The American Nightmare - The History of Horror's Golden Age [PART 1/5]

This is a serious look at some of the most groundbreaking and innovative horror films ever made. It is also incredibly graphic, disturbing and somewhat bleak and depressing, so consider yourselves warned. No hardcore fan of horror will want to miss this, but people with weak stomachs may not be able to take it.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Benthelooney]

Horror films seem to get a bad rap, and have always had. However, I seem them as works of art. We watch them to escape from the horrors of reality, because the horrors we see on screen are actually conforting compared to what's really out there.

[J. Dylan]

This is probably the best horror film documentary I've ever seen

[Hannah Lynne]

That's true. There's almost no blood in the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and when you compare it to some of the most appalling horrors of the world (war and legal torture, anyone?), it's nothing. Yet it was slammed on it's release!

One of the reasons I watch horrors is because I can put myself in someone else's shoes for two hours - I can borrow their worries, if you like. As soon as the film ends I go back to worrying about my health, my future career prospects, money, the usual things.

[chewybunz]

Yes, I first caught it on IFC back in those days. I remember telling one my professors about it.

[DoctorNightgaunt]

I tried to get past pt. 2, but this is such a load of pretentious BS that I just gave up.

[Ed Jones]

music is GSYBE

[FPJ666]

this is an edited cut.... the version i have has the lhotl chest carving scene in the opening.... not present here

[TheeMilford]

Thanks for posting. I've had a dub of this I made from it's first airing on IFC in 2000. I've shown it to many friends because I feel it's the first study to finally make the connection I have been feeling for years about society, the human condition and horror film... especially from this era. if I could ask those that own the DVD, is the music (GSY!BE, Stockhausen) and edit the same as the IFC version that was aired back in 2000?

[Jake Marsden]

I'm so happy I've FINALLY found this, I've got it on DVD but the sucker's in terrible condition and unreadable. Thank you so much for taking the time to upload it!

[Mike Brown]

A brilliant, serious and highly intelligent documentary with music by GSY!BE - what more can you ask? Thanks for the upload!