Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
'Eco-Horror': Green Panic on the Silver Screen?
Listen
0:00
While The Happening may not be happening for NPR film critic Bob Mondello, the movie is another example of what appears to be a cinematic trend: eco-horror.
The Happening's central environmental catastrophe puts it in the company of other recent pictures — think Sunshine, or The Day After Tomorrow.
In the next year or so, we can expect to see Avatar, directed by James Cameron, and remakes of The Swarm and Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Of course, movies with environmental themes are nothing new. Back in the '70s — another era defined by an oil crisis and discussions of alternative energy — movie audiences entertained themselves with disaster movies (Earthquake) and creature features (Prophecy, Frogs).
What makes today's eco-horrors different is that the entire planet is seen as vengeful and malevolent towards its human inhabitants. Film scholar Kendall Phillips compares this crop of films to an old genre favorite: haunted-house movies in which the house becomes a kind of character.
"They're just expanding that so literally; the ecosphere plays that kind of menacing role," Phillips says. "Somehow, the planet has grown tired of us. We've overstayed our welcome."
Happening director M. Night Shyamalan jokes that the quintessential horror film for our time might turn out to be a documentary: An Inconvenient Truth.
Sponsored message
Another director of environmental horror films, Larry Fessenden, says he hopes people will see his movies as cautionary tales.
"We don't want to wake up in horrible super storms," Fessenden says. "We don't want to have wars over the last drop of water. We don't want our shores inundated with environmental refugees. We don't want to live in a horror film. We want to go to them at the movies — and come out, and have a sweet and beautiful life."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
