insightful. As it is, The American Nightmare is a been there done that with the occasional piece of nouveau which for a seasoned horror fanatic will seem boring and lack luster. To newcomers the film might just open your eyes to something you've thought of, knew, or considered before and it is to these new fans of the genre that I think this film is geared towards. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member As a horror enthusiast & video store proprietor I find myself defending the genre almost on a daily basis. Often on an intellectual level and sometimes to temper the fears of parents who are concerned that their kids being exposed. I've been called "sick" and "immoral" for having a passion for horror and globally there is, of course, a bizarre stigma that comes with the genre. Ironically horror is the oldest form of storytelling known to man. Parents misunderstand it and don't even realise that they feed horror to their kids by way of Roald Dahl, Harry Potter and heap of other stuff. Children's literature is full of horror and there's no better example than the Brother's Grimm. Horror is an important outlet to address fears and stimulate emotions that are too often suppressed. One film I often recommend when defending the genre is The American Nightmare. It delves into horror films from the 70s and 80s and studies their significance and correlation with current events. Experts from various fields (media, psychology, history etc) lend their opinions and insights to make for an eye opening, revealing and intelligent study of the importance of horror. Those of us who are already buffs won't learn a lot from The American Nightmare but its most definitely a useful tool for educating the uneducated. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

American Nightmare

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