The History of Analog Horror [ft. Kris Straub, Nexpo, NightMind & others] | Documentary (2022)
1,875,195
Published 2022-07-29
This feature-length documentary from director Alex Hera explores the history of one of the most popular, rapidly expanding, and influential developments in internet horror in the past decade: analog horror. Today, millions of viewers tune into frightening, grainy recreations of VHS tapes and 1980's TV broadcasts on YouTube, including Local58, Gemini Home Entertainment, The Walten Files, The Backrooms, and plenty more. This documentary paints a picture of the importance and impact of this genre, as well as what it may hold in the future, including digital horror.
It's time to take a look back... into the History of Analog Horror.
CREDITS:
[Associate Producer] Wren Dalton - twitter.com/deathsespresso
MISTER MANTICORE (formerly ALEXKANSAS) - youtube.com/@MISTERMANTICORE
Kris Straub - youtube.com/@KrisStraub
Nexpo - youtube.com/@Nexpo
Night Mind - youtube.com/@NightMind
Quarks & Rec - youtube.com/@quarksandrec
Turkey Lenin III - youtube.com/@turkeyleniniii326
Wiktor Stribog - youtube.com/@WiktorStribog
[ALEXKANAS VA] Laches - twitter.com/justLaches
[Wiktor Stribog VA] Ryan Geever - youtube.com/@ProfDotGeever
[Consultant] Michael Andersen - twitter.com/mjandersen
[Consultant] AuthorMx - youtube.com/@AuthorMx
[Assistant Camera] Ariana Rose
My Website - alexhera.com/
Twitter - twitter.com/AlexHera_
Instagram - www.instagram.com/alexhera_/
Letterboxd - letterboxd.com/ahera/
KOFI - ko-fi.com/alexhera
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 CHAPTER 1: AN ANALOG AGE
00:06:36 1.1: War of the Worlds (1938)
00:08:26 1.2: Golden Age
00:09:02 1.3: Videodrome
00:11:53 1.4: Max Headroom
00:13:03 1.5: Ghostwatch
00:14:42 1.6: Blair Witch
00:16:17 1.7: The Wyoming Incident
00:20:13 1.8: Marble Hornets
00:23:14 1.9: Vaporwave
00:28:18 CHAPTER 2: INCOMING SIGNAL
00:29:31 2.1: VHS & WNUF
00:31:01 2.2: KrainaGrzybowTV
00:34:33 2.3: Why is Analog Horror successful?
00:47:24 2.4: NOC+10
00:48:48 2.5: ClearLakes44
00:51:54 2.6: Cave of Shadows
00:52:59 2.7: Local58
01:12:19 2.8: CH/SS
01:17:39 2.9: Stranger Things
01:18:59 2.10: ECKVA
01:21:00 2.11: Local58 (Revival)
01:24:20 2.12: Channel 7
01:26:15 2.13: Nexpo & Clones
01:35:00 CHAPTER 3: THE ANALOG TAKEOVER
01:37:32 3.1: Analog Archives & Gen 2
01:43:31 3.2: Immersion Breaking (Credits)
01:45:17 3.3: The Unfiction Debate
01:50:56 3.4: Five Nights at Freddy's
01:53:46 3.5: The Minerva Alliance
01:57:04 3.6: Gemini Home Entertainment
02:00:08 3.7: Eventide Media Center
02:02:12 3.8: COVID-19 & Accessibility
02:07:16 3.9: Analog Horror's Popularity
02:13:09 3.10: The Walten Files
02:15:17 3.11: Video Games
02:21:30 3.12: Monument Mythos
02:24:00 3.13: Explosion
02:26:06 3.14: OmegaMart
02:27:36 3.15: Blue Channel Thalasin
02:28:30 3.16: The Mandela Catalogue
02:43:13 3.17: Local58 (ARG)
02:43:43 3.18: Backrooms
02:46:06 3.19 The Future
02:55:05 3.20: Conclusion
02:57:48 CREDITS
All Comments (21)
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The next step in analogue horror is producing them onto actual VHS cassettes and hiding them in thrift shops all over the midwest so they inevitably show up on Red Letter Media and blow their MINDS.
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What the hell YouTube, why am I only seeing this pushed up 7 months after release? Absolutely criminal on the algorithm's part, this was an excellent documentary and deserves way more views for the amount of work put into it.
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the fact that shortly after this video was made, Skinamarink blew up in popularity really shows how the mainstream success of this genere could only get bigger. this documentary is a great primer.
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I’m in genuine shock this hasn’t gotten more attention, easily one of the best most insightful looks into internet horror culture
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completely blown away by the depth of research in this video!! I had assumed that the Local 58 clone epidemic had been lost to time, it was such a surprise see discussed here. I found the separation of generations fascinating, I remember watching Walten Files, Mandela Catalogue and Monument Mythos after over a year of myself making more traditional videos and thinking “you can do that!?”
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I actually love that you started with War of the Worlds. What a great acknowledgement of a way of approaching horror that we've actually been doing for awhile.
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1:48:24 We have a lot of Alexes in the analog horror/horror/unfiction/mainstream community We got a Bale, a Hera, Hirsch, a Kansas, a Kister, and a Techno
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While analog horror may feel saturated and unoriginal nowadays, I assure that there are still some pretty good analog horror channels out there that deserve some love and attention. Here are some of my picks: Pocket Painter TRYRED WITNESS ARCHIVES RICHLAND Bucklesuckle SINCHRONIC INC Midwest Angelica Tapes from the Darkside Jordangaming101 These are some really good channels that I think deserve a lot of love and attention, yet are obscure unfortunately.
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A truly triumphant mark, documenting the history of Analog Horror. What a spectacular show of dedication, love, and care for the genre.
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This is STUPIDLY underrated. The production quality and editing easily rivals youtubers like nexpo and night mind. Not only the editing but you did your research too. There's a lot of underrated horror you talked about, stuff I've always wanted covered by someone. Genuinely surprised this doesn't have millions of views.
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This may be a cliche thing to say, but this documentary is criminally underrated.
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I can’t believe this was only viewed for 20K times. Deserves 2M views with the depth you go to.
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2:16:45 Atari 2600 is second gen, rather than third gen. Third gen is NES/Master System era stuff. Also, that part where Kris Straub mentions how a great way to begin a series is to start as a copycat and then learn your own vision along the way is absolutely genius. Perfectly captures the way so many people started successful channels, analog horror or otherwise.
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An exceptionally well-made exploration of the origins of analog horror, its nature, and how it became how we know it to be today. I feel very honored to have been a part of this and commend you for the many months of hard work and dedication it took to make this come to life. Cheers!
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My grandma got me into analog horror. She was 8 when she heard the World of the Worlds broadcast and had a lot of fun stories about how the Florida town she was in reacted.
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Had no idea how much Kris Straub had done. I love love love local 58, and always want more. The local cable tone is so perfect. It's super comforting and cozy, like a little horror sandwich. Little bit of horror between two slices of comfort.
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I remember first watching Analog Horror back in late 2019, which began with Local 58. At the time, I was 13 and was easily scared by horror. This was no exception. I remember cowardly tilting my phone away or having the lights on when the “horror” part kicks in. As time went on, I had watched so many Analog Horror channels, one-off’s, and series’s. I am glad to be part of the Analog Horror community. Can’t wait for the premiere good sir.
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The section in Marble Hornets about making less important works before you take on bigger ones to help guarantee your ability to do those things is something I feel you really artfully explained. Good job 👍
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How has this not blown up and gotten millions? 🧐
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Analog Horror being such a flexible genre allows for so many different stories and subgenres to come from it. I'd even argue that something like monument mythos isn't even horror, but it doesnt have to be, since its my favorite to come from the genre. I'm looking forward to all the upcoming talented people in the field to make whatever they want.
