Horror Movies Today: a Rant of Sorts

Horror,
In the 80s growing up, good horror movies were things involving Freddy, Jason, Michael, movies about gates, ghosts, and werewolves. I think back to those times and remember that Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers both gave me nightmares.
These days, those movies are some of my favorites still. It has been a long while since one of those movies scared me, and it almost seems like today this is true for everyone.
With each horror movie release, or TV show, we find all of the sub genres of horror. There have been some great releases lately, each offering something that tries to top the others. It is almost like the Olympics, each movie has to beat each movie’s record of shock moments just like the athletes set new records each year. While I revel in all this gory goodness it has really left me to worry about a few things.

Much like music fans thinking that music cannot do anything new, have we reached a point in horror movies where there just are not many stories left to tell? Has the world of horror evolved to the point where we must start retelling all of the same stories told three decades ago or less?
Do not get me wrong…I absolutely love the fact that some of my old favorites are being modernized with current technologies. So far, the stories have not even been butchered that bad. However, what about new horror? Who is the next Freddy, or Michael? Who is the next icon to come in horror to replace Jigsaw, or Jason? So far, many have tried and fallen very short to capture the nightmares that I had as a younger person. This brings me to my next point.
We have all gotten so used to the horror movies that it is rare they affect many of us in the same ways that they use to. It is very tough these days to creep me out, I have to say two moments in the Unborn did so recently, not sure what it was about those moments. I will look again when it comes out on Blu-ray to see if I can pin point what made me feel, well, scared, during those moments.
But really, why am I so desensitized to feeling scared during a movie anymore?
I feel it is this very same reason that horror critics are so harsh in their reviews of movies and shows. Let’s take the movie Mirrors as an example. This movie, to me, was wonderful! From start to finish I felt I got my movie ticket’s worth, and could not wait to see it again.
Yet, most critics I read gave it a very hard time, citing the same old scare types, boring acting, bad special effects even.
I find myself these days not reading horror reviews done by horror enthusiasts because they just are desensitized to what they are watching. They spend too much time picking out the wrong things to really pay attention to what is going on.

The world of horror has changed a lot over the years. As a kid, I wanted to become a specialist in the ways of special effects. I wanted to be the guy figuring out ways to make people explode and more. Alas, my talents ended up putting me where I am today. But I still enjoy watching it and LOVE the special features on DVD where they show the break down of some of the scenes.
Movies have to keep that balance as well. Some of the best movies rarely show the blood, and when they do so, they show it at the right moments. Other movies use lots of it, bucket after bucket, gallon after gallon of good oozyness. Those movies also work well when done right.
So, in the age where we are seeing remakes of our favorites, as well as some big blockbuster gore fests that dive into the psyche. We are missing in my opinion two great things.
The first, a Youtube style site dedicated to horror only. Not one of these big places like Fear net where they produce and share favorites invite you to upload stuff. BUT, a real perfect piece of the puzzle that will hold contests and more. I think we have that piece now though, on Friday the 13th of February 2009 Fearvid.netlaunched.. I am going to be blogging this very article there and keeping my video blog, and reviews there. I challenge you to do the same.
The other pieces of the puzzle we are missing… We need another GREAT zombie franchise. Time to remake it and actually put out something new with it. Romero did well with what he had, and the remakes of those classics did well too. Romero’s new work has been outstanding. But what next? We need a new trilogy of them. If Harry Potter can get that many movies out why can’t a good horror zombie franchise do well?
The other thing we need is a GOOD horror Vampire series of some kind that actually sticks around.
Blade the TV series was OK, but in the end it got cancelled. Another good one was Moonlight, but that was cancelled as well.
Why do horror enthusiasts not get behind TV shows like this? Anyways, I think a GOOD vampire franchise needs to at last happen. There are many examples of bad, mediocre, and OK, vampire movies, but we need a GOOD franchise. Underworld was pretty decent, but not horror really, more action. We need to bring back Dracula into this day and age and see how he actually works.
I love werewolves as well so we might as well add them to the mix. The American Werewolves were good, but I think it is time for a new franchise.
Since we are doing remakes, let’s see some money thrown behind these.
Although as with many other things, horror critics will still give it all a bad name. Instead of reading that drivel, let’s remember what horror is about. Did you get a creepy feeling? Why, or why not? Simple isn’t it?

2 Responses to “Horror Movies Today: a Rant of Sorts”

1. movie guru says:

   March 5, 2009 at 5:44 pm

   Can we make suggestion for features we’d want to see on the site?
2. Maureen "MO" Whelan says:

   March 18, 2009 at 10:10 pm

   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

   Maureen “Mo” Whelan’s First Traditional Art Exhibit at Ruin:

   Los Angeles, Ca, March 16, 2009 – Maureen “Mo” Whelan producer and co-star of the indie horror film, “Client 14” will be having her first traditional art exhibit this Friday, March 20th 2009 at 10:00pm located at the Ruin in the Los Angeles Monte Cristo. She will be displaying an oil painting and a
   charcoal drawing which are showcased in “Client 14.” Mo’s other artwork consists of oil paintings, charcoal drawings and pencil drawings. Patrick O’Bell the Director and writer of “Client 14” and
   owner of Probell Films will also be making a special appearance at the art exhibit.

   Mo’s exhibit will be part of a group exhibit by curator K. Howell. K. Howell is also an artist and curates various art exhibits throughout the local Los Angeles area. Other confirmed artist exhibiting this Friday are Meaghan O’ Keefe, Black Rose Immortal, Ghost in the Machine, Vic Chen, Jacqueline Lincoln, Lynn Decent, Dark Light L.A., and one of Mo’s main photographers Saynt Mykl, who is responsible for her
   recent set of photographs that can be seen on several websites. Ruin is a weekly underground Goth / Rock club located at 3100 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

   Please visit http://www.probellfilms.com for more information regarding Maureen “Mo” Whelan, Patrick O’Bell, Probell Films and “Client 14.”

   For more information regarding K. Howell visit http://theecurator.tripod.com/index.html, Saynt Mykl visit http://www.sayntmykl.com and Ruin visit http://www.ladead.com.

   Media Contact:

   Mo Whelan
   Producer / Actress / Public Relations
   Probell Films
   probellfilms@yahoo.com