War as Horror: The Confederate Infantry Attack in "Free State of Jones"

[Your Old Comrade]

This video is a part of the "War is Hell: No Matter the Era" Collaboration! Nine channels making nine videos on themes of privation, trauma, and death in a military context prior to the First World War. Because even when it features orderly lines and pretty uniforms, war is anything but polite or adventurous.

In this video, I explore the theme that war films should feel more like horror movies, than they do action or adventure. This is because, well, War is Hell! In particular, I focus on one of the battle scenes, The 2nd Battle of Corinth, in "Free State of Jones" (2016) which uses excellent sound design and physical effects, as well as clever cinematography, to achieve just such a result.

Find the original battle scene here:

[Tooting Carmen]

At least some humans must take some genuine pleasure and excitement from war and violence, otherwise there would not be so much of it around, often in organised form.