Going To Pieces
By Tony FarinellaMar 21, 2007 - 22:34
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Before I go further, I should mention that this documentary really surprised me. I learned a lot about the horror genre and how it works. I was very impressed that they were able to come up with a lot of great footage. You see footage from all of your favorite horror films. You also see footage from recent horror films such as "Hostel." Not to mention, you also hear from a lot of great horror directors and actors. John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Rob Zombie, and Tom Savini are among the names who appear on this DVD. The real gem of this documentary is footage from an old Siskel and Ebert episode. The footage shows the two critics discussing their disdain for horror films. The film is wise in presenting both sides of the street. To be truthful, a lot of what Siskel and Ebert said made a lot of sense. The film also allows the directors and actors to state their point of view after showing the Siskel and Ebert footage.
The documentary starts from the top and shows the appeal behind horror films. The documentary goes way back in showing ancient footage of old-time fights. It talks a lot about the fight-or-flight response. We also get to take a look at a lot of old Italian horror films. The documentary also talks a lot about early horror films in the 50s. We hear all about films such as "The Wolf Man," "Dracula," "The Mummy," and many, many more. Hitchcock's "Psycho" is discussed as being the film that really opened up a lot of doors for horror films. Following "Psycho," the documentary discusses how the Production Code of America ceased to exist in 1964. Following this, the doors were open for films to be bloody, disgusting, and vile. Nevertheless, a lot of horror films still decided to rely on tension rather than gore. "Halloween" is used as an example. It's more about the mood and tension built by John Carpenter. Not everyone followed the style of "Halloween," as the 70s were a launching pad for brutal and unrelenting horror films.
The film then chronicles the 80s and the success of "Nightmare on Elm Street." Wes Craven talks at length about the film. Following the 80s, the 90s showed us self-aware horror films such as "Scream." While the films were self-aware, they were also bloody and scary. We were also introduced to a lot of low-budget horror films such as "The Blair Witch Project." The genre then proceeded to cool down for a couple of years. The sleeping giant was brought back to life in 2004 with the release of "Saw." Following "Saw," we saw the genre return to its 70s roots. We saw films that were bloody and brutal. We saw films such as "Hostel," "The Hills Have Eyes," "Saw 2," and "Wolf Creek" hit mainstream. They were all received with open arms. After this, PG-13 horror films were met with anger, remorse, and hatred. Horror fans wanted their horror to be as disgusting as possible. Where will the horror genre be in a couple of years? Only time will tell. Until then, we'll enjoy the current popularity of horror films.
Final Thoughts: "Going To Pieces" is a must-own for the horror fan in your life. If you think you are an expert on horror, you should think again. The documentary runs at 88 minutes and tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the genre. It also responds to a lot of the critics who bash the genre. You also get tremendous footage from a lot of horror films. Lastly, you hear from a lot of the talented actors and directors who live and die in the genre.
DVD Special Features: Filmmaker Commentary with Producers: I'd pass on listening to this commentary track as it can be very distracting while watching the film. You can also listen to the commentary track after you watch the film. I just don't want you to miss anything on this documentary.
Bonus Interviews: This feature shows you extended interviews that didn't make the final cut of the documentary. This is a neat feature with some great stories.
A Message From Author Adam Rockoff: This is a written message that shows up on the DVD from the author of the book that this documentary is based on.
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Final Grade: B
Last Updated: Feb 5, 2012 - 22:31
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