“Surface” is “Get Out” for Black Women

Photo by Dave Goudreau on Unsplash

The work of filmmaker Jordan Peele has ushered in a renaissance of horror and psychological thrillers which address identity politics and the legacy of racism within American society. However, unlike historical dramas, which depict more explicit forms of racial ideology and violence that were endemic to the past, these new films deal with more subtle forms of racism that are unique to this historical period. In the article “How Black Horror Became America’s Most Powerful Cinematic Genre,” Gabrielle Bellot outlines the history of horror films that center on Black American lives. Specifically, Bellot writes that “Black horror. . . seeks to capture the all-too-real fear of walking through America in a Black body”.

This is why I have been so interested in many of the series from Apple TV+ that use both severe and comedic genres to address sociocultural issues. On the comedic side, the show “Roar” offers an almost intersectional feminist approach to series like “Black Mirror” or “The Twilight Zone.” In contrast, Apple TV+’s latest show, “Loot,” depicts a Black woman taking on modern-day concerns about the moral…