The Four Word Film Review Fourum

All Forums

Film Related

Film Queries

Unidentified genre: Desert Gothic?

Note: You must be registered in order to post a reply.
To register, click here. Registration is FREE!

Screensize:

UserName:

Password:

Format Mode:

Format:

Message:

Smilies

[quote][i]Originally posted by Joe Blevins[/i]
[br]Turner Classic Movies recently aired a rather obscure David Carradine film called [i]Sonny Boy[/i] (1989), which is a violent, surreal B-movie about a gangster and his moll (Carradine plays that moll -- in drag!) who kidnap a baby and raise it as their own. They essentially treat the kid like an animal, and the movie eventually becomes a variation on [i]Frankenstein[/i], with the misunderstood "monster" breaking free and causing havoc. The whole thing is set out in the desert, and it got me to thinking that it might be part of an unidentified sub-genre of movies: desert gothic.

It seems to me that between the 1970s and 1990s, there were a lot of weird, dark films -- mainly low-budget and independent flicks -- set in the Southwestern United States, i.e. New Mexico, Arizona, and the more barren parts of Texas, etc. These films are either horror flicks or (like [i]Sonny Boy[/i]) have horror-level violence. What sets the genre apart is that these films are typically campy and surreal and peopled with bizarre and grotesque characters. The Southwest is depicted in these films as a kind of hell on earth where the normal rules of society don't apply, and the heat and isolation have turned seemingly everyone into monsters.

I'd say the "desert gothic" genre got its start with [i]The Texas Chain Saw Massacre[/i] and [i]The Hills Have Eyes[/i], and eventually encompassed such diverse films as [i]Sonny Boy, John Carpenter's Vampires, Wild at Heart[/i] and even [i]Raising Arizona[/i], which definitely has violence and grotesque characters.

My questions are: has anyone else noticed this "desert gothic" trend and, better yet, can anyone add to the list of films that might fall under this banner? Thanks.
[/quote]

- HTML is OFF | Forum Code is ON

Check here to include your profile signature.

T O P I C R E V I E W
Joe Blevins	Posted - 01/11/2009 : 19:34:57 Turner Classic Movies recently aired a rather obscure David Carradine film called Sonny Boy (1989), which is a violent, surreal B-movie about a gangster and his moll (Carradine plays that moll -- in drag!) who kidnap a baby and raise it as their own. They essentially treat the kid like an animal, and the movie eventually becomes a variation on Frankenstein, with the misunderstood "monster" breaking free and causing havoc. The whole thing is set out in the desert, and it got me to thinking that it might be part of an unidentified sub-genre of movies: desert gothic. It seems to me that between the 1970s and 1990s, there were a lot of weird, dark films -- mainly low-budget and independent flicks -- set in the Southwestern United States, i.e. New Mexico, Arizona, and the more barren parts of Texas, etc. These films are either horror flicks or (like Sonny Boy) have horror-level violence. What sets the genre apart is that these films are typically campy and surreal and peopled with bizarre and grotesque characters. The Southwest is depicted in these films as a kind of hell on earth where the normal rules of society don't apply, and the heat and isolation have turned seemingly everyone into monsters. I'd say the "desert gothic" genre got its start with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, and eventually encompassed such diverse films as Sonny Boy, John Carpenter's Vampires, Wild at Heart and even Raising Arizona, which definitely has violence and grotesque characters. My questions are: has anyone else noticed this "desert gothic" trend and, better yet, can anyone add to the list of films that might fall under this banner? Thanks.
5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
BaftaBaby	Posted - 01/13/2009 : 13:13:08 Possibly just under the line - I mean what's a grain of sand between friends -- Paris, Texas
Beanmimo	Posted - 01/13/2009 : 11:22:10 A History of Violence?
demonic	Posted - 01/12/2009 : 01:38:53 The Proposition?
Salopian	Posted - 01/12/2009 : 00:14:58 From Dusk Till Dawn? What kind of terrain is Vacancy set in? Duel? Even Star Wars? Also Australian Outback ones such as Walkabout and that thriller from a couple of years ago.
demonic	Posted - 01/11/2009 : 23:47:24 I know where you're coming from Joe, it seems to be a distinct genre that rings imaginative bells. I'm just trying to think of decent examples; "Wild at Heart" is definitely a good one. I'd say "Near Dark" the fantastic 80s nomadic vampire movie would count. Possibly "The Hitcher". Oliver Stone's "U Turn" is surreal and dusty. More recently "Resident Evil 3" is set mainly in the desert and deserted towns. But not very good.

The Four Word Film Review Fourum

Snitz Forums 2000