From AI Nightmares to Empty Spaces: How Modern Horror Reflects Evolving Societal Fears

This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews delve into the dynamic evolution of the horror genre, exploring how it mirrors contemporary societal anxieties. They discuss how films like Get Out and episodes of Black Mirror, as well as the movie The Substance, confront pressing issues ranging from racism and artificial intelligence to insecurities surrounding beauty standards.

The conversation also highlights how regional filmmakers are tapping into local fears and traditions, exemplified by the Emirati film Hoba. Enas and Farah further explore the rising popularity of subgenres such as Backrooms, which centers on unsettling, empty environments, and Widow’s Bay, a comedy-horror series.

Shifting focus, the discussion turns to Abu Dhabi's modernist architecture from the 1970s and 1980s, and the government's initiatives to preserve this architectural heritage. Notable structures like the Abu Dhabi bus station and Al Ibrahimi Tower are mentioned. The hosts reflect on the profound impact of architecture on a city's identity and the lived experiences of its inhabitants, also examining the enduring influence of traditional Arabic design elements, such as the mashrabiya, on contemporary building designs.