Horror Is Political
Lately, I’ve been seeing hordes of posts asking to “keep politics out of horror.” I find these posts incredibly strange because that’s like saying “keep politics out of punk” or “keep water out of the ocean.” Many of the people posting this are self-proclaimed “die-hard horror fans.” It’s strange to me, then, that so many of these fans don’t seem to know much about the horror genre itself. Horror is political, it always has been. In fact, politics are at the very heart of horror. Horror points out the flaws within our society. It often inserts the strange and unusual into the mundane. This means that it makes political statements, usually about social justice.
Almost every horror story ever made deals with politics and social justice. Gojira, for example, was made as a reaction to Hiroshima. Godzilla rose due to nuclear radiation. His design was modeled after nuclear burns. Most slashers deal with sexuality, where only the virgin survives and the killer is often queercoded. Rod Serling used The Twilight Zone to subtly discuss politics and social justice. Even the legend of zombies was created as a response to slavery in Haiti. I don’t think I have to explain the political significance of films like They Live or the Purge.
Looking through the history of horror you will find a myriad of politics. Frankenstein showcases the horrors of being a social outcast and advocates for political reform in 19th Century England. Dracula dealt with sexuality (especially homosexuality) in the Victorian Era. Dante’s Inferno was a commentary on the corruption within the church in the 13th century.
Art itself has always been political. It’s a form of expression that allows the artist to comment on the problems during their time. Famous paintings like Las Meninas or The Third of May 1808 are incredibly political and tell us about the artist’s beliefs at the time. Politics have always been an essential part of art, and they always will be.
So why are many so upset about political messages within horror? Horror is supposed to make the viewer uncomfortable. It's meant to push the boundaries of what we’re used to seeing on screen. Yet, some people seem to be upset about being taken out of their comfort zone. Could it be, perhaps, because these people don’t agree with the messages being told? Is the horror really “‘too political” or do they just not agree with its politics? Yes, recently there has been an uptick in films that are more obviously political-but even Night of the Living Dead was very obvious with its politics. Rather than advocating against politics in horror, maybe think about why they bother you more now than they did in the past. Allow the content you’re consuming to make you think. You don’t have to agree with its message, but allow it to be thought-provoking. Remember that horror is supposed to take you out of your comfort zone, sit in the discomfort and reflect on the art. It might even change your mind.
