Is Horror dead, as a genre?
Discussion
I am not the world's most avid movie goer, but I am partial to an occasional horror flick.
I was just a thinking (trying to minimze this act, as the wife thinks it doesn't suit me), but aren't horror movies just rehashes of old stories nowadays, or simply remakes of past films, with minor modifications here and there.
I mean, in order to frighten us, there are:
- blood sucking vampires
- werewolfs
- aliens
- ghosts/ poltergeists
- slasher characters
- possessed people
And there have been countless variations on the above themes.
Apart from the Blair Witch Project (and that is now a decade old), has there really been any innovation in Horror movies?
Am I right, or am I right?
I was just a thinking (trying to minimze this act, as the wife thinks it doesn't suit me), but aren't horror movies just rehashes of old stories nowadays, or simply remakes of past films, with minor modifications here and there.
I mean, in order to frighten us, there are:
- blood sucking vampires
- werewolfs
- aliens
- ghosts/ poltergeists
- slasher characters
- possessed people
And there have been countless variations on the above themes.
Apart from the Blair Witch Project (and that is now a decade old), has there really been any innovation in Horror movies?
Am I right, or am I right?
rehashing old stories is not a bad thing if done correctly.
i personally love horror and it is in my top 3 genre, but i dont like horros films that try and gross you out. Compare SAW to SAW 3,4,5 etc and you'll see what i mean.
Variations on existing themes and adding different angles sometimes comes up with a winner imo.
i personally love horror and it is in my top 3 genre, but i dont like horros films that try and gross you out. Compare SAW to SAW 3,4,5 etc and you'll see what i mean.
Variations on existing themes and adding different angles sometimes comes up with a winner imo.
I don't think any traditional horror films have ever had much of an effect on me.
I have found that Japanese and Korean horror and thrillers get to me more.
For example:
Battle Royale ~ No monsters or ghosts but it really did convey a sense of horror in terms of human nature when faced with extreme danger.
Audition ~ needs to be watched to to be understood but there is a sound in that film I can still hear clear as it was when I watched it. Ting ting ting ting.
The Hollywood remakes of films like 'The Ring' and 'The Grudge' were pathetic and glossy in comparison with the originals.
Closest from Western Cinema to a proper scary for me was 28 Days Later.
I have found that Japanese and Korean horror and thrillers get to me more.
For example:
Battle Royale ~ No monsters or ghosts but it really did convey a sense of horror in terms of human nature when faced with extreme danger.
Audition ~ needs to be watched to to be understood but there is a sound in that film I can still hear clear as it was when I watched it. Ting ting ting ting.
The Hollywood remakes of films like 'The Ring' and 'The Grudge' were pathetic and glossy in comparison with the originals.
Closest from Western Cinema to a proper scary for me was 28 Days Later.
There is a group trying to keep it alive at Indywood films
http://www.theindywoodproject.com/
It's a self funded film, but i know of a few of them, and they all hate CGI gore with a passion.
£20 quid gets you in the film as a zombie...
http://www.theindywoodproject.com/
It's a self funded film, but i know of a few of them, and they all hate CGI gore with a passion.
£20 quid gets you in the film as a zombie...
Its not dead just on life support as it has pretty much been done to death, every now and again something comes out that reminds why I love this genre so much but a lot of it is either poorly done or just a miss-mash of a number of other films.
Some stand out recent film's for me have been, Rec, The Descent, The Orphanage and Let the right one in.
Still enjoy watching a lot of Mario Bava and Dario Argentos work the attention to detail, lighting and use of angle still make their films interesting to watch after god knows how many times.
If you have not seen much of the horror from the 70's give it a go, some of the acting is a touch hammy and effects rather basic but there still some crackers.
Some stand out recent film's for me have been, Rec, The Descent, The Orphanage and Let the right one in.
Still enjoy watching a lot of Mario Bava and Dario Argentos work the attention to detail, lighting and use of angle still make their films interesting to watch after god knows how many times.
If you have not seen much of the horror from the 70's give it a go, some of the acting is a touch hammy and effects rather basic but there still some crackers.
It's not dead. Just like any other genre that exits, a great one comes along once in a awhile to show how to do it properly, the Descent has been mentioned. Watched Hostel 2 on the telly, it was no as bad as I imagined. Blair Witch was just so s
te. Most boring film since The Lover.
Most films are just rehashs.
te. Most boring film since The Lover.Most films are just rehashs.
I haven't seen an edge-of-the-seat, running around in the dark with the things movie for a while.
The problem with modern ones is that they don't often remember that to thrill you with fear you have to be afraid - not for yourself, obviously, because you are in the cinema - but for the characters on the screen. Which means character development and enough of it that you aren't cheering on the things as they dispose of yet another cardboard-pastiche actor.
It's lost its power now with dodgy, early CGI but when Event Horizon came out it was genuinely chilling. Alien spawned so many rip-offs and sequels due to it's success.
Good writing, characters you suspend your disbelief for, care what happens to them - THEN put them in mortal danger.
The problem with modern ones is that they don't often remember that to thrill you with fear you have to be afraid - not for yourself, obviously, because you are in the cinema - but for the characters on the screen. Which means character development and enough of it that you aren't cheering on the things as they dispose of yet another cardboard-pastiche actor.
It's lost its power now with dodgy, early CGI but when Event Horizon came out it was genuinely chilling. Alien spawned so many rip-offs and sequels due to it's success.
Good writing, characters you suspend your disbelief for, care what happens to them - THEN put them in mortal danger.
ive seen loads of modern horrors and if im honest its a genre im sliding away from, and this is coming from a horror fan. however there are still some new/newish horrors that are pretty damn good.
the strangers, you know whats coming and its been done to death with the storyline but a brick did that film make me jump, ALOT
The desent, and remake of the hills have eyes(not number 2) are well worth buying and provide everything a horror should
eden lake is abit close to the border line if you ask me, but still shocking
the strangers, you know whats coming and its been done to death with the storyline but
a brick did that film make me jump, ALOTThe desent, and remake of the hills have eyes(not number 2) are well worth buying and provide everything a horror should
eden lake is abit close to the border line if you ask me, but still shocking
IMHO, real HORROR comes from not being able to imagine how you would cope in such circumstances.
For example, Eden Lake is one such film, as is the ending of The Myst. Perhaps the first 'Saw' film too.
Blood and gore for its own sake and cliched shock tactics (visual and auditory) aren't really horrifying.
For example, Eden Lake is one such film, as is the ending of The Myst. Perhaps the first 'Saw' film too.
Blood and gore for its own sake and cliched shock tactics (visual and auditory) aren't really horrifying.
I love horror (10 points for working out my username 
).
Been watching them from the early (for me) 1979/1980s slasher, 'snuff' and subsequent banned ones. (The Burning, Spit on Grave, Ferox. etc.).
Yup, the classic video nasties.
This was the time where you just wandered in and rented them at 16 yrs old from your local TV shop.
Late 70s/80s horror I still think were best. Yes they were VERY cheesy with splattering of soft porn BUT its IMAGINATION that makes a film.
Think back to the 1970s 'Asylum' style films. Its amazing how your mind can conjure up that image of what-might-have-been when we see a tray of blooded instruments on a tray. Or the opening of the grave when you know damn well it will be empty but
.
Now its just full on ripping, pulling and pointlessly too much blood just to sell. If that is the case then 'Braindead' takes this parody just one stage further. Same as Evil Dead 3 and shows too much horror can be funny - As a side line it also reminds me of porn were it seems to be merging with horror as a catch all for all breeds of audience (sexploitaiton)
Or the other version now is psychological. But to be very honest I really could not give a sod for 99% of the characters and HOPE they die horribly just to shut them up.
Thats what they have forgotten. You need to feel the fear for the damsel running in the woods but you dont. Do you?
).Been watching them from the early (for me) 1979/1980s slasher, 'snuff' and subsequent banned ones. (The Burning, Spit on Grave, Ferox. etc.).
Yup, the classic video nasties.
This was the time where you just wandered in and rented them at 16 yrs old from your local TV shop.
Late 70s/80s horror I still think were best. Yes they were VERY cheesy with splattering of soft porn BUT its IMAGINATION that makes a film.
Think back to the 1970s 'Asylum' style films. Its amazing how your mind can conjure up that image of what-might-have-been when we see a tray of blooded instruments on a tray. Or the opening of the grave when you know damn well it will be empty but
.Now its just full on ripping, pulling and pointlessly too much blood just to sell. If that is the case then 'Braindead' takes this parody just one stage further. Same as Evil Dead 3 and shows too much horror can be funny - As a side line it also reminds me of porn were it seems to be merging with horror as a catch all for all breeds of audience (sexploitaiton)
Or the other version now is psychological. But to be very honest I really could not give a sod for 99% of the characters and HOPE they die horribly just to shut them up.
Thats what they have forgotten. You need to feel the fear for the damsel running in the woods but you dont. Do you?
Morningside said:
Or the other version now is psychological. But to be very honest I really could not give a sod for 99% of the characters and HOPE they die horribly just to shut them up.
Thats what they have forgotten. You need to feel the fear for the damsel running in the woods but you dont. Do you?
Completely with you on this.Thats what they have forgotten. You need to feel the fear for the damsel running in the woods but you dont. Do you?
You've got to like the girl, want her to survive and get away.
AND you shouldn't be blaming her for doing it to herself...
Most of the time, these days, you're just thinking: "Fer Christ's Sake get it over with. Don't go into the cellar, love, oh you have. Du'uh. The THING is down there and is going to do you in horribly. Oh it has. Oh dear. Would you get me another beer from the fridge, please, honey, I'm turning over to to watch CSI: Portsmouth - it'll be better."
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