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AMERICA
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

I REMEMBER

From very early on in my life, movies have been a big part. I enjoy all types of movies, from the classics like, "Of Mice and Men" and "The Grapes of Wrath" and "to kill a Mockingbird", the offbeat and bizarre martial arts classics like "Enter the Dragon" and "Enter the Fist "and "Kung Fu Hustle."

. But, my favorite genre is horror. As a young boy approximately 6 years old, my father would wake me on Friday nights at midnight to sit and watch the program called "Shock Theater." It was hosted by a gentleman who called himself, M. T. GRAVES. He was a ghoul who sat in a graveyard and introduced horror films. I cut my teeth learning about vampires and werewolves and serial murderers and became fascinated with the types of films that fill your body with adrenaline.I've never had a nightmare or bad dream that was generated by this viewing. Then in 1969 as a Marine Boulevard drive-in theater, I was introduced to the master of horror films, George A. Romero, when I caught his cult classic "Night of the Living Dead." And from that point post-apocalyptic zombie movies have been my favorite.

On another blog yesterday, I mentioned that George Romero was the barometer by which all other horror movies are measured. This is as true today as it was in 1969. For my birthday in August I got a copy of George's last two movies Diary of the Dead, and Survival of the Dead. Unlike most horror movies that try to interject some humor to keep the film from being completely bizarre, Living Dead Movies, have no such inclination.


I have read essays and articles to try to portray zombie movies as metaphors for racial discrimination and hatred. Long drawnout diatribes about how the white race mistreats the others. I disagreed vociferously. I did read a paper in the early 1980s the said George Romero had made a statement, or more correctly an allegory on immigration to America with his trilogy of living dead movies.

Stage I, Night of the Living Dead, shows the initial reaction toward the latest group of immigrants. Hatred, anger and violence.

Stage II, Dawn of the Dead, describes how we move away in droves to avoid being near the new immigrants.

Stage III, Day of the Dead, shows stage III as how we tend to accept the new immigrants by trying to find them jobs in menial labor, in the service industries.

Please note that I use the term "immigration" and not race. These allegories on immigration applied to the Irish, Italians, Asians and other nationalities as they came in droves to realize the American dream. John Steinbeck's novel, "The Grapes of Wrath" describes what happened when people fled from the dust bowl to find work as agricultural laborers in the fertile fields of California. The friendly loving citizens of the state California committed murder and mayhem to protect their jobs from the influx of fellow Americans.

Back to the topic, Horror Movies, I love horror movies and during the last half of the month of October I am in hog heaven. Serious vampire movies, not your namby-pamby, team Edward or team Jacob drivel with vampires and werewolves have love affairs and tender sentimentality. Where that crap come from? I believe it began with Anne Rice in her series of novels about the vampire Le Stat, in Interview with the Vampire. I like my vampires to be ruthless, cunning, heartless, cruel, evil, nasty, vile, blood thirsty predators. Not romantic semi-heroic starcrossed souls suffering under the burden of immortality. And from now until Halloween I'm going to highlight some of my favorite vampire movies for you.

first on the list of must-see:
DUSK TIL DAWN
Dusk till Dawn, starring George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino. This movie starts out with a pair of brothers who are sadistic sociopathic bank robbers and murderers. After a particularly brutal string of crimes they decide to head south of the border, in search of refuge. If you hold the romantic image of George Clooney, this movie may change that for you. The kicker is, despite the fact that he is a miserable murderer in pretty short order you find yourself cheering for him and hoping that he survives. Because the vampires in this movie are my kind of vampire.

11 comments:

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Vampires are one of my favorite horrors... Interview with a Vampire.. Anne Rice's stuff.. awesome :-) I must confess I like the twilight series too... I know you've taken a deep breath.

The Shining... classic horror.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
red.neck chic said...

so....

this is kind of like shark week for me. Yikes! I will be the girl hiding under the couch - you just tell me when it's safe to fully emerge. Okay?

;-D xoxoxo
Have fun!!!
robelyn

Red Shoes said...

I like all of the older monster movies as well, Kurt...

Boris Karloff as the Frankenstein monster... Bela Lugosi as Dracula... Lon Chaney as the Wolfman...

Channel 5 out of Memphis used to have a 'Shock Theater' as well..

And a vampire looking guy named 'Sivad'... a rather sinister looking fellow, but come to find out, his last name was 'Davis'... and he just spelled it backwards to get his 'show name'...

hahahahaha...

I wonder how scary 'seohs' would sound??

nah...

~shoes~

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

I did, and I don't deserve it, but thanks so much. I had trouble leaving comments on your blog that day, then forgot to revisit.

The Exorcist... really is a HORROR. But incredibly enticing. "Dimi..Dimi...Look what you DO to me, Dimi .........."

AAAAACK. I'm getting the shivers think of it. I've also seen most of the movies you listed, plus the Amityville horror stuff. I've also read all of Steven Kings stuff... IT was the most horrendous.. damn clowns.

I am currently reading LET ME IN, do you want the book? I can send it when I'm done - Pretty good read. Real Vampire story without the Twilight fluff. I think the movie is already out. It's gonna be a good one.

Just telling it like it is said...

My son loves horror movies...they are not for me...but I love movies as well...Miss ya hun

Spiky Zora Jones said...

dusk till dawn is one of my favorite vampire movies...a little cheesy at times but it is too be expected. It's still an awesome horror flick.

I read all three books you mentioned.

I think interview of a vampire is an excellent vampire movie...I mean hello...brad is in it. it's haunting sad. the thing I love about it is that it mixes the brutality and love that i think is in all vampires.

funny how you have vampires and I posted part 1 of 'Hooker Vampires' yesterday...BOO!
xx

Heidi said...

Yikes! I can't take 'em. Way too scary for me. Way too.

Indi said...

KP ~ I love all Vampire movies ever made... I love action packed movies too... as for Kung Fu... my brother is an all time fan of Bruce Lee.. As for george Clooney ... he gets my vote every time


Indi


xx

Cocaine Princess said...

Horror is my absolute fave genre.
I've seen all the Dusk Til Dawn Movies in the series but the 1st stands out.

I also liked John Carpenter's Vampires.

UBERMOUTH said...

'I like my vampires to be ruthless, cunning, heartless, cruel, evil, nasty, vile, blood thirsty predators.'

Man, you have a great turn of phrase! I LOVE the way you orgasmically spit this out[although, who knew you'd like such types?]
*whispers* Do you think I am a vampire? :)