We Are the Mutants is a critical reassessment of what is arguably the most discussed and beloved stretch of movies in Hollywood history.
Documenting the period between the arrival of US combat troops in Vietnam and the end of President Ronald Reagan’s second term, the book forgoes the usual and restrictive exemplars of “auteur cinema,” and instead focuses on an eclectic selection of films and genres — horror, documentary, disaster, vigilante action, neo-noir, post-apocalyptic sci-fi — to track this period’s tumultuous transformation in American life, culture, and politics.
By exploring cult classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Escape from New York, as well as studio blockbusters like The Exorcist and Fatal Attraction, We Are the Mutants rewrites the history of modern American cinema and, in doing so, the history of America itself.
Richard McKenna is a senior editor at We Are the Mutants and a freelance writer and translator.
Book info
Paperback with free eBook9781914420733
Number of pages280
Reviews
Johnny Restall, Diabolique Magazine
“A highly enjoyable read for film fans hungry for an alternative point of view. The writing is intelligent, detailed, and well-researched without drifting into the academic and dry, and its arguments are frequently invigorating and thought-provoking… The authors’ passion and enthusiasm for their subject always shines through, ensuring that even their bleakest conclusions remain intriguing and involving.”
