![]() ![]() Whatever the reason, satanic stories were the name of the game for a lot of horror cinema much of the decade. Perhaps it was just the after-effect of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, or perhaps it had deeper roots in Boomers’ question of religion and their own mortality at a time of war and nuclear annihilation. People were gaga for the occult in the 70s. It really made the landscape of horror cinema incredibly diverse – always a good thing. And so, we were treated to the stylish giallo horrors of Mario Bava (who Tim Burton has spent a career imitating) and Argento, the nihilistic perversions of Jesus Franco, the avant-garde and surreal horrors of Jean Rollin, the zombies of Fulci, and a host of other boundary-smashing directors, each with their own style. Modern horror has tried to recreate this grittiness, and while guys like Rob Zombie have given it a valiant effort, you just synthesize the magic that was the genuine grime of 70s horror.ĭuring the 70s, there was a huge influx of European films (often repackaged for oblivious US audiences). Last House on the Left, for instance, almost looks like a snuff film at times, as does I Spit on Your Grave and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. For whatever reason, horror films of the 70s often looked like they had been marinated in a puddle on a gas station bathroom floor (a description I’ve used before, but I can’t think of a better way to describe it). Polished horror films rarely horrify – they’re just too clean looking to attack you on a visceral level. To be truly horrifying, it’s nice to have a degree of grittiness. ![]() (2) Seventies style horror didn’t end on December 31st, 1979 – the flame was kept alive for at least a few years into the 1980s. ![]() I’m simply explaining why 70s horror is the best – not attempting to argue that all other decades are shit. To those of you who already recognize the 70s as the Golden Age of Horror, I invite you to read the list, then add your own – after all, 15 reasons isn’t near enough.Ī couple notes before we begin: (1) This isn’t a list trashing modern horror – there’s been tons of good stuff released in recent years. But be forewarned 70s horror is so damn groovy, you may develop a lifelong addiction to its horrific charm. So, why take the time to read this list, or even compile it in the first place? Because there are many of you out there who haven’t experienced the wondrous (and often disturbing) world of 70s horror, and perhaps this list will open your mind up, and incite you to give it a try…. This list of reasons why horror flicks of the 1970s were better than anything since ultimately is just one man’s opinion – an often grouchy and biased man at that. ![]()
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