Let's face it, the horror genre has always served as an outlet to the horrors of everyday experiences for African Americans, even when the industry itself hasn't been welcoming to actors. Despite how much African American fans have supported horror movies over the years, many Black characters in these films are usually one dimensional, if not all together stereotypical versions, who are usually the first to be killed off leading Black characters to be seen as a punchline in many horror-themed films. Of course, there have been notable exceptions with movies such as Night of the Living Dead, House on Haunted Hill, and 13 Ghosts but even these instances haven't corrected the overall stereotype of Black existence in horror films. Thanks, however, to the director and writer Jordan Peele Black horror cinema is on the rise. The critical success of the film not only changed the landscape for Black character's existence in horror films but has also propelled Black leads to the forefront within the genre. Since the release of Get Out the focus on Black characters in horror features has been on the rise. 2019 saw the release Ma, starring Octavia Spencer, a remake of Child's Play featuring Brian Tyree Henry, and Peele's second directorial feature, Us, each successful at the box office. Ushering in a new era of 'Black Horror films' the success of Peele's films have pushed black actors to the forefront of horror films, and this summer may be the biggest year for horror films featuring Black leads in front and behind the lens.
Kicking off the summer is Antebellum, set for release April 24th. The film stars Janelle Monàe as a woman who finds herself somehow transported to and trapped in a horrifying reality and must find a way to escape. The trailer has already garnered buzz of excitement as it teases what looks to be a suspenseful film. The film is produced by Sean Mckittrick who credits include Get Out and Us, and is written by Gerad Bush and Christopher Renz. This will be Bush's first big-screen feature.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw, will reboot the Saw franchise and hits theaters on May 15th. The film will serve as a continuation that's likely to connect to the original 8 of the franchise, with the last being released in 2017. Starring movie veteran Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Rock, the film will follow the premise of the others with Rock and his partner, played by actor Max Minghella, being the officers tasked with finding and taking down this new killer. What makes the film stand out is that the screenplay was written based on a story by Rock himself.
And perhaps the most anticipated film of these is the continuation of the cult horror classic Candyman. Originally released in 1992, the film spawned two sequels and offered an alternative to franchises like Friday 13th and Halloween, which had become the norm for horror. While many are excited by anything that has Peele's name attached to it, but what's even more noteworthy is that this film is actually directed by Nia Dacosta, a 29-year-old Black woman who began garnering buzz with her 2019 film Little Woods. The film will arrive in theaters on June 12th.
We're still in the first half of the year so there could be more Black led horror films in store during the fall season. Either way this wave of blackness in horror is long overdue and hopefully isn't ending anytime soon.
