Horror
Documentaries and Non-Fiction Macabre
By
Kristin Battestella
Real
world horrors and mayhem are often just as demented and certainly no less
interesting than their fictional counterparts, are they not? Here’s a brief
guide of ghoulish documentaries, morbid memoirs, and non-fiction frights to
spice up your creepy classroom or Fall viewings.
Anne
Rice: Biography – This 2000 television
hour focusing on the Interview with a
Vampire author is nothing new. Ironically, it is actually dated and
somewhat inaccurate thanks to Rice’s more recent life and literary changes and
thus this feels somewhat incomplete. A one-minute add-on to encompass the new
millennium doesn’t cut it. That aside, it’s still great to see photos from
Rice’s early life, hear friends and family recount her childhood and road to
publication greatness, and listen to Rice herself talk of religion and the personal
tragedies that inspired her writing. In fact, Anne’s familial losses and
literary struggles may even be more poignant thanks to the conversations with
her late husband, the poet Stan Rice. I’d like to see A&E revisit Rice with
an updated two-hour special, but until then, scholarly studies and Rice
aficionados can always enjoy this quick profile.
A
Cemetery Special – PBS’s 2005 hour-long
spotlight doesn’t have enough time to explore this exhaustive subject matter-
and it bemusing admits that along with a respectful dedication to those buried
in the featured cemeteries. From Pittsburgh to Vermont and Key West to Alaska, lovely footage
of graveyards and gardens accents the bent but thought provoking discussion on death,
remembrance, art, and the monuments we leave behind. Perhaps lesser-known
graveyards are featured, but interesting tales from the Civil War and sleeping
place origins are recounted in an almost heartwarming manner. This is the
perfect little video for classrooms studying the specific locations and history
or macabre scholars researching burial customs. I wish there had been a whole
series like this!
Nightmares
in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film – In covering a hundred years of scary cinema, this
2009 documentary was bound to miss a few things. However, this hour and half
also provides extensive clips from early silent films, Universal monsters, the
Roger Corman era, seventies zombies, eighties slashers, and more. Interviewees like George Romero, John
Carpenter, and more experts on the genre examine how the social and political
statements onscreen, both overt and veiled, influenced film making and audiences
thru the decades. Horror has gone from early B-movie child’s play to red scare
allusions and now a blockbuster industry- who knew? Some of the more recent
conversation and post 9/11 thoughts are perhaps nothing new or could have been dealt
with more deeply, for today’s viewer is familiar with these sociopolitical
cinema influences, after all. But seeing the paces of vintage horror film thru
the years is a real treat for both new and veteran fans. This one’s a great
starter for younger folks just getting into horror films or a good
accompaniment to a sociology discussion.
Spine
Tingler: The William Castle Story
– New horror audiences today may not necessarily recognize the name of the
director of such fun fright fests as House
on Haunted Hill, but William Castle’s hokey contributions to film tricks
and entertainment showmanship are highlighted in this 2007 80-minute documentary.
Archive footage of Castle and video of classic stars like Vincent Price, Cary
Grant, and Orson Welles accent the lighthearted and insightful commentary from
Castle’s daughter Terry, Leonard Maltin, Roger Corman, John Waters, and more
genre luminaries. Are Castle’s low
budget films on the fly high art? No. Are they any less unforgettable and
entertaining? Nope. Often called a Poor Man’s Hitchcock, horror historians and
film students can learn a thing or two about how to make a movie here thanks to
Castle’s shtick success- flying skeletons and tingling Percepto theater seats
notwithstanding. Although it’s ironic, we look at Castle with such corny delight.
However, what are today’s 3D movies, CGI special effects, found footage films,
and viral promotions if not gimmicks to sell cinema tickets?
Witches:
Biography – A little too much
time is spent on recent controversies in this 2008 documentary, and the would
be dispelling of negative connotations and misconceptions suffers a touch from
the devil worship stereotypes in the presentation. Though care was taken in
chronicling the history of witchcraft, from the infamous trials all the way
thru to contemporary practices and profiles, the topic is simply too big for just
one hour. I’d rather this be at least a 2-hour special or even a three part
serial. A&E and History documentaries have solely focused on the Salem
Witch Trials previously, and if the networks are pushing all things paranormal,
there’s no reason to stifle the content here. The hodgepodge, conflicted vision
meanders between past persecutions and today’s practices, but it doesn’t do either
justice. Hokey reenactments just don’t seem right juxtaposed with modern coven
footage, and this episode seems better piecemeal. If you need Salem studies in the classroom or if you want
to see the interviews discussing recent witchcraft for your circle, this is the
minimal introduction to a much bigger subject.
It’s iffy
Bram
Stoker: Biography – Indicative
of the degrading quality of this A&E series, this 2004 forty five minutes
feels too in the vein (no pun intended) of entertainment gossip before
historical profile. Precious time is spent on the sensuality of Dracula and the Goth subculture in an
attempt to relate Stoker to this highly unfortunate glitter vampire swing. If you wanted to focus on Dracula and vampires, then make a Biography episode on Dracula or vampires. The first fifteen
minutes feels more like “Where’s Bram?” Rhetorically
asking if he would be shocked by vampire clubs or astounded by Halloween
costumes do not tell the viewer much about Stoker, nor do poor reenactments and
readings with bad Irish accents. More
sensational than informative, this presentation is brimming with unsubstantiated
suggestions, much less anything new. Stoker’s
sources for and the sexual discussions of Dracula
are indeed intriguing, but making a scandal out of it with homo-eroticism
and hatred of women makes for a poor presentation. Did they really need to find
something juicy about the man who wrote one of the most widely published books
ever? Serious scholars might enjoy a point/counterpoint viewing, but there aren’t
many worthwhile literary aspects here. Very disappointing.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Witches or Bram Stoker episodes of Biography are currently available on video, either. Typical!
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