The State of Horror today

What's your opinion on the state of horror today? Do you think the same tropes are used over and over again? Is there a lack of originality? What could be done better?

Considering I more or less refuse to watch any movie released in the past five years without hearing strong word of mouth first, I usually pass, so I'd have to say not good. Whenever I scroll through the newer movies released to Shudder, particularly Shudder originals, I'm struck by how similar the synopsize are. I don't feel modern Hollywood Mandates have helped at all. When certain types of characters have to be portrayed a certain way at all times, it makes for very static characters, and very unoriginal and just flat out boring storylines. That's why modern movies feel so unoriginal, you're very limited in type of movie you can make anymore. Could you even make a original IP slasher movie nowadays without having to jump through hoops to make sure all your check boxes are marked, and which characters you can do what with?

I'm Not a Goalie wrote:Considering I more or less refuse to watch any movie released in the past five years without hearing strong word of mouth first, I usually pass, so I'd have to say not good. Whenever I scroll through the newer movies released to Shudder, particularly Shudder originals, I'm struck by how similar the synopsize are. I don't feel modern Hollywood Mandates have helped at all. When certain types of characters have to be portrayed a certain way at all times, it makes for very static characters, and very unoriginal and just flat out boring storylines. That's why modern movies feel so unoriginal, you're very limited in type of movie you can make anymore. Could you even make a original IP slasher movie nowadays without having to jump through hoops to make sure all your check boxes are marked, and which characters you can do what with?

Good points here. It seems like every movie you watch in the slasher genre for example, you know who is going to die and in what order. There always seems to be at least one stoner, one jerk, and naturally, a group of people who go where they aren't supposed to go despite being told and seeing obvious warning signs.

I think we're in a good age for horror films. There are so many of them out there getting released all the time and very often you can find one that is actually pretty effective. I don't need the films to be amazingly well-produced but as long as they have a decent idea and execute it, I'm happy.

There have been some real gems in the last ten years. Hidden gems, flawed ones but still well worth watching.

I find that the ones that get the most hype tend to disappoint the most. Like The Black Phone. I thought that was gash to be honest.

t8mc wrote:I think we're in a good age for horror films.  There are so many of them out there getting released all the time and very often you can find one that is actually pretty effective.  I don't need the films to be amazingly well-produced but as long as they have a decent idea and execute it, I'm happy.

There have been some real gems in the last ten years.  Hidden gems, flawed ones but still well worth watching.

I find that the ones that get the most hype tend to disappoint the most.  Like The Black Phone.  I thought that was gash to be honest.

Really? I liked the black phone it was something a mix of the lovely bones.

Jason Voorhees wrote:

t8mc wrote:I think we're in a good age for horror films.  There are so many of them out there getting released all the time and very often you can find one that is actually pretty effective.  I don't need the films to be amazingly well-produced but as long as they have a decent idea and execute it, I'm happy.

There have been some real gems in the last ten years.  Hidden gems, flawed ones but still well worth watching.

I find that the ones that get the most hype tend to disappoint the most.  Like The Black Phone.  I thought that was gash to be honest.

Really? I liked the black phone it was something a mix of the lovely bones.

yeah I didn't really get on with the supernatural aspect of it. Like it didn't fit in with what was basically a kidnapping film. It felt like two separate stories at times.

t8mc wrote:

Jason Voorhees wrote:

t8mc wrote:I think we're in a good age for horror films.  There are so many of them out there getting released all the time and very often you can find one that is actually pretty effective.  I don't need the films to be amazingly well-produced but as long as they have a decent idea and execute it, I'm happy.

There have been some real gems in the last ten years.  Hidden gems, flawed ones but still well worth watching.

I find that the ones that get the most hype tend to disappoint the most.  Like The Black Phone.  I thought that was gash to be honest.

Really? I liked the black phone it was something a mix of the lovely bones.

yeah I didn't really get on with the supernatural aspect of it.  Like it didn't fit in with what was basically a kidnapping film.  It felt like two separate stories at times.

I heard they are making a sequel but given that what would a sequel even be with the villian dead?

Jason Voorhees wrote:

t8mc wrote:

Jason Voorhees wrote:

t8mc wrote:I think we're in a good age for horror films.  There are so many of them out there getting released all the time and very often you can find one that is actually pretty effective.  I don't need the films to be amazingly well-produced but as long as they have a decent idea and execute it, I'm happy.

There have been some real gems in the last ten years.  Hidden gems, flawed ones but still well worth watching.

I find that the ones that get the most hype tend to disappoint the most.  Like The Black Phone.  I thought that was gash to be honest.

Really? I liked the black phone it was something a mix of the lovely bones.

yeah I didn't really get on with the supernatural aspect of it.  Like it didn't fit in with what was basically a kidnapping film.  It felt like two separate stories at times.

I heard they are making a sequel but given that what would a sequel even be with the villian dead?

I hope it doesn't turn out to be a Saw franchise with disciples of the original vilian.

I think this is a good time for horror. Sure, it's not the 90s or 80s, but horrors are still produced on a large scale, which means everyone can pick something of an interest. I'm personally happy about the revival of old franchises - Halloween, Child's Play and Scream, to be exact. Luckily horror is something that every generation of kids will get easily associated with, so they will still keep making them, which is to me is more important than the fact that they're worse than something that has been made decades ago.

Ivan1987 wrote:I think this is a good time for horror. Sure, it's not the 90s or 80s, but horrors are still produced on a large scale, which means everyone can pick something of an interest. I'm personally happy about the revival of old franchises - Halloween, Child's Play and Scream, to be exact. Luckily horror is something that every generation of kids will get easily associated with, so they will still keep making them, which is to me is more important than the fact that they're worse than something that has been made decades ago.

I just miss practical effects and legitimate horror none of the CGI and Jumpscare nonsense they are putting out.

Conjuring? Annabelle? And so many others are just cheap to me they are good stories but I thought I'll be watching something with actual substance.

Jason Voorhees wrote:

Ivan1987 wrote:I think this is a good time for horror. Sure, it's not the 90s or 80s, but horrors are still produced on a large scale, which means everyone can pick something of an interest. I'm personally happy about the revival of old franchises - Halloween, Child's Play and Scream, to be exact. Luckily horror is something that every generation of kids will get easily associated with, so they will still keep making them, which is to me is more important than the fact that they're worse than something that has been made decades ago.

I just miss practical effects and legitimate horror none of the CGI and Jumpscare nonsense they are putting out.

Conjuring? Annabelle? And so many others are just cheap to me they are good stories but I thought I'll be watching something with actual substance.

I find it funny how I can sit with other horror fans i these movies and marvel how the CGI just makes it look so..... unnatural???? What do YOU think?

I will grant there's not room for original plot lines and ideas for new horror movies, but I do believe there's room to make good movies out of a single bit from an older movies. I recently watched Last Voyage of the Demeter, which takes place on the ship Dracula traveled to London on and found it to be pretty good. Subplots and supporting stories can make for great viewing if written correctly and honors its source material. Now while I will admit there's not much you can with an F13 or Halloween subplot, there's still plenty of ideas out there that can be delved into. But some movies kinda need to let the franchise rest for a bit, case in point Amityville Horror and Living Dead. This can be a great time for new horror movies without overdoing it on tried and true franchises, at least for a bit. Give it a couple of years and then let a fresh idea insert itself. As the saying goes, the past is merely a template for the future

SonofOdin6039 wrote:Living Dead

WHOA! There I love the Living Dead franchise! Zombies are awesome lol!

Jason Voorhees wrote:

SonofOdin6039 wrote:Living Dead

WHOA! There I love the Living Dead franchise! Zombies are awesome lol!

How about The Walking Dead?

ThePunisher wrote:

Jason Voorhees wrote:

SonofOdin6039 wrote:Living Dead

WHOA! There I love the Living Dead franchise! Zombies are awesome lol!

How about The Walking Dead?

I love the Walking Dead

I was watching it quite literally when it released.

The comics were prior but the TV series did everything differently and I love it.

Jason Voorhees wrote:

ThePunisher wrote:

Jason Voorhees wrote:

SonofOdin6039 wrote:Living Dead

WHOA! There I love the Living Dead franchise! Zombies are awesome lol!

How about The Walking Dead?

I love the Walking Dead

I was watching it quite literally when it released.

The comics were prior but the TV series did everything differently and I love it.

Were the comics any good????

ThePunisher wrote:

Jason Voorhees wrote:

ThePunisher wrote:

Jason Voorhees wrote:

SonofOdin6039 wrote:Living Dead

WHOA! There I love the Living Dead franchise! Zombies are awesome lol!

How about The Walking Dead?

I love the Walking Dead

I was watching it quite literally when it released.

The comics were prior but the TV series did everything differently and I love it.

Were the comics any good????

Yes it was ALOT different but in my opinion the TV series was more better than the comics.

Jason Voorhees wrote:

ThePunisher wrote:

Jason Voorhees wrote:

ThePunisher wrote:

Jason Voorhees wrote:

SonofOdin6039 wrote:Living Dead

WHOA! There I love the Living Dead franchise! Zombies are awesome lol!

How about The Walking Dead?

I love the Walking Dead

I was watching it quite literally when it released.

The comics were prior but the TV series did everything differently and I love it.

Were the comics any good????

Yes it was ALOT different but in my opinion the TV series was more better than the comics.

I've never read too many comics.