The Horror Thread - Part 1

[redhawk23]

I watched Nightmare on Elmstreet 4 and 5 last night. I had seen 5 when I was a little kid. Those movies are pretty damn awesome. I love this series for its inventiveness and Dream Master and Dream Child have some crazy moments. Both feature really good production design and effects.

 

[GENERAL RAAM582]

Yeah, I've always liked the NoES films, except for 2, and I thought Freddy's Dead was kinda anticlimactic for being the "final" film. I wish Netflix had them, they have some F13 films though.

 

[66 Face]

As far as movies that aren't out yet. Um...Byzantium looks good and isn't out on DVD for awhile (not being released theatrically). I've seen The Conspiracy, which is a pretty good found footage horror that should be on DVD soon. I hear that the sci-fi film Europa Report has Horror elements. There's probably a few more that I'm forgetting.

The problem I have with Carrie is that they show you the entire movie, including the "money shots" in the previews. It's a bizarre marketing ploy of "Remember when you liked this...here it is again!" They seem to not realize that the vast majority of theater goers under the age of 35 (maybe even older) have not seen the original or read the book.

Not sure if you've seen the Maniac remake but its downright awesome. I think its the best horror movie that I've seen in the theaters since 28 Days Later.

 

[the last son]

Is the conjuring any good? I've heard it was.

 

[Tanin]

Maniac was pretty awesome. Conjuring is great but a lot find it boring as it doesn't really strive to do anything new.

 

[Heretic]

Not sure if you've seen the Maniac remake but its downright awesome. I think its the best horror movie that I've seen in the theaters since 28 Days Later.

I did see Maniac...and need to see it again to really finalize my opinion. I have some issues with it (I hate the scenes where he remembers his mom...it is an overused cliche, and broke the first person perspective of the film). But I did like how they managed to make the characters more than just cardboard cutouts (or mannequins, if you will).

 

[Heretic]

The Conjuring is really over-rated. It wasn't scary and certainly didn't show anything that I haven't seen in a hundred other films. It is as good as most of the Hollywood ghost movies...EXCEPT...that it was nice enough to not have ridiculous plot holes and a story that contradicts itself. I guess that puts it above most mainstream Horror films...but it certainly won't be in my top 10 favorite Horror films by the end of the year.

 

[redhawk23]

Is your jadedness with the genre really the film's fault? The Conjuring is quite conventional but it puts those conventions to good use. While not innovative, the film really built up its tension and intensity gradually and steadily over the course of the film in a way a lot of similar movies have failed to do in recent years. Movies like last year's "The Possession" or really even the Paranormal Activity films never really move past the kinds of things that happen in just the first act of The Conjuring. The characters were all reasonably easy to empathize and level with. I wasn't just waiting for them to be picked off or whatever. While the film may be "cliched" I would say that is well crafted, once upon a time cliches were just elements that became overused and misused. This film puts those conventions back into proper practice and it plays well for a wide audience of people.

 

[Piper Maru]

I still haven't seen The Conjuring. I hear it's very good, I think I'll check it out later today.

 

[Heretic]

Is your jadedness with the genre really the film's fault? The Conjuring is quite conventional but it puts those conventions to good use. While not innovative, the film really built up its tension and intensity gradually and steadily over the course of the film in a way a lot of similar movies have failed to do in recent years. Movies like last year's "The Possession" or really even the Paranormal Activity films never really move past the kinds of things that happen in just the first act of The Conjuring. The characters were all reasonably easy to empathize and level with. I wasn't just waiting for them to be picked off or whatever. While the film may be "cliched" I would say that is well crafted, once upon a time cliches were just elements that became overused and misused. This film puts those conventions back into proper practice and it plays well for a wide audience of people.

I am jaded. It likely does not help that I've seen everything in The Conjuring a million times. They do get points for doing these things well though.

As you mentioned, The Conjuring is certainly better than The Last Exorcism 2, Haunting in Connecticut 2, A Haunting at Silver Falls etc.

Also...I'm a big fan of Shanley Caswell...and the acting was good overall.

I don't mean to come off as knocking the film. The Conjuring is better than most of the Horror movies I've seen this year...but it is hardly the scariest movie since the Exorcist (though...I'm so bored with that claim from every movie that it should be retired). I was not bowled over by it...I merely enjoyed it for what it was and then moved on.

So yeah...maybe I come off a bit harsh. I'd say at the moment The Conjuring is just outside of my top 10 favorite Horror movies of 2013 (and I've seen dozens).

 

[Piper Maru]

Another movie I've been meaning to check out is The Orphanage. What are your opinions on it?

 

[Heretic]

I'll add that, in defense of mainstream Horror movies, at least they tend to get decent acting. Ethan Hawke has been particularly strong is his recent string of Horror movies. The lead acting was even a bright spot in the otherwise awful Dark Skies (forgot who was in that). Most indie films have subpar acting and special effects, which obviously the big Hollywood films have as their strengths.

 

[Heretic]

Just watched No One Lives from...ugh...WWE Films. This is a good opportunity to check out Luke Evans, who will be the star of the reboot of The Crow. There are scenes in this where he gives off a bit of a Crow vibe.

It's weird that it came out the same week as You're Next, since both kind of deal with criminals stumbling onto more than they can handle. That isn't really a spoiler, since the trailer and DVD cover give away pretty much everything that could be called a twist.

The concept takes it far (and it has to), since this sort of thing is still fairly rare in Horror. Unlike You're Next, this one gleefully spills blood and guts all over the place (Robert Hall and his crew do a great/disgusting job, as usual).

The acting is hit and miss. Adelaide Clemons is beautiful, but unconvincing. She was recently in the Great Gatsby, so something is working for her. WWE wrestler Brodus Clay is in it...and...you know. I will add that now that WWE has the rights to Scooby Doo and Flintstones, they should cast Brodus as Fred Flintstone if they make an all wrestler version (which would be the most awesomely terrible thing ever! John Cena as Barney!). I can't stand America Olivo, but I have liked Laura Ramsey since she stole the show in The Ruins, so it balances out.

All in all...look...when you see WWE Films at the beginning, you know you aren't getting high art. This movie is fairly effective at being a popcorn flick, but certainly isn't scary. It's another Horror that borders on being an Action movie. I wish it had been a bit more over the top in tone to match the gore...maybe a bit of gallow's humor thrown in.

 

[Rocketman]

Okay, so I saw The Human Centipede when it was first released on DVD (was it 2010?), and I hated it. It's not my thing, and I don't care for that type of Horror. It's not even Horror to me, honestly. Not only is it not scary, but it's almost purposely a self-aware comedy. I don't even know what genre to call it, and that's not a good thing.

So of course, what do I do? I decide to watch The Human Centipede II last night, and again, I hated it. Even more so. I just cannot wrap my head around why people are fans of those films (and that goes for Hostel and Saw too). Don't get me wrong, I don't disrespect it or am saying that those people are wrong... It's just not for me.

Maybe I'm too old fashioned, but I want old school, traditional Horror. I want to be scared, not grossed out. -- That's the key, I think. Excessive gore/blood automatically loses me. Now, unless it is being promoted specifically as a comedy - like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland - I have no problem with this, and I love those particular films.

Excessive gore, to me, feels like the easy way out. It doesn't require any skill or talent in creating suspense or building horror through the art of cinema. It's like fast food. Give me good ol' scares.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Okay, so I saw The Human Centipede when it was first released on DVD (was it 2010?), and I hated it. It's not my thing, and I don't care for that type of Horror. It's not even Horror to me, honestly. Not only is it not scary, but it's almost purposely a self-aware comedy. I don't even know what genre to call it, and that's not a good thing.

So of course, what do I do? I decide to watch The Human Centipede II last night, and again, I hated it. Even more so. I just cannot wrap my head around why people are fans of those films (and that goes for Hostel and Saw too). Don't get me wrong, I don't disrespect it or am saying that those people are wrong... It's just not for me.

Maybe I'm too old fashioned, but I want old school, traditional Horror. I want to be scared, not grossed out. -- That's the key, I think. Excessive gore/blood automatically loses me. Now, unless it is being promoted specifically as a comedy - like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland - I have no problem with this, and I love those particular films.

Excessive gore, to me, feels like the easy way out. It doesn't require any skill or talent in creating suspense or building horror through the art of cinema. It's like fast food. Give me good ol' scares.

I'm all for gore if that is what the movie is promising, so it doesn't bother me. However blood is not an excuse to not scare me, and I agree, it's not really horror if it doesn't do that for me.
I hate the Human Centipede movies, they're thoughtless dreck to me, and just bad films. They're only there for shock value, and I don't care to give them my time. Hostel I don't find near as shocking, but I don't like them either.

I will defend Saw though, at least the first few. They actually have a running story that works, and despite the gore actually build suspense and have a story to tell

 

[chamber-music]

I liked The Conjuring. The movie brings nothing new to the possession/haunted house/ghost genre but it well made.

As far as movies that aren't out yet. Um...Byzantium looks good and isn't out on DVD for awhile (not being released theatrically). I've seen The Conspiracy, which is a pretty good found footage horror that should be on DVD soon. I hear that the sci-fi film Europa Report has Horror elements. There's probably a few more that I'm forgetting.

The Conspiracy was better than I thought it would be.

Byzantium is pretty good. The gothic scenes in the past were the best bits.

I was disappointed by Europa Report. I found it a little boring and generic.

 

[Loki882]

At this point, I'm not sure that it is possible to bring anything really new to the possession/ghost genre, its all been done. What you can do is make a good movie and take familiar concepts and play with them. I just watched the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre last night and its still as bat**** insane and disturbing as I remember. Also, there isn't really all that much blood and gore in the movie, its all left to the imagination (Tobe Hooper clearly took a cue form Hitchcock in that regard).

 

[chamber-music]

I think there is always new things you can bringing to a genre if you have enough imagination.

Look at the J-Horror boom at the turn of the century which incorporated modern technology into ghost stories (The Ring, One Missed Call, Pulse)

 

[Heretic]

You could say that pretty much every type of film as been bled dry. Romantic comedies seem to all be the exact same story at this point. Then, someone will come along and add something new...and get ripped off for the next few decades.

When it comes to haunted house/possession movies...we recently had films like Lovely Molly and The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh. Maybe these weren't perfect films, but for me they added a little something...just enough to make me feel like I wasn't watching a movie I had already seen. (and as mentioned above, the J Horror films revolutionized the ghost story and those innovations are now beaten to death as they've been reused over and over again in our theaters).

If you have nothing new to add to the genre then...I don't know...don't make the film. Too many movies are made just to be a product (both indie and mainstream). "Hey, people like zombies...let's get some hot people together and have them run from zombies" should not be the plot of your movie. Think outside the box a bit, come up with some new angle, or don't make a zombie movie.

 

[chamber-music]

Hollywood's modus operandi has always been if some thing is successful then let's milk it dry.

After Halloween was a success in the late 70's there was a boom of slasher flicks many of which offered very little new to the slasher horror sub genre. For every good or original movie that is successful you will find 20 terrible knock off's.

 

[Heretic]

And...you have idiots like myself (and probably you) who watch the rip-offs. I contend that I do this because I'm such a fan of the genre that I'll watch almost anything, hoping that there is something unique brought to the table, or great acting, some message or point etc.

 

[Heretic]

You're Next was expected to debut at #1 for the weekend box office...I saw predictions of around 20 million for the weekend (or slightly higher).

That didn't happen, and the estimates kept falling. It looks to debut in 6th place with only 7 million. Definitely not another success story for the genre.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Anyone seen Terror Train? I bought the new Blu Ray as a blind buy, hoping for something I'll like, and haven't watched it yet.

 

[redhawk23]

You're Next was expected to debut at #1 for the weekend box office...I saw predictions of around 20 million for the weekend (or slightly higher).

That didn't happen, and the estimates kept falling. It looks to debut in 6th place with only 7 million. Definitely not another success story for the genre.

The marketing for that film has been awful. It totally misrepresented the tone of the film. Anything unique or intriguing about the film was absent from the commercials, particularly the TV spots.

I don't know hy Lionsgate sat on that film for 2 years

 

[Heretic]

Unfortunately, with both You're Next and No One Lives, the more you know about the plot, the less you get out of the viewing experience...since I'm guessing that the audience was supposed to be surprised to see Sharni Vinson prepared to fight back (in You're Next).

I went in knowing pretty much everything...thanks to years of hype on Horror websites...so I do feel like I enjoyed it less than I should have.