‘Eli Roth’s History of Horror’ Recap: ‘Apocalyptic Horror’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One particular concept that modern man ponders upon often… is the end of the world. Because there is something that is quite fascinating about the end and what it would or could entail and well… is it something that fascinates us so much, that it has become a staple of popular culture. Because studios and networks have no problem producing all kinds of content about the end so we can satisfy our morbid curiosity about the matter and the history of horror films that feature an apocalypse is so rich and so diverse… that the time was right for Eli Roth’s History of Horror to explore these films, in great detail.

For this week’s episode was all about ‘Apocalyptic Horror’ and well… this episode wasted zero time in diving into the wondrous history of this subgenre of films, starting with perhaps the most popular iteration of this story right now, specifically, films that involve the end of the world at the hands of the living dead. For the dead returning to life and attacking the living, really is a horrifying scenario, one that truly allows for the viewer to get a sense of what a genuine collapse of society might look like in the face of a powerful threat and how a true threat in that manner would conquer us no problem. Plus, these films hold weight with audiences, because they are often grand and sweeping in nature, allowing for them to offer up epic and horrifying moments, and fascinating commentary on our modern world.

Oddly enough, the decision to pack a great deal of themes into those stories, has motivated other horror films to dive into our collapse in a more intimate manner. For instance, The Last Man on Earth, The Omega Man and I Am Legend, are eager to ponder upon what we would become when isolated from the rest of our fellow man, and what being removed from the rules would transform us into morally. And there are others, such as Soylent Green, that dive deep into which rules and concepts that we cherish now, would be easily abandoned in the face of the end of everything, which led to quite the chilling film for certain, since it postulates the theory… that we would be willing to abandon a great deal of what we celebrate… to eat and see another day.

However, while those movies do a great job of exploring a darker side of the human condition when great adversity comes into play… one cannot forget about the majesty of the the alien apocalypse film. Because this type of story does a wonderful job of teaching us the importance of humility. Since War of the Worlds (1953) and The War of the Worlds (2005) speak volumes to how modern man has grown complacent and arrogant in its ability to survive crises, and that could lead to disaster if a powerful enemy decided it wanted what we have. And of course, otherworldly apocalypse films tie into some painfully real moments as well. Since The Invasion of the Body Snatchers and its many iterations, instantly make one think of our experiences from the past year… courtesy of a silent threat that asserts itself over mankind.

But what truly made this episode so worth our while, is that it not only spotlighted a diverse array of apocalyptic themed horror films, but it also took the time to examine why we are so captivated by them. As it turns out, they do indeed provide us with a sense of safety from our real world worries, since we get to work out our fears on the screen, and that allows for us to return to the everyday world with a touch of hope in our hearts. Which shouldn’t be the case after watching a story where the dead conquer mankind, but the hope is there because these stories serve as cautionary tales. Ones that inform us that the end is something that can be avoided or survived, if we take the time to do the opposite of what society does in these films. Until next time.  

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