Books on the changes in horror from 1960s to 1970s?
 

I was just suddenly thinking about this phenomena and was curious if there was any books out there explaining this in more detail.

But in 1960s horror films were very reserved. Psycho was considered scandalous as it showed a toilet flush.

Horror films of the late 60s which were considered shocking were films like Witchfinder General, which is quite tame by any standards of film.

But then suddenly the 70s hit and by 1971. We had A Clockwork Orange which it seems only a few years earlier would never ever be made and is still considered extreme now in 2018. Some goes with the Exorcist in 1972. And it just seems a night and day different between 1960 to 1970s films.

I cannot think of any other big change like this occurring in cinema between any other decade. And I was just curious if there were any good books covering this and explaining in detail how the shift from a toilet flushing being seen as morally reprehensible in the late 60s. To a few years, later a 12 year old girl masturbating with a crucifix was being put onto mainstream celluloid (i.e the Exorcist for those who didn't know).

I think the word you are looking for is morality. An elastic concept in Hollywood at the best of times. Burning and drowning children for the sake of a movie? FINE. Showing a natural human function on screen? Evil incarnate. :rolleyes:

Witchfinder General is not tame. Maybe to ficking Saw fans :laugh:

Jonathan Rigby's English Gothic, Euro Gothic and American Gothic discusses the changes to horror cinema from the birth of film to the present day.

X-Cert: The British Independent Horror Film: 1951-1970
 

the title says it all really...:)

Attachment 207032