Hixploitation
Encyclopedia
Hicksploitation, also spelled hixploitation, is a genre of exploitation film
relying on stereotypical depictions of rural
whites
of the American South and Appalachia
(i.e. hill billies or hick
s), usually for purposes of horror.
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
relying on stereotypical depictions of rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
whites
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
of the American South and Appalachia
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
(i.e. hill billies or hick
Yokel
Yokel is a derogatory term referring to the stereotype of unsophisticated country people.-Stereotype:In the US, it is used to describe someone living in rural areas...
s), usually for purposes of horror.
Prominent examples
- Eaten AliveEaten AliveEaten Alive is a 1977 horror film directed by Tobe Hooper...
- DeliveranceDeliveranceDeliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast members include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty in his film debut. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the...
- The Hills Have EyesThe Hills Have Eyes (1977 film)The Hills Have Eyes is a 1977 American horror film directed by Wes Craven and starring Susan Lanier, Michael Berryman, and Dee Wallace. It is about a family on a road trip who become stranded in the Nevada desert, and are hunted by a clan of deformed cannibals in the surrounding hills...
- Hot Summer in Barefoot CountyHot Summer in Barefoot CountyHot Summer in Barefoot County is a 1974 comedy film directed by Will Zens and distributed by Troma Entertainment. The plot involves an undercover agent who is sent to small southern town in order to uncover an underground moon-shining ring, but when he finds out that the town is filled with...
- Just Before DawnJust Before Dawn (1981 film)Just Before Dawn is a 1981 slasher film from director Jeff Lieberman. Though the film came and went quietly upon its theatrical release the film has now developed a devoted cult following among horror fans. It is praised for its eerie atmosphere, lush cinematography, and above-average cast...
- Redneck ZombiesRedneck ZombiesRedneck Zombies is a 1987 very low budget independent horror comedy trash film directed by Pericles Lewnes and released by Troma Entertainment.-Plot:...
- The Texas Chain Saw MassacreThe Texas Chain Saw MassacreThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote it with Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the...
- Walking TallWalking TallWalking Tall is a 1973 semi-biopic of Sheriff Buford Pusser, a former professional wrestler-turned-lawman in McNairy County, Tennessee. It starred Joe Don Baker as Pusser...
External links
- Listing of Hixploitation films @ THE DEUCE: Grindhouse Cinema Database