There’s a weird universe of TV and film that plays on our wildest fears and it’s not because of a monster or fantastical serial killer like Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger. But, there’s a whole genre of entertainment that is scary simply because it draws from real life.
For instance, the horrific hood classic Candyman is less frightening because of the eerily hooked black man being summoned in mirrors, but the scary reality of living in the projects and being terrorized by a spirit angered by the traumatic racially unjust way he died is something that’s not far from real life.
Just think about the stories circulating online about Lake Lanier, a reservoir located in northern Georgia that has been in the headlines for mysterious deaths. The Department of Natural Resources report that there’s been over 160 deaths at the lake, making it one of America’s most deadly lakes.
Now, imagine a movie about this. It wouldn’t be scary because of a monster or masked murderer, but the simple fact that there’s real life news and speculations of hauntings at this lake is enough to make a great film.
This genre of film, that rests on the underbelly of injustices and cultural taboo in the U.S., has recently been brought to the forefront by the great and masterful Jordan Peele. His two hit films, Get Out and US, played on mystique, cultural taboo, and even history, to create a Twilight Zone aura entrenched in modern day society. Now, there’s a whole slew of films following his lead.
The recent film BodyCam, starring Mary J. Blige, covers a hot topic as the nation settles from protests against police brutality. But, there’s a twist and similar to Candyman, the grit of the story is esteemed by a black boy who was unjustly killed by policemen, who attempted to cover their tracks by hiding the bodycam. Again, a horror film plays on our worst fears.
In another film that is rooted in racism and stereotypes, Beneath Us is about illegal immigrants that are hired on to build homes for a white family when all of a sudden it becomes a threat on their lives. Since immigration and undocumented workers have been a major topic throughout the election year, it’s not hard to see why a film like this is some people’s worst nightmare.
Another film that is falling in the category of “non-fictional horror films” is the upcoming Hulu film Bad Hair, which plays on the struggle of black women and their hair. Mixed with real life issues, the film also adds its twisted, deranged touch to reality.
With more films like this coming out, we see a whole genre being revived, saluting the best who ever did it, including Alfred Hitchcock (The Birds), Rod Serling (The Twilight Zone), William Gaines (Tales From The Crypt), M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense), Bernard Rose (Candyman) and many more. However, this time around, it’s an influx of people of color telling their stories the way they’ve envisioned.
