Are Horror Movies Getting Worse?

[koolmike]

Seems to me like horror movies lately are boring and uninspired. We all know there are far too many re-makes and films ruined by CGI. There have been a few bright moments over the past several years (IMO - SAW, Cabin Fever, Jeepers Creepers, and Diary of the Dead) but for the most part horror films have been a let down, especially (IMO) American adaptations of Asian horror flix.

So,

Are horror movies getting worse IYO, and if so, how would you change things if you could? What's missing? Writing? Directing? Casting? PG-13?


Re-makes piss me off more than anything. Where are the good storytellers?
If I could, I would make it so that re-makes were allowed only after 75 years or more have passed since the original film's release.

[K.I.N.G]

:nod:

Turn to Asian film, that's what I did.

[Metapher]

I think there are less good coming out, yeah. But there are good ones "beyond the mainstream". Hell, there are even good mainstream ones too, except they don't get the attention they deserve IMO.

I also think it's the ideas behind the movies, mixed with what drives them to make them nowadays. I think what drives them seems to be the money and to have alot of people seeing the movie when it first comes out. They focus alot on that first week/viewing, I think. More new ideas and ignore the money/box office.

[horrorfan232]

Most of the time the bad horror movies are rated PG-13, soon as I see that I know right away that it's going to be awful. Then again, that's about 80% of the horror flicks that comes out now. I give straight to DVD movies more of a chance now since some of them surprised me, example, Feast, Boogeyman 2, etc. etc.

[koolmike]

Turn to Asian film, that's what I did.

Not that wild about Asian horror. There are a few zombie flix from that region I like though.

[Joker]

Yep,poore CGI tops the list for me,it seems like it's just getting too easy to get lazy.
When I was a young kid in the 80's low budget horror was a thing of beauty,the film makers at least tried with stop motion animation,make up,and ample amounts of T n A :bigthumbup:

Alexandre Aja is the biggest bright spot.:D

[réÐþÁ†µ]

Today its too easy to slap a hip, trendy cast whether the cast consists of musicians instead of actual actors or it has the latest teen soap flavor. The idea in the end is to slap that cast onto the film/remake, make some profit the first week and release an uncut DVD that has probably 1 extra minute of footage which is another gimmick.

So in the end, its getting worse. For better or worse, people can say what they want about movies like SAW in the 2000s or Scream in the 90s. People go on to hate those films in different ways. While those films were good on their own, they inspire alot of the trash you see today and so they get a negative rep forever because of it. Though I prefer Scream to SAW because of the whole intricate two killer element, in the end it was scooby dooish but atleast the original had elements of a good slasher film.

So in the end, I guess I've said it alot but I'll say it again. Eventually you'll have another one of those types of movies I mentioned that will go on to be something good, but inevietably it will probably get nailed because it will probably produce some god awful trash behind it.

[steelba]

It's actually alot better than it was in the 90's. So it definatly isn't getting worse. If you just want to compare modern horror to all time classics then ofcoarse it will fall short. Maybe your love for the genre is waining.

[Cataclysm]

Alexandre Aja is the biggest bright spot.:D

Not really when you consider the simple fact that he hasn't made anything original yet.

[steelba]

Not really when you consider the simple fact that he hasn't made anything original yet.
His movies are awesome, don't hate.

[Metapher]

Actually, I didn't have a problem with the 90's that much at all.
And while I don't like Hostel and The Hills Have Eyes or whatever movie the teenpop-00's throw at me, I still like Murder-Set-Pieces, AU/Redsin Tower, 1408, Behind the Mask, The Mist, and alot of other ones.

Classics are classics, and you will probably never ever find a movie that will take the place of your love.

I don't really like Aja. Haute Tension was alright for a while though.

[Cataclysm]

His movies are awesome, don't hate.

I'm not hating. I enjoy his movies awell.

I would just like him as a director better and consider him as more of a contributor to the horror genre if he'd get off the remake train and do something of his own.

[réÐþÁ†µ]

It's actually alot better than it was in the 90's. So it definatly isn't getting worse.

I'll agree with the 90s being worse.

However this decade isnt much better IMO when by the time you turn around and see 2010 pass by. Your probably going to have 80-90% of the 80s remade in some way, shape or form.

Remakes in their original form were a great idea. Make a new movie based off an existing one that wasnt that great or something and try to make it better. Now its more blatant than ever that the concept is farther from the truth than it ever was before.

Now that doesnt mean I havent enjoyed some of the remakes. Nevertheless most of them are what they are.

[steelba]

There bound to run out of remakes at some point. Then they'll be forced to come up with new ideas. Until then we'll be seeing more of em :(

[RustedChainsaw]

They are getting worse. It's very sad. And we all know the whole PG-13 thing is for a younger audience. Those damn kids! :cussing:

What needs to happen...
1. Stop all the remakes. Asian or not.
2. Bring back the R rating. Forget about the children.
3. Go back to more visceral special effects.
4. Make them gory, but not in a way that they'd be classified as torture porn.
5. Avoid casting novelties like Jessica Alba or Busta Rhymes.
6. Think of more creative titles. Seriously.
7. Make new slashers.

[deadites666]

I think there are less good coming out, yeah. But there are good ones "beyond the mainstream". Hell, there are even good mainstream ones too, except they don't get the attention they deserve IMO.

I also think it's the ideas behind the movies, mixed with what drives them to make them nowadays. I think what drives them seems to be the money and to have alot of people seeing the movie when it first comes out. They focus alot on that first week/viewing, I think. More new ideas and ignore the money/box office.

yeah id have to agree.they keep on coming up with remakes.some of em good and some of em horrible like the fog.but for good example is the 8 films to die for,those are all good except for two that are out.crazy eights wasnt that good.but anyways original movies like feast and murder party is some good ones.

[deadites666]

Not really when you consider the simple fact that he hasn't made anything original yet.

well what about high tension or haute tension? the french are coming out with some good movies though like frontier(S), and inside

[Slayer]

Time travel back to the 70's and 80's.

and IMO Diary of the Dead was not a bright light in horror history, it was pretty mediocre entry from George.

[Cataclysm]

well what about high tension or haute tension?

High Tension is nothing but a slight variation of the book Intensity.

[Metapher]

And Intensity, the movie/miniserie, was better too.

[Elwood]

I think we are simply forgetting what came before. Sure there are a lot of classics that came out but when you add them up and compare that number to what came out in the same decades you would see a difference.

Whats wrong today is we simply dont remember all the crap that came out in the 70's, 80's and 90's that completely surrounded the classics that we love today. Add to that the internet way of life now you have more eyes on the crap and less on some great classics.

Not saying we are getting better or worse, just a few less classics in the long run but still with the crap on the outside.

[Galerian]

I don't think that the genre as a whole is getting worse, you have to look beyond the hollywood remakes and most of the dtv bullshit. There are still gems being made - Behind the Mask, Inside, Redsin Tower, The Lost, etc...

The only thing that sucks is there's just not enough original concepts being made. As good of films as Aja's are and others like Frontier(s), we've seen it all before. But at least those movies give you a quality and visceral experience.

[dead breed]

They are getting worse. It's very sad. And we all know the whole PG-13 thing is for a younger audience. Those damn kids! :cussing:

What needs to happen...
1. Stop all the remakes. Asian or not.
2. Bring back the R rating. Forget about the children.
3. Go back to more visceral special effects.
4. Make them gory, but not in a way that they'd be classified as torture porn.
5. Avoid casting novelties like Jessica Alba or Busta Rhymes.
6. Think of more creative titles. Seriously.
7. Make new slashers.

You have a remake in your sig...they remake these movies because of people like you.

It's actually alot better than it was in the 90's. So it definatly isn't getting worse. If you just want to compare modern horror to all time classics then ofcoarse it will fall short. Maybe your love for the genre is waining.


Yeah I agree, today is better then the 90's. Its just hard to come up with new ideas when almost everything has been done. They just need to find different variations and ways of making these same ideas/story lines refreshing.

[Lucio Argento]

France has been churning out good horror movies lately and besides a few other movies (Inside, Diary of the Dead, Saw, Shaun of the Dead, The Abandoned, Redsin Tower, etc.), horror has been on the decline. Shit happens though. Roll with the punches.

P.S. Aja's movies, while enjoyable, are FAR from original.

[Dr. Phibes]

Mike: agreed 100 per cent! I think horror films tend to suffer from poor direction often enough. Mostly because it's a "starter" genre for a lot of filmmakers. Also, the writing tends to be stale because scripts are tailored for an eager audience: 13-20 year olds. If the writing were better, the project might attract a more seasoned director looking for a vehicle for his vision. Better writing and better direction make the difference between a film like HOUSE OF THE DEAD and a film like THE DESCENT. The simple fact is that hollywood, or any studio making a film is doing it for cash. When people want to make cash fast, shortcuts are taken. And as with any other product, the shortcuts blast quality.

I'd watch SESSION 9 over BOOGEYMAN any day -- I'll take THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE over SCREAM any day.

[RustedChainsaw]

You have a remake in your sig...they remake these movies because of people like you.

Ha-ha. Yup. :eyebrow:

Yeah, they're not all bad. I admit. But it's just that there aren't enough NEW movies to kinda counterbalance the release of remakes. It's remake after remake. Plus, with a lack of proper promotion, a lot of them tend to get familiarized, too much, with the original movie. "The Omen" had the servant and the rope, "The Hitcher" had the quartering scene. I guess I agree with what ReDPATH was saying. The goal behind the remakes used to be to explore what could be improved, and to add something new. Now it's just remakes for the sake of the years gone by since the original release.

[koolmike]

It's actually alot better than it was in the 90's. So it definatly isn't getting worse.

That's your opinion, not everyone's :dsp: (and learn how to use spell check :D)






If you just want to compare modern horror to all time classics then ofcoarse it will fall short. Maybe your love for the genre is waining.

I'm not doing that at all and that last line is ludicrous. Another insightful response from UHM's horror genius :lol:

Try getting involved in a discussion intelligently for once, without looking for an argument from me or anyone else.

[koolmike]

Mike: agreed 100 per cent! I think horror films tend to suffer from poor direction often enough. Mostly because it's a "starter" genre for a lot of filmmakers. Also, the writing tends to be stale because scripts are tailored for an eager audience: 13-20 year olds. If the writing were better, the project might attract a more seasoned director looking for a vehicle for his vision. Better writing and better direction make the difference between a film like HOUSE OF THE DEAD and a film like THE DESCENT. The simple fact is that hollywood, or any studio making a film is doing it for cash. When people want to make cash fast, shortcuts are taken. And as with any other product, the shortcuts blast quality.

I'd watch SESSION 9 over BOOGEYMAN any day -- I'll take THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE over SCREAM any day.

:coolbeer:
I agree that the shortcuts are hurting modern horror in the worst way.

[koolmike]

Actually, I didn't have a problem with the 90's that much at all.



Definitely some good ones.

[steelba]

Try getting involved in a discussion intelligently for once, without looking for an argument from me or anyone else.
A few people agreed with me, ofcoarse you didn't see that.
The only person that has a problem with my post is you :argue:

[koolmike]

A few people agreed with me, ofcoarse you didn't see that.
The only person that has a problem with my post is you :argue:

I saw nothing of the sort. (:D)

I speak for the silent majority :D

Anyway, you're wrong.

[koolmike]

The only thing that sucks is there's just not enough original concepts being made. .

Exactly, hence one of the reasons for this thread.

[deathslasher666]

:nod:

Turn to Asian film, that's what I did.

Most definitely. :nod:

[hackerslacker]

Its is getting much harder for "original concepts" to be made, thing about it, over the like 30+ years we have seen: masked killers, ghosts, death chasing people, monsters, bugs, santa clause, torture, possession, etc.

When someone comes up with an original idea, horror enthusiasts still rip it apart because it reminds them of TCM/Exorcist etc. and everyone writes it off.

I am dying to write a horror script, but im waiting till something slightly original pops into my head.

The best horror coming out right now is the mid range budget films, lets face it, low budget are worthless, and high budget cant get past a PG13 rating. Stuff like Frontier(s), Inside, Redsin Tower, AU are where it is at. I was truly terrified by these films that were shot on this budget since they felt like they were filmed as a horror movie, not someone with a camcorder, and not a film looking to attract the Friday night teens trying to impress execs.

I have no idea where in the hell SFX went to either. Hell, even Romero is using CGI now. Get back to using blood packs and latex!

Asian horror is doing something right, but I think it sucks.

[koolmike]

Me too. Too many ghost stories.

[snapicus]

While I do not believe the horror genre is degrading, I do feel the sheer volume of movies produced are making it increasingly difficult to find the better samples. As an overall trend, it seems mainstream movies are trying far too hard to appease a broader audience instead of targeting a particular genre fanset. What I think is missing the most, is the "on edge" feeling I still get while watching some of my older favorites. That main concept seems to have been replaced with a brief shock value scene in the latest "reimagining" of a treasured classic. (Although, I must admit seeing Trachtenburg take an ice skate to the head in Black Xmas was mildly entertaining.)

This is followed with the serious lack of special effects these days. I could not begin to surmise if it is a matter of money or just a lack of respect for the audience. For example, I will always make a point to watch a werewolf movie. However, that genre, in my opinion, has been nearly decimated by the horrific CGI used. Consider the fact it's beeen almost been thirty years since Rick Baker gave us the brilliance of American Werewolf in London and our progress has given us such SFX products as Skinwalkers. CGI is a privilege, not a right.

[koolmike]

While I do not believe the horror genre is degrading, I do feel the sheer volume of movies produced are making it increasingly difficult to find the better samples. As an overall trend, it seems mainstream movies are trying far too hard to appease a broader audience instead of targeting a particular genre fanset. What I think is missing the most, is the "on edge" feeling I still get while watching some of my older favorites. That main concept seems to have been replaced with a brief shock value scene in the latest "reimagining" of a treasured classic. (Although, I must admit seeing Trachtenburg take an ice skate to the head in Black Xmas was mildly entertaining.)

This is followed with the serious lack of special effects these days. I could not begin to surmise if it is a matter of money or just a lack of respect for the audience. For example, I will always make a point to watch a werewolf movie. However, that genre, in my opinion, has been nearly decimated by the horrific CGI used. Consider the fact it's beeen almost been thirty years since Rick Baker gave us the brilliance of American Werewolf in London and our progress has given us such SFX products as Skinwalkers. CGI is a privilege, not a right.

Well done snapicus. I agree 100% on your point about CGI.

[Detective John Kimble]

The genre is only getting better. Its about time they realized theres nothing left, nothing new to make.

Why not just retread and work backwards. Remake everything from the 70s, 80s and eventually 90s and see where it goes because unlike other genres, this genre has a ceiling thats near reach already.

[dead breed]

Its is getting much harder for "original concepts" to be made, thing about it, over the like 30+ years we have seen: masked killers, ghosts, death chasing people, monsters, bugs, santa clause, torture, possession, etc.

When someone comes up with an original idea, horror enthusiasts still rip it apart because it reminds them of TCM/Exorcist etc. and everyone writes it off.

I am dying to write a horror script, but im waiting till something slightly original pops into my head.

The best horror coming out right now is the mid range budget films, lets face it, low budget are worthless, and high budget cant get past a PG13 rating. Stuff like Frontier(s), Inside, Redsin Tower, AU are where it is at. I was truly terrified by these films that were shot on this budget since they felt like they were filmed as a horror movie, not someone with a camcorder, and not a film looking to attract the Friday night teens trying to impress execs.

I have no idea where in the hell SFX went to either. Hell, even Romero is using CGI now. Get back to using blood packs and latex!
Asian horror is doing something right, but I think it sucks.

I agree with everything in red. Exactly.

Me too. Too many ghost stories.

:nod:

[koolmike]

The genre is only getting better. Its about time they realized theres nothing left, nothing new to make.

.

There are alwaysl new ideas, just takes effort to make them bloom yo.

[Cataclysm]

Me too. Too many ghost stories.

Just like the US has too many slashers and Italy has too many Giallo's.

The reason they (Japan, China, Korea, etc) have so many ghost related flicks is because they have a very superstitious culture that also heavily believes in the supernatural world. So naturally that's what is scary to them, and obviously popular so that is what they are going to make. They have plenty of non-ghost flicks available, they just aren't being imported or marketed since that isn't what's popular at the moment.

Same reason why we have had so many slashers killing horny teenagers, we are afraid of someone fucking up our good time and chance at getting laid. :D

[koolmike]

Speak for yourself Cat :D

[koolmike]

I've seen what Asia has...

I think there's more variety and versatility in horror here in the US than in ASIA.

[Cataclysm]

The genre is only getting better. Its about time they realized theres nothing left, nothing new to make.

Why not just retread and work backwards. Remake everything from the 70s, 80s and eventually 90s and see where it goes because unlike other genres, this genre has a ceiling thats near reach already.

Wow, good job at being completely wrong. Get out of this thread, you're done.

All genres repeat themselves. Comedy, romance, thriller, suspense, comedy, drama, horror, etc. Have all reoccurring plots, themes, characters ideas. There isn't one genre that's booming with originality.

There are new ideas out there but the problem is new ideas are a gamble. People seem to forget Hollywood is first and foremost a business. They are there to make money through entertainment, so if they are going to drop several million dollars to make a movie then they are going to do something that will reassure them a return on their investment. Which is why there is an abundant of PG-13 and remakes, PG-13 automatically means it will be available to a wider audience and so far most remakes have been quite successful at the box office. So why stop making something that is clearly working? They don't have to put as much effort into a remake as they would with an original idea so them getting a bigger return is in their favor.

There are alot of people who enjoy horror movies, but the horror fans like the ones here who are demanding for something other than remakes and more original ideas. (Even though they demand all this and complain about PG-13 and remakes, they still pay to see them.) Make up a small percentage of the movie going audience, so you have to ask yourself who is a business, that's looking to make money going to cater to. A small community of horror fans, or the public in general?

To answer the original question. Do I think horror movies are getting worse? Yes and no. While I do believe mainstream horror flicks are complete garbage right now, we are just going through the normal progression of horror movies. There is a moment where starts to pick up, then it hits a plateau of most flicks only being mediocre or terrible being turned out with a few gems in between. It just seems worse now because the newest trend are remakes so we've already seen these movies before. The movies really are just as bad as they were when they had the constant stream of terrible flicks in the 90's and in the 80's and so on and so fourth.

[koolmike]

:lol: You're opening line made melaugh. In his case, it IS a tumor.

Thoughful reply Cat, thanx. I agree with alot of your points. But as far as taking a risk with a new idea, I can understand a new director/writer not taking one, but when veterans out there are keeping the dice in their pockets and refuse to roll them, that irks me a bit.

[Slasher Freak'97]

Well of Course Not, Seeing as they Remaking everything, Soon they will touch the Non-touchable Jaws,

[slimeisacharacter]

There isn't one genre that's booming with originality.

Animation/anime?

[Misfit]

Animation/anime?

porn?

[slimeisacharacter]

porn?

That too. Cat said any genre. Porn is a genre too.

[koolmike]

I like porn just the way it is. :D

[The Video Dead]

Time travel back to the 70's and 80's.

and IMO Diary of the Dead was not a bright light in horror history, it was pretty mediocre entry from George.

I have to agree very disappointed with that movie.:nod:

[koolmike]

I've seen it three times since I bought it last week...and it keeps getting better for me.

[skybrick]

I really cant tell if they are getting worse or not. I like a lot of movies from each decade and there sure are a lot of shit movies from each decade. I would have to say the majority of my favorite movies come from the 70's and this decade.

[koolmike]

Not the 80's?

[IKickAssForTheLord]

I've seen it three times since I bought it last week...and it keeps getting better for me.

okay I'm gonna watch that tonight... and see for myself, been hearin' bad reviews and I think u r the only one that I remember likin' it... I'll check it out tonight.

[skybrick]

Not the 80's?

My 3 favs. The all you can eat 70's
Halloween
Phantasm
Black Christmas

Two films I really loved this decade and crack my top 10
28 Days Later
Saw

Just saying that my favorites come from those decades, not downing the 80's because they brought out a hell of a lot of good movies.

[xTyTy2010x]

I'm just going to leave my response as "yes"

[dogbeith]

They are getting worse. It's very sad. And we all know the whole PG-13 thing is for a younger audience. Those damn kids! :cussing:

What needs to happen...
1. Stop all the remakes. Asian or not.
2. Bring back the R rating. Forget about the children.
3. Go back to more visceral special effects.
4. Make them gory, but not in a way that they'd be classified as torture porn.
5. Avoid casting novelties like Jessica Alba or Busta Rhymes.
6. Think of more creative titles. Seriously.
7. Make new slashers.

come up with something that hasit been done

[dogbeith]

His movies are awesome, don't hate.
has any body seen strangers yet if so is it any good

[dogbeith]

no thay need to make new movies that nobody thought of yet i haveit seen a remake that i liked thay all sucked

[koolmike]

has any body seen strangers yet if so is it any good

Goin' Sunday night.

[dead breed]

Mike, Overall Diary is disappointing. The ending was pure crap and there were tooo many social msgs in this movie. It was very disappointing overall.