How far does the dial have to move to take a holiday from festive to f***ing? At least since the events of ‘Jaws’ hit Amity Island, 4th of July celebrations have served as scary fodder for satirists, who have used the summer holidays as an opportunity to critique our country’s all too obvious dark side. bloodstained stars and stripes.
The best 4th of July horror movies make use of both seasonal setting and thorny subject matter. There’s something inherently creepy about taking a day that’s supposed to be celebratory and repackaging it into that twisted carnival aesthetic, dripping with oversaturated reds, whites, and blues. And exploring the birth of a country that is tearing itself apart (just think of the Supreme Court last week) bestows an embarrassment of thematic riches on writers and directors willing to stew in its wit.
Fourth of July horror films have become a genre category unto themselves because they provide opportunities to critique the United States as it currently is, while simultaneously reflecting on the unspeakable darkness of our history. Not to mention the fireworks and crowds spell horror movie magic. Add in a zombified Uncle Sam and you have a slasher worthy of lighting streamers.
Roland Emmerich captured the aliens on the world in ‘Independence Day’ aptly titled ‘Independence Day’ a sci-fi disaster film starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman among others. Robert De Niro played a released prisoner who hunts down his former lawyer, played by Nick Nolte, in Martin Scorsese’s “Cape Fear.” It’s a remake of the 1962 psychological thriller of the same name, set against the backdrop of an affluent North Carolina community that also celebrates the 4th. And while “The Purge” creator James DeMonaco may have technically set his own fictional bloodbath in the spring, it’s no secret that the titular killing marathon, an annual event canonically “sanctioned by the United States government,” incorporates elements similar in tone to the real federal holiday.
Whether you’re completing a day of summer fun or staying out of this year’s festivities, here are the best 4th of July horror movies. The list has been limited to 15 titles. You can also check out our guide to movies about last November’s democratic election.
