DEEP DIVE: Nythymn and Horror Films
Deep Dive is an ongoing series in the Column that investigates the origins and history of cultural phenomenons within the Coalition.
One of the largest and favorite national pastimes in the Coalition, is the consumption of horrors films. Despite the fact that most horror films usually take place is societies and cultures outside of Nyx, they have gain huge popularity across the nation. In fact, horror movies are one of the main cultural connections Nythymn maintain to the outside world. Where does this fascinate with the horror genre come from and what does this say about us? These questions will be the focus of our deep dive investigation.
The first horror film widely introduced to Nyx was the 1922
Nosferatu in the 1940s. An unapproved adaptation of the classic Bram Stocker's
Dracula, the film centers around Count Orlok. Nythymn saw what was meant to grotesque and horrifying and instead fell in love. Orlok would become a beloved cultural figure, his character design seen as cute and endearing by the Nythymn public. In addition, Orlok's position in the film as the "Bird of Death" directly characterizes him as a servant of Necra. This deviation in how the film was interpreted would be an endearing part of Nythymn film consumption. While horror films were meant to do just that- scare and terrify its audience, the Nythymn become more and more interested in the villains.
A new craze started to overtake the Coalition in the late 40s. Many began importing foreign horror films and publicly showing them. These public showing became huge community gatherings- often times taking place at cafes and restaurants at night. Most famous of this era are three films-
Frankenstein,
King Kong, and
The Bride of Frankenstein. These three stand out because central to the narrative are three endearing outsiders. Creatures scorned and cast out from society. Nythymn saw themselves in Frankenstein's monster and in King Kong. They weren't evil, but rather a little strange and misunderstood. But in the same way that Nythymn are often seen as strange outside of the Coalition.
The 50s were a lackluster decade, with no real notable entires into the Nyx conscious. The 60s, on the other hand, were the complete opposite. Came the official imports and releases. Seeing just how popular monsters were, Nythymn theatres were able to accurately predict the next era of big films- Kaiju. Kaiju films were release almost simultaneously in the Coalition with their orginal foreign releases. Classic characters like Godzilla and Mothra dominated the big screens. And the Nythymn were primed to love these films more than any other audience in Mundus. Here was a culture that glorified rampant destruction and death. Images of god-like and awesome creatures trampling whole cities under foot were almost religious iconography.
During the 70s and 80s, Kaiju remained en vogue, but were accompanied by a new set of horror- occult. While a couple of films here and there were released, it was the 1975 Nyx release of
The Exorcist that broke through to massive commercial success.
The Exorcist would break all previous held records of the most grossing film in Nyx. A titled held for decades after its release. It is perhaps by understanding the importance this film holds that we can understand horror film culture today. The movie tells the story of a young girl possessed by a demonic entity. Her mother struggles to figure out what is wrong with her child, leading to her seeking the help of the Catholic church. This all comes to a head when the priests exorcise the young girl in a literal battle of good and evil.
Much of the acts of the forces of demons can be comparable to those of Necra. Rituals of the occult and satanic followers resemble those conducted every day by the Black Crypt. This creates a connection between Nythymn audiences and the villainous demons. But that is not to say that Nythymn are rooting for evil. In fact, it is the opposite. But this duality, this connect create conflict within the believers of Necrova. It is this conflict that is at the heart of the love for horror. This conflict is similar to a religious conflict Nythymn experience everyday. Necra is the Goddess of Death. The lives of her followers are a contradiction- we live waiting to be called by Necra, waiting to die. But still we must live. We must continue to walk on Mundus until our Goddess deems it our time. This conflict can by symbolized by the battle of good and evil in horror films. The demons, the occult, even the slasher killers comes to represent the dark nature of Necrova. They represent our love and obsession with death. But this evil must be triumph over. Good is victorious. Good which represent our need to remain in our place. To remain subservient to Necra, to do her will on Mundus, to follow her grand design.
We love the 164 foot tall scaly atomic breathing monster that represents man's self-made destruction. The destruction we all are patiently waiting for. We revel in the destruction and rot he causes, because this marks him as an agent of She We Love Most. Necra is cold and unknowable to all living things. Not unlike the monster created to frighten audiences. While a Morelander see a vampire and fears a creature that desires its blood, we see something akin to our Lord. While a Krimeonite sees a young girl running from a serial killer and sees her fear of death, we see the fear of our smallness in the face of a God. It is for this reason that horror is, and will likely continue, to be so widely and commercial successful in Nyx.
