Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Lots of feedback and great ideas brought up this year. But since I'm on another computer at the moment and too lazy to find those I wrote down, I'll let those who brought them up mention them or I'll eventually get around to posting them ...whatever comes first.

And before someone brings up the inevitable "Isn't it a bit early?" comment, well, not really. I always post this thread every year immediately before the results thread goes up. Otherwise the link at the end of that thread would be completely useless. :)

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I think the checklist could use some revision. I'll post more later but

1. Merging the extraterrestial and space checklist items would balamce the sci-fi emphasis.
2. Delete the MPAA ratings item because NC17 and G ratings seem sparse.
3. For prize drawings I think, donations permitting, theme night and subset completion should both be separate eligibilities (both involve a but of effort).
4. Add a checklist item for a nation of origin rotating each year.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

The first thing that comes to mind is this whole Thrillers issue. I think it would be easiest to add to the "What counts?" a line that goes something like: Qualifying Thrillers (ie, Jaws); use your best judgement.

It just seems like it comes up every year. I think some thrillers really are close enough to horror that people shouldn't have to ask.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I think my main suggestion was to give more user choice in the checklists that many of the other Challenges have implemented.

List all 15 decades of film history, but require just 10. List 20 actors but require 15. List 30 subgenres but require 25. Etc/etc

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

si

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

i brought that up also which I believe the criterion challenge uses this? I know i had to force myself thru alot of movies to complete it.

i also think we should pick subsets based on what can be found streaming imo makes it easier and gives people a chance to be exposed to different films without having to buy them.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

This. Many other challenges have moved to this type system and it seems to work rather well. It gives good variety but provides a way to avoid actors/directors/films/etc. you do not like or do not own.
Due to the somewhat flaky/unstable nature of what's available for streaming I'd go with this only if the streaming service(s) used are available free. Otherwise I'd rather just purchase a copy of a film if needed/available as I can't justify subscribing to services that, for me, provide little return.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I'd also agree with the checklist flexibility. I've never done the checklist for this challenge, but it's slightly more possible that I'd give it go if we made this change.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I forget what I sent you earlier but a horror bingo aspect to the checklist could be awesome.

Things like;

Sex with the dead or recently dead
Chainsaw fatality
Somebody says "I'll Be Right Back"

ect

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Suggestion: Have Chad continue kicking ass with hosting the challenge! This one is unparalleled.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Loved the theme nights matching subset films. One of the most entertaining parts of the challenge. I still wished for a bit more participation in the individual film discussions, but it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Even though I didn't partake in any of the discussions, I agree. We all have our own preferences about how we like to do the challenge, but for me, it would more enjoyable if there was more of a focus on good discussions and analysis instead of simply seeing how many titles you can watch in a month.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Undeadcow did a terrific job with his inputs on the subsets. I really enjoyed reading those "intro" reviews. Good job.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Thanks. I do wish there was more subset discussion, those films are half the fun. I think we were nearly the only people to comment on Fascination.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

How about a chat room or something for the subset nights? Some friends from college and I used to have a chat room during the Oscars and it was a blast.

Maybe there would be more discussion for those if everyone were around at the same time watching the same thing.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I just enjoy things how they are. I understand that with more and more technological advances develop other people will view horror movies in different ways. But for me I just like to watch movies the old fashioned way- DVD or what shows up on TV. I understand that in the upcoming years this will be a thing of the past also. But again, i'm just happy the way things are with the challenge and I enjoy it every year.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Eliminate Wild Cards completely... would elimated people arguing why they included something. Just rely on IMDB, AllMovies.com or similar as to determine if something is horror

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Agreed.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I think wild cards are perfect - their usage minimizes arguments, instead of enlarging them.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I don't know about that, The Amazing Spiderman started a pretty big arguement

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I'd vote against wild cards, mainly because of that film/issue.

If something really is borderline, it's not too hard to find it listed as horror somewhere, anywhere. Even going off what amazon.com lists something as would be fine and I think they really stretch it at times. If you can find a place listing something as horror, I think it's fine in most cases(not counting something like a blog).

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I agree, wild cards seem essential to a smooth challenge... even if people use them for Spider-man. I think wildcards keep down the challenge police in check and allow people to watch some atypical choices if they prefer minor deviations.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

this is basically my stance...watching spiderman seems ridiculous, but it doesn't bother me if someone does its theyre choice.

i figured wildcards would be phased out once tv got added as i only use them for shorts for the checklist...most of the halloween specials i watch on tv i don't bother listing

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I like the way we do TV now. So many shows these days are better than theatrical offerings. Glad to be able to include horror tv in the mix.

I say the wild cards should stay. It keeps some genre arguments in check and gives you just a bit of needed flexibility. They are your wild cards, use them however you want to. Want to count Love Actually? Knock yourself out. Besides, it's not like we get 104 off them or anything.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I just like the Wild Cards because they increase my numbers, which makes me feel guilty, so I in-turn watch more legit movies to counter-act my guilty feeling. On another note, I feel I have to use Wild Cards because they're part of the challenge and I want to do as much of the challenge as I can (albeit I missed the checklist this year).

Yeah, that comment really doesn't further any dicussion... I say keep Wild Cards because they've been around forever (I think) and getting rid of them would mean you hate puppies.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Totally agree with this. I know this is a sore spot but here goes...I never have agreed with including them. It's one of the reasons I took a break in the challenge soon after it got started. If you want to watch something non-horror related (even the beloved and often discussed Charlie Brown Halloween Special), watch it on your own time.

Watching stuff that is non-horror in a horror challenge and then counting it is just stupid. It's called padding your numbers. Again, watch stuff on your own time. It seems that some people want to try to count each and every little thing that they are using their limited time on. You want to watch some non-horror then wait until November like I did and quit trying to count bullshit.

Drop the term "movie" from the challenge name and just call it a horror challenge.

One thing I loved was having all the 31 recommended films and review threads all ready and available day one. That was great since you may not be able to watch the movie on the day of and you don't have to wait until posting your review on it.

By the way, I really love the reviews on these films and enjoy reading people's various thoughts. I just wish more people would post reviews. But then again, that's why we lost the weekly/bi-weekly horror challenge, wasn't it? Lack of participation.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I hope your opinion is the minority. I don't want to participate in an October challenge that doesn't allow me to count the Charlie Brown Halloween Special.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Yeah, I could come around to the idea of no wildcards, but Halloween content absolutely has to count.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I wholeheartedly agree that Halloween content should count

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I am 100% against wildcards, but do fell like Halloween specials and shows should count.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

The current name has a good rhythm to it, and a fine bit of tradition.


I thought the whole purpose of Wild Cards in the first place was to be able to count Halloween shows and shorts? Now that we can combine TV and shorts to make an entry, there really doesn't seem to be a point to have WCs anymore (despite what I stated in my drug-induced ramblings a few posts back).

Like I said before, I watch more legit horror movies to make up for my WCs anyway. The only reason I use them is because they're in the rules.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

if you're including TV shows and/or documentaries and/or commentaries, don't call it a "horror movie" challenge. Call it a "horror" challenge.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

You two might want to check out the title of this thread. :p

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

I agree. I like Halloween content being able to count, but I don't mind dropping the wildcards. In the last few years, the only wildcards I can recall using are 42nd Street Forever and when I went to go see Evil Dead: The Musical.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Whether the word "movie" is in the title or not doesn't make a bit of difference to me. The heart and soul of the challenge is horror films but there is an absolute ton of quality horror tv that needs to be able to be included every year. Horror and Halloween go hand in hand so Halloween programming should be included to. I don't think wild cards are needed with TV and short films being able to be added up to full entries and with the checklist having optional spots for live events. So what if that haunted house, or play, or convention, or whatever doesn't add in 1 more entry to your list. Wild cards are just an excuse for drama these days.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Me too.

I also concur that if the subset titles were more easily available for free (we have Amazon Prime but not NetFlix) I would have watched all of them (time permitting).

Not sure if it can possibly be addressed, but I would have participated a LOT more if I'd had any spare time in between watching so many films!

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Using the suggestion earlier that finding an item listed somewhere as 'horror' is good enough, I can't believe that anything Halloween-y couldn't be found listed as Horror somewhere.

Call it the "Horror* Challenge."




*and Halloween


Or make the 31st's theme "Halloween," maybe?

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Oh, and my main comments/feedback was a slight annoyance that some of the "stars" were so obscure (and, at least as far as I found, in a couple of cases stars only of a very few terrible films) and thus a little restrictive. I found a checklist from a previous year that had Karloff and Lugosi and Bruce Campbell (et al.) on it, and thought that was much more accurate... at the same time, I appreciate and like the variation. Wishy washy, I know!

Also, the long list of types/genres seemed in a couple of instances to also refer only to a very few films - I think underwater was one I struggled with briefly - which could maybe benefit from being a "25/35" type thing.*


*Not that I wouldn't try to do them all anyway, but...! ;)

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Halloween has always been the theme on the 31st.

The problem with some of the names you mentioned was that those used to be the same names every year on the checklist. After doing that a few times, people got tired of just those big names and wanted variation. I will agree that the choices seem to be getting increasingly obscure, though. I can see it being hard to come up with fresh names year after year. I think I argued against the actor and director thing one year because of that reason.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2013 Horror Challenge
 

Of course it is. ...then what was the problem?!

Yes, I guessed it was something like that, but wanted to just mention it. :)

A couple of extra thoughts I had about potential items to add*, alter or definitely retain - I think some of these are already on the checklist - including:

A Universal Monster movie
A Universal Monster sequel movie
A Hammer Horror film
A Hammer Horror film sequel
An Amicus production
A movie starring Dracula... without 'Dracula' in the title
...set in the present
...based on Dracula by Stoker
...in which he calls himself "Alucard"
A movie starring Frankenstein's Monster... without 'Frankenstein' in the title
...set in the present
...based on Frankenstein by Shelley
...in which the monster doesn't talk
...in which the monster does talk
Two adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe tales/poems
A movie starring TWO Horror Greats (Bela, Boris, Cushing, Lee, etc.)
A movie starring THREE Horror Greats


*N.B. I know some of these won't make it on, because they would need someone to watch half a dozen Dracula/Frankenstein films. Which is a lot!





Also, I know most participants were already quite good about this, and I'm not even sure whether it's worth mentioning, but... maybe there should be a rule about counting a single item for more than two checks on the checklist? (Maybe even a short list requiring discrete items for each check and a longer list that can be doubled up..? Would that be over complicated?)