"Americana is an idea that encompasses many things. America is a vast place, which is why Americana can't be pinned down to any one thing. At its core, it comprises all of American culture, focusing on different time periods and places, and can be as varied as the people living within the borders. For some, it represents the idyllic past. Times when apple pie cooled in windowsills as the crack of kids playing baseball danced in the breeze on a lazy Sunday afternoon. For others, it's the folklore, legends, history, and myths that make up America.
In general, Americana embodies the "good old days"—as defined by whoever is invoking the imagery. But we know that what is good for some is terrible for others, and that makes the genre ripe for horror. We drove through the backroads of film and found 16 horror movies that explore the various iterations of Americana lore."