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Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue: The Ultimate Horror Documentary

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It’s the 4th of July Weekend, and what could be more American than Horror movies? But which ones? Which movies do you watch, which do you pass up,? Classics or contemporaries? How about probably the best Horror documentary onĀ American cinema ever made? Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film, based on the book of the same name.

Horror can be a hard subject for some people to talk about. It can be hard to admit to other people that you love the morals of the SAW series despite the gruesome scenarios, or that you enjoy the social commentary right alongside the campiness of some of the classic zombie movies. Ā The difficulty of this discussion makes finding a good Horror documentary fairly hit or miss, which makes how well this one is made all the more of an accomplishment.

Produced by Lux Digital Pictures in 2009, directed by Andrew Monument, and narrated by the voice of the singular Lance Henrickson, it includes commentary and interviews by John Carpenter, Joe Dante, George Romero, and Roger Corman among others.

Image courtesy of Nightmaresinredwhiteandblue.com

The documentary opens with the very beginning, starting with the Edison Manufacturing Company’s 1910 renditionĀ of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. From there, it progresses up through the decades, looking at the movies which defined the years, the themes behind them, and even the state of the country which led to their creation.

For example, it’s interesting to learn that 1931’s Dracula was passed off as a love story more than a Horror film. That theme continues through the decade, where the monsters aren’t just monsters. King Kong, in 1933 had the theme of love in it, as most people know. Also Frankenstein. And despite the monsters having these redeeming qualities, you find out that Hollywood actually decreed that all monsters in movies had to be destroyed by the end of the film.

The 1950’s and early 60’s had the fear of nuclear power and looked into gimmicks such as vibrating seats (The Tingler, 1959) and a version of 3D glasses (13 Ghosts, 1960).

They discuss how the themes of Horror tend to follow the changes in American culture through the years, the ‘wars’ between generations, the changing fears of the world through the eyes of America. We get breakdowns of the attacks on the American way of life through The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, and The Stepford Wives.

Image courtesy lionsgateathome.com/saw

It continues all the way up to the present day, with the incredible on-screen violence of the SAW and Hostel movies, and the revival of monsters through new movies and remakes in the late 2000’s.

Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue is great because not only do you get to understand some of your favorite Horror movies a little bit better, you’ll probably find some movies you haven’t seen which, maybe you should. If you count yourself any real kind of Horror fan, this is a horror documentary you need to watch. As for where, it shows up intermittently on Netflix, and the whole thing can also be found on YouTube.

One last thing, we’re all Horror fans here, but the documentary does include some strong language and nudity. Just FYI.

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Editorial

Yay or Nay: Whatā€™s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

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Horror Movies

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks. 

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well itā€™s draw out a story. 

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did. 

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. Heā€™s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD. 

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind. 

The Crow
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Lists

The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

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The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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Believe it or not, Mattelā€™s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.Ā 

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy.Ā Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.Ā 

As with any niche collectibles these arenā€™t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but itā€™s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time. 

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Familyā€™s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift thatā€™s so macabre, itā€™s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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