Description

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An offbeat odyssey through the most daring and disruptive phase of American cinema since the advent of sound — during the most transformative and tumultuous period of American history since the Civil War.

We Are the Mutants is a critical reassessment of what is arguably the most discussed and beloved stretch of movies in Hollywood history.
Documenting the period between the arrival of US combat troops in Vietnam and the end of President Ronald Reagan’s second term, the book forgoes the usual and restrictive exemplars of “auteur cinema,” and instead focuses on an eclectic selection of films and genres — horror, documentary, disaster, vigilante action, neo-noir, post-apocalyptic sci-fi — to track this period's tumultuous transformation in American life, culture, and politics.

By exploring cult classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Escape from New York, as well as studio blockbusters like The Exorcist and Fatal Attraction, We Are the Mutants rewrites the history of modern American cinema and, in doing so, the history of America itself.

About the Author

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Kelly Roberts is editor-in-chief of We Are the Mutants and a freelance writer.

Michael Grasso is a senior editor at We Are the Mutants, a freelance writer, and a museum professional.

Richard McKenna is a senior editor at We Are the Mutants and a freelance writer and translator.

Praise For…

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“A highly enjoyable read for film fans hungry for an alternative point of view. The writing is intelligent, detailed, and well-researched without drifting into the academic and dry, and its arguments are frequently invigorating and thought-provoking.” - Johnny Restall, Diabolique Magazine

“An intriguingly sharp and offbeat study of US cinema from the 60s to the 80s.” - Grafton Tanner, author of The Hours Have Lost Their Clocks

"We are the Mutants is a fascinating piece of work that breathes new life into the period of cinema, a discursive journey that takes in everything from Tiki culture to Erich von Däniken’s Chariots of the Gods?, to the CIA’s little known links to Manson and Dungeons and Dragons." - Andrew Nette, Pulp Curry