Necessities of Southern Gothic

Halloween may have already come to pass, yet I have seen fit to compile a list of Southern Gothic cinematic and literary necessities anyone interested in the genre must consider. This also serves as a reminder to not let every aspect of your life be dominated by the political insanity of the crumbling American Empire. The election obviously does not spell much in the way of good news, but it is still important to enjoy life, including hobbies, and not fret too much over the collapsing political sphere.

The Beyond

An odd entry to begin this list, this graphic entry within the Southern Gothic genre actually came about during the Italian horror film craze of the 1970s and 1980s. Released in 1981, this film is often regarded as director Lucio Fulci’s masterpiece. It revolves around a young woman who has recently inherited an old mansion hotel in New Orleans and is renovating it. Due to actions by an old voodoo warlock who was lynched there 54 years prior, evil has awoken in the house because of her renovations. Little more may be said of this supernatural, Lovecraft inspired zombie film without spoiling it, but its legacy precedes it due to its influence on other films over the years. It is best viewed in its uncut version, if it can be found; they can be difficult to locate.

Justified

This television show blends elements of crime thriller and western within a Kentucky setting. This series follows the actions of Raylan Givens as a federal agent assigned to his hometown in Harlan County, Kentucky. Not the greatest show but an often overlooked gem from the FX Channel featuring an outstanding cast and production value. Boyd Crowder is easily the best reason to watch this show, as well as, the insanity surrounding crime in the eastern Kentucky Appalachia region.

Pumpkinhead

Another forgotten gem, this 1988 film explores the folklorish aspects of Appalachia, making superstitions about the supernatural a physical element within the film. A story of vengeance via the occult, it is best left undiscussed for sake of spoiling nothing, this depressing, low-budget horror film is best watched uninformed.

Hatchet

A nod to the Slasher films of old, this 2006 supernatural slasher film is just pure fun. It follows the ghost of Victor Crowley as he murders unwitting Mardi Gras tourists in the bayou area near New Orleans. Gratuitously gory and campy, the best version is the uncut edition, similar to The Beyond.

True Detective

Another series, this show’s first season is pure Southern Gothic. Featuring a plethora of notable Southern Gothic imagery and dreariness, little else will be said in order to avoid spoilers.

Southern Comfort

Bluntly stated, this is a Deliverance rip-off, albeit more fun than overtly malicious. Released in 1981, this film follows a squad of Louisiana Army National Guardsmen conducting drill in Cajun bayou country. A couple of the soldiers anger the local Cajuns who then proceed to hunt down and kill them. An enjoyable forgotten film that is a must watch for horror fans.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown

Based on a true story, this film follows a hooded murderer in the rural area near Texarkana in Northwest Texas. Shrouded in mystery, this film offers little in the way of answers or climax. Ending on a dark note and serving to heighten the mystique of the unsolved real life murders, this early slasher has largely fallen out of memory due to the rise of other slasher and thrillers of the 1970s.

Night of the Hunter

This is a surprisingly macabre film for a release in 1955. Pre-1970’s filmography tended to lead towards the tame, but Night of the Hunter did no such thing. Taking place in 1930s West Virginia, this film follows a self-appointed preacher and serial killer who travels along the Ohio River and cons desperate women. His goal is to steal their money and kill them. A masterwork of cinematography, this dark film is best viewed unspoiled and is often regarded as Robert Mitchum’s greatest performance.

Deliverance

Arguably the magnum opus of Southern Gothic within film, Deliverance shocked audiences nationwide in 1972. Kicking off a trend of anti-Southern filmography, this film may have been partially responsible for the rapid end of carpetbaggery in the early 1970s, many Americans believing it to be a legitimate representation of country folk. Its reputation precedes it, and it was also the film which made the legendary “Dueling Banjos” such a well known instrumental.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

My own personal favorite of cinematic Southern Gothic, this slasher film gained immediate notoriety upon release in 1974. Banned in several locales throughout the United States and removed from theaters, this film became arguably the first true slasher film, and it personified, in an exaggerated way, the stereotypes which urbanites believe of rural Southerners, much like Deliverance. This is a must watch for horror fans and provides classic gothic imagery.

William Faulkner

Legendary and reputable, William Faulkner wrote a multitude of entries in Southern Gothic. Little may truly be said to encompass the magnitude of his writing talents, and his works feature a number of timeless masterpieces, including Absalom! Absalom! and The Sound and the Fury. Only Oxford, Mississippi could produce such a superlative author.

Flannery O’Connor

Another legendary Southern author, O’Connor tended toward more grotesque, even violent, subject matter than Faulkner. She died young yet managed to solidify herself as a premier author from Savannah, Georgia, writing stories often depressing and indicative of the fragility of the human psyche. Preferring to portray tragic or villainous characters, O’Connor often delved into religious themes and the grotesque. Her works are a must read.

Honorable Mentions:

Lovecraft

Obviously not Southern Gothic, Howard Phillips Lovecraft is more for those who enjoy stories of the eerie and unexplainable. The primary reasons for his inclusion in the Honorable Mentions is his employment and influence within the New England Gothic genre as well as his stories’ insight into an Old America. There are numerous subgenres of American Gothic, with Southern Gothic as the most prominent, but New England also contributed to this greatly. Lovecraft is a fun read, and collections of his works are easily obtainable.

Music

A number of Southern Rock and Country bands addressed the darker elements of society. Pantera, Sign of the Southern Cross, Rebel Meets Rebel, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Charlie Daniels Band, Whiskey Myers, and Down all address the sinister underbelly of Southern life.

Imagery and Photography

Another visage into the world of Southern Gothic is that of many old photographs and images. Additionally, old historic sites and frolics into the woods provide one with a gothic experience.

I hope this list is of aid and gives you something to do to distract from the dark events Dixie has suffered as of late.