Steineded How sad is this?

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Michael_Elliott The American Nightmare (2000) *** (out of 4)This documentary takes a look at the social issues of the 1960's and 70's and what impact they had on the American horror film. John Carpenter, Wes Craven, George A. Romero, John Landis, Tobe Hooper, David Cronenberg and Tom Savini are the famous faces on board to discuss films like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE.If you're a fan of this era's horror films then you'll certainly want to check this documentary out as it has a great group of filmmakers being interviewed and it was great fun getting to hear their thoughts on their own movies as well as the movies of others. The three films I mentioned are the ones that get the most attention, for obvious reasons, and thankfully all three of the filmmakers are on hand here. Of course, watching these films today these interviews are all the more special since all three have since passed.For the most part I guess you could argue that there really isn't anything new here since we've heard Craven, Romero and Hooper discuss these three landmark films countless times before. Between the magazine articles and the documentaries and the commentary tracks, I'm sure most fans know all about these movies and what impact the social enviroment had on them.With that said, there's no question that this is a very fun documentary and if you're a horror fan you're always going to be interested in what people have to say about these types of films. Savini goes into great detail about what his days in Vietnam were like and how this leaked over into his work. All in all this is a very entertaining documentary that is very much worth watching.

mkeyes99 This film is amazing in that it manages to feature interview with literally everybody of any importance in the genre of Modern Horror. Adam Simon has put together something very special for fans of the genre. The film traces the origins of Modern Horror through its early classics, featuring films such as Last House On The Left, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night Of The Living Dead and Dawn Of The Dead and through interviews with all the key players and then some. I tend to find that documentary films, while interesting, often fail to be really gripping, thought provoking and at the same time entertaining. This film manages all three. Thoroughly recommended for fans of the genre and also for anyone with a passing interest in horror. And for those of you that bash films such as Last House On The Left for being too extreme, watch this documentary, it might just change your mind.

Gafke This is a serious look at some of the most groundbreaking and innovative horror films ever made. It is also incredibly graphic, disturbing and somewhat bleak and depressing, so consider yourselves warned. No hardcore fan of horror will want to miss this, but people with weak stomachs may not be able to take it.There are long and satisfyingly gruesome clips from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night of the Living Dead & Dawn of the Dead, Last House on the Left, Shivers and many others, each accompanied by a look at what was happening in the world at the time they were made, and the bizarre ways in which art imitates life and vice versa. Gore Make-up Master Tom Savini has some amazing stories to tell about his time in Vietnam and how the atrocities he viewed through a camera later inspired his craft. There are also some wickedly clever moments here, as film footage of crazed shoppers are intercut with scenes from the zombie feeding frenzy in Dawn of the Dead. Nausea inducing moments include the rape and sadistic torture scenes from Last House on the Left, and an unflinching look at such real life horrors as Vietnam, the rioting following the King assassination, the Kent State Massacre and the Kennedy Assassination. The directors interviewed (Romero, Cronenberg, Carpenter, Hooper, Craven, etc) have some great stories to tell about their famous (and infamous) films, not only about how they were made, but also why, how they continue to inspire the current genre, what kind of an effect they had upon being released and how they reflect the times in which they were made. This is a totally engrossing documentary from start to finish that was sometimes hard to watch but which also seemed much too short. I didn't want it to end! VERY well done and highly recommended for hardcore fans.

lar-5 As my summary states, this great piece highlights the documentary as an art form and not a clip show, or 'greatest-hits' package. The filmmaker takes his primary thesis - North American horror films of the 60's and 70's and how they relate to the events of the time, and builds it beautifully. Using exclusive interviews, great film clips, and wonderful behind-the-scenes photos, the filmmaker paints a stunning, and slightly disturbing, picture. I've seen, heard, and read many things about the featured filmmakers before, but this documentary managed to mine fresh and very interesting anecdotes and insight. My one complaint echoes that of another reviewer in wishing that this was longer. My one hope is that someone makes this available to home video so I can see it again and share it with others.