Disability in horror films

Tod Browning's Freaks (1932) has been highlighted as a notable example of a horror film for prominently depicting disability, and has received diverse commentary for its depiction of the community, with some labelling it as portraying disability sympathetic and anti-eugenicist and others criticising it for being exploitative. As of 2020, it remains one of few American films to feature a predominantly disabled cast. ==Mental disabilities==

The film Split has been criticised for its portrayal of dissociative identity disorder. In particular, it was criticised for stigmatizing the disorder, and potentially causing harm to those that live with it. In an open letter to M. Night Shyamalan, disability activists wrote that "Split represents yet another gross parody of us based on fear, ignorance, and sensationalism, only much worse." The 2016 American horror film Spring Break Zombie Massacre was created by Sam Suchman and Mattie Zufelt, best friends with Down syndrome, who also starred in the film. The movie was widely praised as refreshing for having neurodivergent minds in charge of the creative process. It was also celebrated for featuring protagonists with Down syndrome whose disability was not the main focus of the film. == See also ==