Watching the World Die: Nuclear Threat Films of the 1980s

by Mike Bogue

Overview

During the 1980s, popular fear of World War III spurred moviemakers to produce dozens of nuclear threat films. Categories ranged from monster movies to post-apocalyptic adventures to realistic depictions of nuclear war and its immediate aftermath.

Coverage of atomic angst films isn't new, but this is the first book to solely analyze 1980s nuclear threat movies as a group. Entries range from classics such as The Day After and WarGames to obscurities such as Desert Warrior and Massive Retaliation. Chronological coverage of the 121 films released between 1980 and 1990 includes production details, chapter notes, and critical commentaries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476691015
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	10/26/2023
Pages:	269
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.54(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Mike Bogue, a retired educator living in Ozark, Arkansas, has written for Scary Monsters Magazine, G-FAN, Movie Milestones, The Lost Films Fanzine, Castle of Frankenstein, and Mad Scientist.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
Chapter One. Cold War Jitters: The ’50s vs. the ’80s
Chapter Two. 1980
Chapter Three. 1981
Chapter Four. 1982
Chapter Five. 1983
Chapter Six. 1984
Chapter Seven. 1985
Chapter Eight. 1986
Chapter Nine. 1987
Chapter Ten. 1988
Chapter Eleven. 1989
Chapter Twelve. 1990
Epilogue
Appendix
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

If you’re looking for a book to cover such a variety of films that all have their ties to the nuclear (or possible) disaster, then this is it... If you are looking for a book that has a compilation of titles dealing with the threat of nuclear war, the actual war, or the dreaded aftereffects, then this book is definitely for you!”—Kitley’s Krypt

From the Publisher