(Please Note: There are MILD spoilers contained within the slightly rambling thought process that follows.)
Horror is personal. That is key to what frightens each of us. Often I have conversations with friends where they mention how scary a movie is for them and when I see it, the film has no effect on me. And, the exact opposite may hold true for them.
It came as a bit of a surprise recently that I found myself in a theater shuddering, gasping, and having traditional horror film reactions to an adventure film – a high profile film starring top A-list Hollywood talent. Afterwards, I asked several friends a complicated question.
Is The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, a horror film?
Most replied, “No.”
For me, the answer is a definite “Yes.” It wears the clothes of a heavy drama and adventure film, but shares many recognizable traits of a top-notch horror film. The plot itself – a man left for dead, bent on revenge, haunted by ghostly visions, who must sacrifice everything he has in pursuit of some form of justice for wrongs done to those he loves (even if it means becoming inhuman in the process)… these are all common themes encountered in works of horror.
I, along with many others, feel that this is the best performance, so far, in Leonardo DiCaprio’s career. He is an actor you can identify with, and root for, even through the most brutal of choices. Be forewarned if you have not seen it, there is brutality in the film. The hardships that befall the character in The Revenant are heartbreaking and, as an audience, we feel his pain. We want him to overcome an almost ridiculous series of obstacles placed between him and justice. Yes, it’s being hailed as a great drama, an adventure film, a revenge picture. But, to me, it stretched across an even wider range of genres.
We want our horror movie heroes to succeed. Often, they do… but it is a genre that likes to take away success just as the last victory is achieved. (Sometimes for simple dramatic or symbolic effect. Sometimes, because horror movies like a shock ending and desire to set up a sequel.) During this film, I recognized all of the things that I truly love in my favorite horror films. There are even jump scares in The Revenant that are quite effective. Also, some surprisingly graphic gore and shockingly realistic violence during several scenes. There is a lot of red flowing across the snowy plains of this adventure.
The horror elements pulled me in and I completely invested myself emotionally in the story of this man’s quest. The astounding heartbreak of being unable to prevent horrifying things that happen right in front of him is a very common horror film scenario. Placing one character helpless and having him witness the brutality of others against those he cares for is incredibly effective. That is one of the things that made his journey personal for me – I can relate to the fear of being unable to help those I care for and I’m confident I am not alone in that sentiment.
Along the way, this film develops some obvious parallels with revenge films before it. Death Wish came to mind as I sat in that darkened theater. The actions of the two lead characters in the films are similar in motivations but different in methodology. Actually, The Revenant strikes a more realistic tone for me, simply because the motivation of the lead character is so personal and his focus is so singular. (Death Wish has an ax to grind against society, The Revenant just wants to plant that ax in one very specific location.)
I don’t mean to turn this into some lofty, artsy conversation about film theory and correlation. Really, I don’t. But…
What struck me as I was watching The Revenant is simply how cathartic good horror can be. This tale of one man’s quest for justice, and yes – revenge, is an extremely well-done movie. Technically astounding in places, gripping emotionally and a visual feast on every level. Well-done horror is a rush and this big ol’ Award bait of a movie gave me that rush. I went in expecting an adventure, and was gripped by this tale in a way that my favorite horror films grip me.
And the horror moments add up… the already infamous burial sequence had people in my theater literally squealing with disgust. One murder is prolonged and excruciating because of the heartbreak it forces us to witness. Plus, it is partially caused by ignorance and prejudice against one who is different from the majority of society – another common horror thread. The villain, as played by Tom Hardy, is horror movie worthy, for sure. How about a stunning animal attack far superior to any animal-runs-amok sequence ever was from the mid-seventies environmental horror craze? (Anyone else remember the “paw-camera” from GRIZZLY?!?! We’ve come a LONG way!) There are intimate, brutal kills, sexual assault and the almost supernatural presence of a figure haunting our hero’s every dream. Don’t forget that rather unpleasant use of a carcass. All of these elements are horrific on their own, but in one movie? Plus, the climax of the film becomes one long, well-deserved release of anger and pain which, even if you are confident it is coming, still provides a thrilling come-uppance to the person we feel… we KNOW deserves it. Not since CARRIE, has revenge tasted this good… or sad. The Revenant is truly disturbing because the strength of the film is an emotional core which brings each and every one of these elements together with a single common thread… we CARE. The emotional investment led me to forgo any usual moral dilemma about revenge flicks and say, “Bring it on!” I am not proud of it, but I felt it.
And near the final moments, there is a nonverbal exchange reminiscent of the message made clear many years ago in Todd Browning’s Freaks. You respect the motives of family and you don’t mess with “One of us.”
I haven’t even gotten around to the title, yet. Zombie reference? (Okay, maybe that is stretching it a bit.)
Perhaps the only point to this line of pondering is that 2016 started off well for me movie-wise and horror-wise. Whether The Revenant grips you that way, or not, it did me. It may be an adventure film for you. Or just a violent drama. All of that is okay.
Genre mash-ups are beneficial to all genres when done well. (Stephen King points out in his book “Danse Macabre” that one of the best haunted house movies ever made is Alien. It’s all in how you look at it.)
The Revenant was nominated for an impressive twelve Academy Awards, taking home three, and was in the running for numerous other awards. To me, this recalls the year of 1992 when Silence of the Lambs took Academy Awards in all the top categories. Some critics did not have confidence that it would be embraced by the award-giving community due to its dark and violent themes. Well, The Revenant has hiked through similar territory.
Why am I even having this conversation with myself? Because, it’s a positive conversation to have. The website where you are reading this article is founded by two friends who have different approaches to horror and all things creepy. We don’t always agree on what is scary and nightmare inducing, but we understand those differences is part of what makes horror fun. So, as I was in a darkened theater gasping and twitching and cringing through The Revenant (and I mean that in the most positive way possible) I was happy because, in my opinion, it is a very healthy omen that 2016 will be a very good year for horror overall. So, dear reader, let’s go out and play some place creepy.
OH. But, don’t step in the red snow.