While it may feel like others are gobbling up the market for nostalgic documentaries on the horror genre, directors Philip Escott and Sarah Appleton are quietly producing some gems too.
Their previous effort, The Found Footage Phenomenon (also screened at Frightfest in 2021), chronicled the rise of the found footage film.
For Generation Terror, the pair focus on the horror boom of the 2000s. Talking heads include Joe Lynch, James Wong, Neil Marshall, Adam Wingard and Rob and Sheri Moon Zombie.
What really stands out here are segments that focus on particular films from this time, including House of 1000 Corpses, the reboot of Black Christmas from Glen Morgan plus the emergence of torture porn with Saw and Hostel.
Escott and Appleton assess the political climate, in the lead-up to and following 9/11, which brought about many themes which resonate, especially with torture porn and paranoia in America of the other.
Another highlight is the exploration of the ripple effect of The Blair Witch Project, and how this inspired filmmaking going forward, which dovetails nicely with the Found Footage Phenomenon.
There isn’t any attempt to skirt away from controversy, as they also speak to the maker of A Serbian Film, which will reviled by many, and is certainly a cultural stamp in the horror genre.
Generation Terror breaks new ground for the exploration of the genre, and has enough intriguing anecdotes to make it another must-watch.
Generation Terror was screened as part of Frightfest 2024.
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