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Why are there so many horror movies from this era about Gorillas?

posted 9 years ago by HorrorMovieProjectNET
6 replies | jump to latest

I review horror movies as a hobby. I am using IMDB and a few other sources to watch every horror movie in chronological order. I am writing a review about each one. After four years I am up to 1939. It has been really fun. However, it is also very tedious. There is so much crap.

I noticed that movies from the 30's feature Gorillas as antagonists quite a bit. Why is that? Did people find them scary?

Also there are so many Old Dark House type stories. They are quite popular motifs. So much so that they are often forced together like an escaped gorilla is sneaking around an old dark house at night killing a group of young greedy adults. It's like gorillas were their Jason Voorhees.

[–] the_raven75 9 years ago

Out of interest, what are the ape-related horror movies you've seen so far. I know of The Murders in the Rue Morgue and a few others from the period, but would appreciate a list for a project of my own.

[–] HorrorMovieProjectNET 8 years ago

Oh man so many. It's like they loved Gorillas as antagonists. It kind of makes sense. They couldn't really afford much. A Gorilla outfit was probably a big expense.

Here is a link to a list of movies that I had reviewed with Ape's in them. http://horrormovieproject.blogspot.com/search/?q=Ape&submit=Search

Also you should check out movies like:

Son of Ingagi
The Ape
The Beast of Borneo
and The Monster Walks.

[–] Fargo_North 9 years ago

I think it was a reflection of the fascination people had with the "Dark Continent of Africa" at that time. Have you seen "The Gorilla" (1939), with Bela Lugosi and The Ritz Bros.? That movie covers at least two genres as it is an Old Dark House, Horror-Mystery Comedy.
"That man's nuts, Grab 'em!!!

[–] Fargo_North 9 years ago

I think it was a reflection of the fascination people had with the "Dark Continent of Africa" at that time. It went beyond
"That man's nuts, Grab 'em!!!

[–] Fargo_North 9 years ago

I think it was a reflection of the fascination people had with the "Dark Continent of Africa" at that time. It actually went well beyond the 30's though, with The Ape Man (1943), Bride Of The Gorilla (1951) and Bela Lugosi Meets A Brooklyn Gorilla (1952).
"That man's nuts, Grab 'em!!!

[–] otrnepodahl 8 years ago

"Charlie Chan At The Circus" had the whole story-line around a Gorilla; real and a man suited up in one. Also, there were a slew of Three Stooges shorts with a man in a Gorilla suit.