Black horror describes thriller films written by Black people and centered on Black characters, often with the themes of racism and injustice as components of the horror they face.
As directors like Jordan Peele are gaining momentum in the film mainstream, some say we are approaching a Black horror golden age.
The 2019 documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror contextualizes the evolution of the genre and the timeline of Black-centered cinema, with Peele and others in the industry as interviewees. Horror Noire also highlights the interplay between contemporary American politics and the rise of movements for Black lives with the film industry, as well as the increase in representation its subjects hope to see in the near future.
If you’re looking for a bone-chilling audio experience and want to support diverse voices in the arts, this one’s for you.
Nightlight is a horror fiction podcast written by Black authors and performed by Black actors. A new story is released every week, and the podcast’s host, Tonia Ransom, interviews the authors after their stories are told. Nightlight’s stories are incredibly creepy, but also thought-provoking and beautifully crafted. The narration and production of the podcast will keep you engaged the entire time.
For a good time during this socially-distant Halloween, I suggest turning on the fake fireplace from Netflix, switching off the lights and connecting this podcast to a loudspeaker.