Which is the Reigning Culture/Nationality of Horror

[ASoron0424]

I'm not really verbose when it comes to foreign films, but the past year and a half with a Netflix subscription has helped me put my foot in the door. But it seems on the boards that there's a constant reference to the masterpieces of horror from Italy's past (70s and 80s more than anything it seems) and Japan's masterpieces of the present, or at least the past decade or so. So I was just wondering, which is the reigning culture or nationality of horror ("culture" incase anyone's argument needs to go into specifics, like Japanese indie, etc.) in everyone's opinion?
What are the major distinctions between that nation's and America's movies?
What are the major distinctions between the audiences?

[steelba]

Definatly America... Spaulding :stone:

[K.I.N.G]

American horror has always been the best.

[BooBerry]

I would saw American, then the French.

[dead breed]

Of course we're going to say american. If you posted this over in the UK on a site they would prob say UK.

[K.I.N.G]

I'm not American, and it's true, American horror is most definitely the greatest.

[koolmike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjwzxKzvWUE&feature=related

[Crazy "Tbagz" Ralph]

american
then french

[ASoron0424]

Of course we're going to say american. If you posted this over in the UK on a site they would prob say UK.

Well I wouldn't say admitting that another country has a better knack in a certain genre of movies is really a threat to one's patriotism. But I'm surprised America was the popular vote here, though I guess that's just for horror in general. Any horror subgenres where another country's movies blow ours out of the water? It definitely seems Japan has more of a knack for ghost stories...

[koolmike]

I love UK's Hammer Horror Series (Brides of Dracula / Curse of the Werewolf / Phantom of the Opera (1962) / Paranoiac / Kiss of the Vampire / Nightmare / Night Creatures / Evil of Frankenstein) (1963)

[steelba]

I like Italian/French/British horror too, but U.S.A. is #1.

[hackerslacker]

USA
Italy
france
Japan

[Godfatha]

France and Germany have been making some great flicks as of late.
The main difference? The Euro market isn't remaking itself ad nausea, and are trying to put a bit of deeper meaning in their flicks. Even when they're shit (Frontieres), they still try harder than anything coming from the US.

[Lucio Argento]

Right now, the French have the advantage if we're talking about the last couple of years. In the history of horror, I'd say that America edges out Italy, but it's A LOT closer than people think.... Argento, Fulci, and Bava are 3 of the best horror directors there ever were, and they're all Italian. Sergio Martino and Dario Argento have a clear strangehold on the giallo genre that will never be relinquished.

The UK had the Hammer Horror period which gave us some masterpieces. Peeping Tom, which is also a masterpiece and came out the same year as Psycho, is from the UK as well.

Japan has always been known for their ghost movies and if it weren't for older American movies like House on Haunted Hill (Price), The Haunting '63, etc, Japan would have a stranglehold on that genre.

Every country has something going for it. Overall though, in the grand scheme of things, America has had the best and has been the most consistent of all the countries.

[deathslasher666]

Got to love the American horror.

After that, I'm a fan of Japanese and Korean horror.