The United States of Horror
May 31, 2015 7:08 PM   Subscribe

 
Note: not a politics thread.
posted by Artw at 7:44 PM on May 31, 2015 [20 favorites]


I did actually expect to read something about the Congress.
posted by Asparagus at 8:04 PM on May 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


There's so much in the Pacific Northwest that's so evocativeans creepy, making it such a good setting for Horror, that really someone should try and make something so that fucking The Ring doesn't top lists like these for Washington state.

Maybe even *I* should look into it.
posted by Artw at 8:09 PM on May 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


Maybe that should be added to the list:

Washington, DC
The Exorcist (1973)
The Omen (1976)
C-SPAN (2001-Present)
posted by Asparagus at 8:10 PM on May 31, 2015 [28 favorites]


TL/DR: California.
posted by sexyrobot at 8:10 PM on May 31, 2015


Technically only the very beginning of Snakes on a Plane is set in Hawaii. The rest is on a plane which has snakes on it.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:16 PM on May 31, 2015 [33 favorites]


asparagus you forgot the prequel from 1995 to 1996, where the newt monster brought the city to a grinding halt.

On topic: I'm amused that the only one set in Idaho has the state name in the title and that there hasn't been a recent one. Maybe Kruger could find fresh victims there?
posted by numaner at 8:27 PM on May 31, 2015


Thanks for reminding me that "Blood Feast" took place in my home state. Florida is a batshit crazy, and "Blood Feast" is therefore it's ideal representative.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:33 PM on May 31, 2015


This needs to be fancier, interactive and include Canada. Thank you.
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:35 PM on May 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


heh.

(Actually I quite like the bit where I scrolled past the fancy map and the PDF and there was the list in plain text. )
posted by Artw at 8:37 PM on May 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


I've actually never been there, but New England appears to be disproportionately horrible.
posted by drlith at 8:40 PM on May 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


I've actually never been there, but New England appears to be disproportionately horrible.

It's called Lovecraft Country for a reason.
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:49 PM on May 31, 2015 [14 favorites]


I'm surprised there aren't more A-list horror films set in Louisiana. It has everything: swamps, voodoo, graveyards, fogs, skeletal cypress trees trailing Spanish Moss, crones beckoning imperiously and leading you to a den where you are seduced into drinking absinthe while you gamble away your honour, your very life ... you know, the basics.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:49 PM on May 31, 2015 [11 favorites]


I'm just glad that Washington didn't get blamed for Twilight this time.
posted by faceonmars at 8:50 PM on May 31, 2015 [4 favorites]


That's not a horror movie. It's a horrible movie.
posted by maryr at 9:13 PM on May 31, 2015 [6 favorites]


It's called Lovecraft Country for a reason.

We have the oldest graves. And we turn them into tourist attractions sandwiched between state government, colleges, and taxi stands along a blood red path.

And then there's the driving...
posted by maryr at 9:15 PM on May 31, 2015 [4 favorites]




Virginia, late to the game. But there was that one great X Files.
posted by PHINC at 9:31 PM on May 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


I wonder if there are any horror movies set in Canada. (I don't watch horror movies due to nightmares, though I'll read a scary book every now and again.)
posted by Canageek at 9:41 PM on May 31, 2015


I'm very, very slightly upset that Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter isn't actually set in the Land of Lincoln.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:52 PM on May 31, 2015



I wonder if there are any horror movies set in Canada.


Ppppppppppppppp-ppppppppppp
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:16 PM on May 31, 2015 [7 favorites]


Merde, nous avons maintenant de mettre le feu à tout.
posted by Artw at 10:42 PM on May 31, 2015 [6 favorites]


Huh. Apparently Texas Chainsaw Massacre was set in Tennessee? I find this hard to believe...

Nope, I'm just an idiot who can't read.
posted by Trifling at 1:09 AM on June 1, 2015


"I wonder if there are any horror movies set in Canada"

Black Christmas!
posted by parki at 3:22 AM on June 1, 2015


We have the oldest graves. And we turn them into tourist attractions sandwiched between state government, colleges, and taxi stands along a blood red path.

It is worse than you know.

posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:26 AM on June 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


Trivia: "Them!" (1954), set in New Mexico, is about ants who, as a side effect from being exposed to high level of radiation during atomic bomb testing, grow to giant size and terrorize a nearby town. In early 1977 it was broadcast during the day on a TV station in Columbus, Mississippi. An assistant at the Columbus Air Force Base day care allowed it to play during rest time in the four-year-old room, where it scared the hell out of preschooler me. I had nightmares about friggin' giant ants for years, although I didn't know the name of the movie until I saw it in a video rental store in my 20's.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 3:29 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


Delaware seems oddly overrepresented.
posted by scratch at 5:03 AM on June 1, 2015


As a native-born Missourian I must assume that their films are about some kind of horrible middle-management failure. Nyuck.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:17 AM on June 1, 2015


Delaware seems oddly overrepresented.

Says someone who's apparently never been through Lower Slower Delaware. Things live there that would put Lovecraft off his tea.
posted by delfin at 5:31 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


I lived near Westport, Connecticut, setting of The Stepford Wives. And the home of Martha Stewart, until she denounced it in the NYT.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 5:38 AM on June 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


There's so much in the Pacific Northwest that's so evocativeans creepy, making it such a good setting for Horror, that really someone should try and make something so that fucking The Ring doesn't top lists like these for Washington state.

Maybe even *I* should look into it.


How about a movie about a person who wants to make a horror movie set in the Pacific Northwest. The production is plagued by mysterious problems and (sometimes fatal and horrific) accidents? The protagonist starts to do some digging and finds out that there have been a bunch people who have tried to film a horror movie out there but all ran into similar problems. The Ring got made either because someone/something/some group is the source of all the problems or maybe because they moved the production and then lied about it or something.
posted by VTX at 5:38 AM on June 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


And Stratford, CT, is part of the stew that went into Stephen King's Castle Rock.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 5:39 AM on June 1, 2015


Any list of horror movies that includes The Giant Spider Invasion is OK in my book.
posted by marxchivist at 5:40 AM on June 1, 2015


The X-Files had a pretty awesome early episode set in the forests of Washington.

Actually, the X-Files was really good for this. I liked how they traveled around the country to confront weird things, they didn't just focus on DC or New York or some city.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:21 AM on June 1, 2015


The X-Files had a pretty awesome early episode set in the forests of Washington.

Was that the one with the green bug swarm? I'm still creeped out by that.
posted by curious nu at 6:27 AM on June 1, 2015


I wonder if there are any horror movies set in Canada.

Off the top of my head:

Ginger Snaps (suburban Ontario)

Night Breed (northern Manitoba)

Most early Cronenberg:
The Brood
Shivers
Videodrome
Scanners
Dead Ringers
posted by Shepherd at 6:32 AM on June 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


It's great having these all in one place because now I can imagine them fitting into Cabin in the Woods style universe.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 6:40 AM on June 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


Vermont is missing "The Headless Horseman" which is also the classic VT horror story.
posted by idiopath at 6:44 AM on June 1, 2015


I wonder if there are any horror movies set in Canada

My Bloody Valentine
posted by griphus at 6:45 AM on June 1, 2015




Thanks for that article, Artw. It's a shame that Cthulhu doesn't seem to be available for streaming, because I want to watch it so hard now.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:20 AM on June 1, 2015


It is, by all accounts, pretty rubbish, but the story of it's making is interesting.
posted by Artw at 7:26 AM on June 1, 2015


Not a film, but a horror computer game was set in the Pacific Northwest: "The Vanishing of Ethan Carter." Beautiful game, and it does a fine job of portraying the wooded Pacific Northwest coast - they actually sent out teams to photograph trees so they could be modeled in greater detail. Also does a fine job of conveying what I consider the key ingredient to top-tier horror in any medium: *Sadness.* Aside from the fear and dread and violence, the things that happen to people in horror are just tragic on a human level. No one should die in fear and pain, or lose their mind, or their children. No one should have to watch their town fall apart, whether from economic recession or the whim of implacable alien gods. This isn't just the stuff of adrenaline-pumping anxiety, it's the stuff of quiet aching grief, and the best horror gets that. "The Vanishing of Ethan Carter" falls into that category.

That said, I doubt I'm ever going to play it again, and I haven't even managed to finish the game. I admire the control of visual detail and emotional tone, and respect the developers tremendously for what they're trying to do - but being surrounded by fear and grief and loneliness can be a trying thing, even for the duration of a two-hour film. Spending tens of hours navigating an entire world defined by these qualities - well, "Ethan Carter" is an excellent game, but I'd need more reliable access to hugs or doggies to keep playing it.
posted by Mr. Excellent at 7:53 AM on June 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


Was that the one with the green bug swarm? I'm still creeped out by that.

Yeah, that's the one. Very creepy.
posted by Sangermaine at 8:01 AM on June 1, 2015


How about a movie about a person who wants to make a horror movie set in the Pacific Northwest. The production is plagued by mysterious problems and (sometimes fatal and horrific) accidents? The protagonist starts to do some digging and finds out that there have been a bunch people who have tried to film a horror movie out there but all ran into similar problems. The Ring got made either because someone/something/some group is the source of all the problems or maybe because they moved the production and then lied about it or something.

It's like the horror version of State and Main. William H. Macy still stars.

Go you Huskies! Go! GO! GO NOW, IT'S OUR ONLY CHANCE!
posted by maryr at 8:39 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


Vermont is missing "The Headless Horseman" which is also the classic VT horror story.

ahem.
posted by Earthtopus at 8:40 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


asparagus you forgot the prequel from 1995 to 1996, where the newt monster brought the city to a grinding halt.

I feel like the politics of the 1990's fit better into the Comedy genre than Horror. Kind of like the original Godzilla.
posted by Asparagus at 9:07 AM on June 1, 2015


Kind of like the original Godzilla.

Wait, have you seen the original Japanese Godzilla from '54? You may want to avoid making the same mistake I did when I took my friends to a revival house to see what I had pitched as a stompy kaiju movie and it ended up being very much not that.
posted by griphus at 9:18 AM on June 1, 2015


I have actually, and you're right- while the effects weren't enough to inspire terror in modern audiences, it is a serious movie. I kind of forgot about that for some reason. There are probably better examples of low-budget comedic horror films.
posted by Asparagus at 9:27 AM on June 1, 2015


Delaware seems oddly overrepresented.

Says someone who's apparently never been through Lower Slower Delaware. Things live there that would put Lovecraft off his tea.


Guilty as charged. I always assumed the sole function of Delaware was to hand out speeding tickets on I-95.
posted by scratch at 9:48 AM on June 1, 2015


Washington state: Twin Peaks and Fire Walk With Me don't count as horror? Laura Palmer's fate and everything else to do with the Black Lodge is pretty horrific, and FWWM goes into much more blatantly "horror" scenes.
posted by Queen of Robots at 9:56 AM on June 1, 2015


I'd say it's more that TV doesn't count as movies, otherwise Twin peaks would top the list.

(I guess Fire is not as good and still kind of TVish)
posted by Artw at 10:00 AM on June 1, 2015


The truly surprising thing about horror movie locations is that even though AT&T and Verizon cover 97% of America, pretty much every single horror movie takes place in that damn 3%. I would like to visit this 3% place. I am 100% sure it's one of the Dakotas.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:44 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


Alternate theory: the Organization from Cabin in the Woods owns T-Mobile.
posted by griphus at 10:47 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


even though AT&T and Verizon cover 97% of America, pretty much every single horror movie takes place in that damn 3%. I would like to visit this 3% place. I am 100% sure it's one of the Dakotas.

It's actually all around us ...says a guy who spent the weekend an hour-and-a-half north of San Francisco and could not get signal even once.
posted by psoas at 11:11 AM on June 1, 2015


Louisiana is missing The Mist.

West Virginia is missing The Descent.

I have questions.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:51 AM on June 1, 2015


The Mist was filmed in Louisiana, but is still set in Maine.

I have no explanation for The Descent.
posted by darchildre at 11:55 AM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


Vermont is missing "The Headless Horseman" which is also the classic VT horror story.

how very dare you sir.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:01 PM on June 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


Technically only the very beginning of Snakes on a Plane is set in Hawaii. The rest is on a plane which has snakes on it.

I've had it with these motherfucking pedants in this motherfucking thread!
posted by yoink at 1:20 PM on June 1, 2015 [4 favorites]


Someone should make a low budget trashy horror movie about Hawaiis rogue chicken population. Call it "Clucks" or something.
posted by Artw at 1:22 PM on June 1, 2015


I was going to post about Indiana only being the setting for two horror movies because it hosted the real life horror that was D.C. Stephenson... but then I started to wonder what a map of horrible infamy would look superimposed on this map of infamous horror.
posted by ghostiger at 1:26 PM on June 1, 2015


Well, again, we've got the serial killer vortex right here in state.
posted by Artw at 1:29 PM on June 1, 2015


Technically only the very beginning of Snakes on a Plane is set in Hawaii. The rest is on a plane which has snakes on it.

..... Hey! Spoilers!
posted by webmutant at 1:32 PM on June 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


Damn, what a mess. Someone needs a class in infographics.
posted by Twang at 2:10 PM on June 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


It is, by all accounts, pretty rubbish, but the story of it's making is interesting.

I believe you. I still want to see it, though, on the strength of that essay, and to piss off the person who gave it a 1-star review on Amazon because the movie has gay people in it.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:39 PM on June 1, 2015


If it ever turns up on Netflix or the like I am 100% up for a Fanfare watch.
posted by Artw at 6:01 PM on June 1, 2015


There are probably better examples of low-budget comedic horror films.

Big Man Japan? Don't ask me about the ending though...
posted by maryr at 10:49 PM on June 1, 2015


Artw: "Making a Film in Seattle Can Destroy You"

Hey, that's by Grant Cogswell! He runs the local English-language book store like 10 blocks from where I live here in Mexico City. I told him I'd seen the movie, and he was pretty lukewarm on it, but he's a cool guy.

Though, honestly, the main lesson to take away from that story has nothing to do with Seattle, and everything to do with people with no experience deciding to make a movie with their own (or friends') money and with Tori Spelling in it for some reason, running out of money half way, and so on. I'm sorry to say it, that's not Seattle, that's amateurs.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 12:21 AM on June 2, 2015


"Beginning of the End", giant grasshoppers eat Chicago, 1957, stupidest movie with the best title ever. Featuring a much younger and thinner fats in one of the beach crowd scenes.
posted by Chitownfats at 1:33 AM on June 2, 2015


George A. Romero has the lock on Pennsylvania horror, although Silent Hill is based on the toxic coal fire under the abandoned town of Centralia, Pennsylvania.
posted by jonp72 at 7:47 AM on June 2, 2015


OK I was wrong about the Headless Horseman thing, it's an upstate NY story, either my elementary school teachers were lying to me, or my memory is yet worse than I thought it was.
posted by idiopath at 8:50 AM on June 2, 2015


he haunts the ben & jerry's flavour graveyard
posted by poffin boffin at 11:04 AM on June 2, 2015 [4 favorites]


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