Horror movies and TV shows have helped us survive the difficult year that was 2020.
While you may think that horror movies and TV shows would be the last thing anyone would want during this tough year, it appears that fictional horror movies, TV shows and video games have helped a lot of people navigate this year’s real-life difficulties.
The Last of Us Part II
According to Germain Lussier, you can realise that something is wrong halfway through The Last of Us Part II when you begin playing the villain instead of Ellie after the story restarts.
You have spent the first half learning to hate this character that you are now forced to play as. Despite being a horror video game, this becomes quite heartwarming.
As you play as Abby, and begin to learn more about her, you start to understand her struggle more than Ellie’s.
The game teaches patience, sympathy, empathy, acceptance, and that your opinion of someone may change simply by knowing more about them.
Lovecraft Country
James Whitbrook doesn’t ordinarily describe himself as a horror fanatic; he does not enjoy gore or jump scares. However, he truly enjoyed HBO’s Lovecraft Country earlier this year.
Whitbrook asserts that the Lovecraftian tropes were delightful, with a pleasant balance between gross moments and existential dread.
He explains that the story was told through strong acting by actors such as Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors. The storyline and the acting helped Whitbrook to continue watching, even as the horror became progressively gory and violent.
The show helped him appreciate the genre so much more, and understand why others use it as an escape.
Invisible Man
Many fans were wary about watching Universal’s The Invisible Man after the over-hyper Dark Universe. According to Cheryl Eddy, Leigh Whannell’s acting alone was enough to bring the characters and legendary monsters to life.
This film was released in February of this year, one of the last movies to hit the big screen before coronavirus lockdowns occurred around the world.
The story follows Elizabeth Moss, whose life gets turned upside down when her controlling ex begins using high-tech inventions to turn himself invisible to stalk her.
After faking his own death, her friends, family, and many others don’t believe her troubles.
Locke & Key and The Haunting of Bly Manor
These are Netflix’s two biggest horror series released in 2020. Locke & Key came out pre-quarantine, but it also gave many an escape similar to The Invisible Man through its intricate stories and deep characters that help unfold the mysteries piece by piece.
Through each episode, clues are dropped that justify binge-watching.
Cheryl Eddy admits that neither of these shows is the scariest horror films out there, but they offer emotionally stirring tales, with characters who have already gone through trauma in their lives and must use friends and family to pull it together in times of supernatural torment.
His House
2020 has been a fantastic year for horror films, especially those that include a diverse cast and focuses on the commentary of contemporary social issues.
Charles Pulliam-Moore asserts that His House tells a moving story of real Black experiences without revelling in the brutality of Black bodies.
The film is a Black-centric horror film, but it captures experiences in a way that isn’t stomach-turning.
The New Mutants
Pulliam-Moore also explains that Fox’s latest addition to the X-Men film franchise, The New Mutants, exceeded the low expectations of the series.
According to Pulliam-Moore, Josh Boone put the effort in to explore the intricacies of the superhero genre with the addition of horror.
He continues, saying that this movie provided more in-depth interaction and engagement between characters that is difficult to capture when the plot focuses on people saving the world.
Spell
Pulliam-Moore continues, discussing the way horror films such as Spell manage to remain entertaining with in-depth plots and special effects while trying to scare you.
Mark Tonderai’s Spell comes with messages of racism, class and power, reminding us all that there are still some genuinely good/bad movies.
