Introduction
Entertaining and controversial, the concept of ecohorror, or eco-thriller, is an emerging genre of film and literature that focuses on the catastrophic impacts of climate change and other environmental disasters. This introduction will explore how climate change is represented in ecohorror films, the ways in which the genre utilizes motifs to raise awareness of the ongoing environmental crisis, and the potential for ecohorror to influence public opinion on climate change. By analyzing the content and themes of ecohorror films, we find that ecohorror has positive and negative impacts on the view of climate change.
Climate change is a growing concern around the world, and its effects are being felt in the film industry as well. With films such as The Host, The Day After Tomorrow, and Snowpiercer, ecohorror movies are an increasingly popular genre of film that explores the consequences of climate change and its potential for destruction. These types of films often feature a human antagonist, and many of them focus on the idea that humans are the ultimate cause of climate change. In doing so, they raise awareness among viewers about the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change and encourage them to take action to reduce their own carbon footprint. Additionally, ecohorror films often highlight the potential for nature to fight back against human-caused destruction. By showing the power of nature, these films can be seen as a call to action to respect and protect the environment rather than exploit it. On the flip side, these films could also create a sense of terror and hatred depending on who is watching them. Ultimately, ecohorror movies are an effective way to bring the reality of climate change to the public and encourage viewers to take action.
The genre of ecohorror has become increasingly popular over the past decade, as it seeks to explore the horrors that climate change brings. As T Konrad argues in Climate Change Education: Reimagining the Future (2022), ecohorror is an effective tool for raising awareness of the current environmental crisis. This is because ecohorror stories often feature motifs that allow readers to connect emotionally with the story’s characters and gain a better understanding of the consequences of climate change. For example, ecohorror often focuses on characters who have been impacted by the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events or the destruction of ecosystems. These events allow readers to empathize with the characters, and gain a better appreciation of the devastating effects of climate change. Moreover, ecohorror stories may also include motifs that illustrate the consequences of human behavior, such as the destruction of natural habitats or the overuse of resources. This can help to draw attention to the human activities that are causing climate change and encourage readers to be more mindful of their own behavior. Ultimately, ecohorror can be a great way to raise awareness about climate change as it allows readers to connect emotionally with the story’s characters, and gain a better understanding of the consequences of human behavior.
Ecohorror is becoming increasingly popular as a tool to influence public opinion on the subject. According to a study conducted by J Wald in 2022, ecohorror films are incredibly effective in conveying the urgency of the issue and inspiring people to take action. This is because they use fear to motivate people to change their behavior, such as by reducing their carbon footprint or supporting climate policy. Furthermore, the study found that ecohorror films are particularly successful in engaging people who are less likely to be interested in environmental issues, such as young people. This is because they use gripping storylines and powerful visuals to capture the audience's attention, which encourages them to pay closer attention to the issue. As such, ecohorror films create a sense of urgency among the public whether it be good or bad.
Overall, climate change ecohorror is a genre of film that uses visuals to draw attention to the looming global climate crisis and its direct impact on life as we know it. It seeks to drive its message through thrilling, horrified storytelling that fearlessly questions our current behavior and attitude towards the environment. It attempts to hold a mirror up to our current lifestyle, allowing viewers to confront the consequences of our decisions about the environment and challenge us to make changes for a better future. In this exhibit we will analyze Snowpiercer, Eden, The Day After Tomorrow, and Dr. Stone. All of these depictions of climate change ecohorror point to a path of sustainable development. The whole point of climate change ecohorror is to get the world to recognize the gravity of the threat posed by climate change and act now to protect our planet. However, although these films spread awareness on climate change they could also create confusion and make people not believe in the effects of it.