nateafa2023

[nateafa2023]

Blog Post 6

Director Xavier Burgin's chilling and provocative film Horror Noire is a daring reimagining of the horror genre from an African American perspective. Fearlessly exploring the intersection of racial identity and horror, the film offers a fresh take on the genre while breaking away from tired tropes. This blog post delves into the significance of Horror Noire, its themes, and its influence on modern cinema. The plot revolves around a group of African American friends who become trapped in a haunted house, forcing them to confront their deepest fears and uncover a long-ignored history. Burgin uses this central plot to investigate issues of race, identity, and representation in the horror genre.

What distinguishes Horror Noire is its dedication to highlighting African Americans' cultural and historical contexts within the genre. The film stars a talented ensemble cast of Black actors who bring their characters to life with a palpable sense of authenticity. While suspenseful and thrilling, the plot is also layered with meaning and symbolism, elevating the film above typical horror fare.

Burgin subverts common stereotypes that have long plagued Black characters in horror films in Horror Noire. Characters in Horror Noire are fully fleshed out and central to the narrative, rather than being relegated to the background or being used as disposable plot devices. They are intelligent, resourceful, and resilient, qualities that are frequently lacking in Black characters in mainstream horror. Furthermore, the film avoids the genre's usual clichés, such as the "magical Negro" or the "first-to-die" trope. Instead, it celebrates African Americans' rich cultural heritage by incorporating elements of folklore and mythology that have long been a part of their storytelling tradition.

Horror Noire has received widespread acclaim for its innovative approach to the genre, sparking a broader discussion about representation in horror cinema. Many critics praised the film for its gripping story, compelling character development, and thought-provoking themes. The film has also received praise for its striking visual style, which seamlessly blends gothic horror with a modern aesthetic.

Following the success of Horror Noire, other filmmakers have drawn inspiration from Burgin's approach, resulting in a resurgence of horror films that tackle issues of race and identity in novel ways. The film has acted as a change agent in the genre, paving the way for more diverse storytelling and inclusive representation. The movie was a great inspiration to me to continue my passion for horror and I hope everyone takes the time to watch this film as well.

[nateafa2023]

 Blog Post #5

I decided to write this blog post about Tales from the Hood, directed by Rusty Cundieff. It is a horror film that explores many different themes related to racism, police brutality, and gang violence through a series of four interconnected stories. The film is set in an inner-city funeral home, where three young gang members find funeral director, Mr. Simms, who tells them a series of these terrifying stories.

The first story that Mr. Simms, "Rogue Cop Revelation," is about a corrupt white police officer who murders a black activist and then covers it up. The activist's ghost comes back to haunt and terrify the officer, leading to a gruesome and violent confrontation. This story is a commentary on police brutality and the lack of accountability for officers who commit crimes against black people. The story was portrayed in a way of horror mixed with some comedy.

The second horror story shared by Mr. Simms, "Boys Do Get Bruised," centers around a monster terrorizing a young child in his bedroom. As the boy’s family doesn’t believe his claims a social worker comes to investigate and realizes that the monster is a creation from the boy's trauma from witnessing domestic violence in his home. This story’s importance of addressing trauma in children comes from exploring the cycle of violence and abuse that can occur within families.

"KKK Comeuppance," the film's third story, is a revenge story about a group of black men killed by the Ku Klux Klan in the 1960s. The men reappear as spirits looking to get revenge and brutally murdering the Klan members who killed them. The story centers on the past and present struggles against racism in America and the continuous pursuit for fairness and equal rights.

The final story, "Hard-Core Convert," follows a violent gang member, Crazy K, and his transformation after being put in prison. Crazy K is visited by supernatural beings who show him the consequences of his violent actions in order to change his views. As Crazy K was supposed to take responsibility for his actions he didn’t and was warned about the consequences.

Tales from the Hood is one of the most powerful and impactful films I have watched that uses horror as a tool to explore important social and political issues. I’m glad the movie is still being taught today because it is important for everyone to read no matter how old the movie becomes. The fact that the movie was filmed in 1995 adds a history factor to the movie.

[nateafa2023]

Blog Post 4

"Us," directed by Jordan Peele, is a chilling examination of duality, identity, and the darker aspects of human nature. The 2019 film tells the very interesting story of a family that were threatened by their own doppelgangers on vacation. The central metaphor of the film is the idea that we all have a dark, shadowy side that we try to conceal or suppress. The film's doppelgangers represent this hidden side, and their appearance and behavior suggest that this darkness is not easily contained or controlled. The doppelgangers serve as a metaphor for the underclass and the marginalized in the film, which also has a strong social commentary. According to the film, society's treatment of these groups has resulted in a kind of shadow population, one that is hidden and ignored but very much present. The final twist in the film reveals that the main character is a doppelganger, implying that the lines between "us" and "them" are not as clear as we might think. "Us" is a powerful and thought-provoking film that addresses some of humanity's most fundamental questions. It is a meditation on identity, duality, and the nature of evil, and it invites us to think about our own dark sides and how we are all connected. Jordan Peele has proven himself to be a master storyteller and skilled provocateur once more, and "Us" is a film that will stay with viewers long after the credits have rolled. Now coming from my perspective this movie was honestly extremely scary to me. I thought the idea of having doppelgangers is a great idea to base a horror movie on just because it can be created in a very scary way. Jordan Peele once again created an amazing movie that astonished me again except this one was different. To me this one was different cause some moments actually seemed to terrify me rather than the usual scare emotion I feel in other movies. It seems like that's what he wanted to come out of this movie after seeing how scary some scenes really were. Honestly for my personal preference I would've liked it to be less horror and more based on the plot but it still was a great movie. Whether I would suggest it to others of course I would but I would definitely make sure they can handle a horror movie like this one before suggesting it. I thank my professor for recommending this movie as there is no way I would have watched it on my own if I ever just saw the trailer.

[nateafa2023]

Blog Post 3

This blog post I am going to right about the horror film Candyman filmed in 2021 by Nia DaCosta. This is the second movie to the sequel as there was another Candyman that was filmed in 1992. The movie starts off with Anthony McCoy an artist that fell in love with the story of a city and the evil spirit behind Candyman. To Anthony the Candyman seemed like a myth that was funny to him as he made many jokes scaring people by pretending like he was going to summon the Candyman. He goes on to meet other people that are also interested in the story and help him to piece together this scary story. As the horror movie goes on we see many moments that are very suspenseful and will have you on the edge of your seat whether its from interest or fear. I noticed the type of horror I saw in this movie was less jump scares and more scary through tense moments and many visual captures to make the audience feel a bit uneasy. I felt that the Candyman filmed in 1992 was a lot more traditional with jump scares as that was more of the horror fashion during those times. The horror I noticed in this movie is more of a weird and not so good feeling the audience member gets when hearing these terrible stories. When Anthony mentions saying Candyman in the mirror 5 times will summon him it gets the audience feeling uneasy because now you wonder what will happen if you said it in the mirror but are scared to do so even though it is just a movie. The movie does a great job putting real fear into the audience by creating these scary ideas like saying the Candyman's name 5 times. Another moment of fear struck me during the movie was when Anthony was in the elevator and cut his finger on the piece of candy that fell. Following that was a quick jump scare as when he looks up to see where the candy fell from he sees an image of the Candyman. To me Anthony cutting his figure from the candy is scarier to me more than the jump scare because the idea of how the candy got into the elevator is a little freaky. I think this movie did an amazing job with creating horror by the scenes I mentioned as well as the bathroom scene with the school girls. It could be a difficult movie for some people to watch because of the blood and scary scenes. If you are able to handle those parts it would be a great movie to watch as the plot outside of the horror is actually very interesting. I am glad I watched this movie and recommend it to movie lovers.

[nateafa2023]

Blog Post 2

The movie “Nope” by Jordan Peele is visually stunning, with impressive cinematography and a unique aesthetic, creating a dream-like atmosphere. The climax is a mix of horror, comedy, and suspense, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. The movie was something I had never seen before as a usual comedy or action type of movie. I enjoyed the concept of the film but the parts that generally don’t sit well with me are the moments that get your heart pumping by surprise like a jumpscare. A big part I am glad I am watching movies like these especially this one is because it is taking me out of my comfort zone and getting me to watch something that is difficult to watch for me. 

In “Nope” a part that gets me jittery is when Otis is struck by a metal object that fell out of the sky injuring his eye. Just even hearing this would get me super uncomfortable and nervous as hearing or seeing gory things like this get me feeling this way. Especially when finding out he later died to this injury is another aspect of why it gets me feeling nervous. Even when i know the chances of something happening like this to me is slim to none I still paint the picture in my head. As scary parts of movies like these bother me it is important to try to push through as many movies that have horror in them have other amazing aspects that people should experience. As “Nope” was nominated for multiple awards there was obviously something special to be seen in the movie. I thot the imagery of the movie and the nongory horror was something I have never seen before in movies as most of the movies I watch are superhero or action movies as they don’t focus on things like this.

As this was one of the few horror movies I have seen now it was amazing to see and something I should have seen when it first came out. In my opinion I enjoyed “Get Out” a little more as I thought the plot was better as well as the comedy in it to be better. I am extremely excited to see what other horror movies have to offer. I also saw that there are videos on youtube that go in to dept on “Nope” to tell us things that I might have missed watching it the first time so I also can’t wait to watch these videos.

[nateafa2023]

Blog Post 1

Get Out is a horror movie about an interracial relationship that leads to exposing the secrets and truths about his girlfriend's family. The amount of attention this movie received when it first came out shocked me at first but I never pushed myself to go and watch a “horror” movie. I recently watched Get Out by Jordan Peele because of my Black Horror class and I am glad I finally was able to watch the movie. The way Get Out subverts traditional horror movie tropes is one of its most striking elements. Peele does something very different in his movie as he makes the white characters the antagonists, rather than the black characters being the victims, as is often the case in horror films. This daring choice adds another layer of depth to the film, making it a commentary not only on the treatment of black people in America but also on how Hollywood portrays them in films. Peele's direction and writing are both superb. He expertly combines horror and comedy, creating an eerie atmosphere that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The film's social commentary on the treatment of black people in America is handled subtly and nuancedly as well. Peele employs the horror genre to make a point about the racism and discrimination that black people continue to face in the United States. He accomplishes this by depicting the horror and difficulties that Chris encounters throughout the film, such as being constantly questioned about his physical abilities. The film also addresses the concept of "white supremacy" and how white people have historically exploited black bodies for their own gain. This theme is most pronounced in the final reveal, in which it is revealed that the white characters are physically transplanting their consciousness into the bodies of black people in order to gain their perceived superior physical abilities. The performances in Get Out are also noteworthy. The movie is very different than any other movie I have ever watched. It was amazing watching a horror movie that didn’t base all the horror on blood and gore but something much more interesting and mysterious. Jordan Peele did an outstanding job creating a mystery and getting his audience to come up with theories of their own. Before we find out the answer to all the confusion I came up with so many different ideas in my head on what I thought was going on. I think it is a movie everyone must experience watching and extremely thankful I was pushed to watch this movie.

I chose this quote because it has always been a very important concept to give credit to the proper people as it can be considered plagiarism if not done correctly. It relates to collecting as knowing the owner and create of many things that are created is important for almost every collectible item. It is important to give proper attribution and citation in collecting and most fields you get involved in.