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Film ReviewsWebster's dictionary defines adventure as: ( n.) 1. the encountering of danger 2. a daring, hazardous undertaking 3. an unusual, stirring experience, often of a romantic nature 4. a liking for danger, excitement, etc.
My fascination with horror films has less to do with their actual elements of fear and terror, and more to do with their ability to create adventurous environments by using those basic elements in myriad ways. It's that search for adventure within the horror genre that pushed me to watch over time, literally hundreds of horror films. In addition, I enjoy watching the often brilliant performances of the many unsung actors that populated these films, and of course, I love basking in the incredible milieu, robust atmosphere, and scariness that is so vital to the genre. But it's thrills and adventure I seek primarily, and horror films do deliver in that regard, and in plenitude. Fiend Without A Face (1958), The Birds (1963), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Alien (1979), The Thing (1982), and Dawn of the Dead (2005), are just a few from a long list of distinguished horror films that have the essence of adventure planted firmly within. One of the greatest of the early adventure-horror films is THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME (1932), directed by Ernest B Schoedsack and Irving Pichel. Starring in the seminal production were Joel McCrea and Fay Wray (pictured above), who became quintessential as both the resourceful hero, and the proverbial lady in distress. Their characters are shipwrecked on a remote island, inhabited by the fiendish megalomaniac Count Zaroff (played convincingly by Leslie Banks, pictured below with his henchmen), who forces them to engage in a sadistic hunt, with the two of them as his human prey! This hunt becomes a testosterone fueled duel, in which the world-class hunter McCrea's honor-bound rules are challenged in a most extreme way, with Fay Wray as the juicy reward to the successor.
That list has remained firm for many years now, and includes (in no particular order), Aliens (1986), Black Sunday (1961), Casablanca (1942), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Curse of the Demon (1958), King Kong (1933), Last of the Mohicans (1992), Lost Horizon (1937), The Thing (1982), and of course, The Most Dangerous Game (1932). All of these films exhibit strong elements of adventure, my favorite aspect of cinematic entertainment. But realistically how can anyone compile a top ten list and the stick with it for all-time. Isn't our favorite film merely the last great movie that we've seen? In the Film Review column I will examine some overlooked and unusual films, both new and old, which might supplant your list of top ten films, and maybe mine too. [Copyright © December 2008 Berserker Books - All images copyright their respective studios, designers and photographers] |
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It's been stated that The Most Dangerous Game represents American isolationist fears during the Great Depression, with Zaroff's fuehrer like figure symbolizing decadent Europe. That expositive certainly feels accurate, but for me the film remains steadfastly adventure, laden with thrills of course, and tinged with sadean horror. It's always been one of my top ten films.
