My Horror Films Rant
 

I know the majority of the movie going public has always had low standards. Always flocking to see the latest Jim Carrey opus or whatever Michael Bay has been editing but now they are going in droves to see people stabbed, dismembered, butchered, impaled, cut open, and other various means of torture inflicted on helpless victims. I think it was probably Ridley Scott's Hannibal that opened the door and Hollywood found out people do enjoy watching gore. And not just some people but a lot of people. While I don't think movie watching is a standard to judge peoples' moral bankruptcy, I do think it's sad for Hollywood. The point of every horror movie made nowadays is simply to outdo the last one. Sure there will always be the big action blockbusters and the incredibly wonderful and imaginitive small films but now the torture-horror genre has become a forbidable force. I am bias because I loathe these movies but when people start comparing Eli Roth to Quentin Tarantino or ANY of these movies to actual good ones that's when I have a bone to pick. These movies are like porn films they only satisfy one emotion. Ok, I am done with my rant.

Now tell me about how great PASSION OF THE CHRIST was! *bats eyelashes*

PopcornTreeCt,

I could not agree more. I love classic horror, but I just don't get the torture-porn that seems to be so popular now. I was quite enthused with the trend of the late 90's, early 2000's with horror movies like Blair Witch Project, Session 9, Mothman Prophecies, The Others, Sixth Sense, Signs, Below and others, that downplayed the gore in favor of genuine atmosphere and creepiness, but that trend seems to have faded. It's a personal bias for me too, but I find these new movies loathsome. And not to get too preachy or judgemental here, but I honestly think hardcore, non-violent porn is morally preferable to this stuff.

I'm largely in agreement. I simply cannot understand how people can find enjoyment in the pain and suffering of others.

Sorry, I'd much rather have grue than PG-13 "horror" flicks.

i think gory horror movies are great. they are not exactly new as you seem to think btw. i like to watch them when i am not out murdering people.

Yeah but these type of films are not horror films. They're, as previously stated, torture-porn and pretty unimaginitive that cater to the lowest common denominator. I hate PG-13 horror also, so give me quality foreign horror films or 'Session 9' type fare anyday over the 'drill in the eye, sawing off body parts' that passes for horror these days.
Yet the moron teen set eats this stuff up, so Hollywood will continue to churn out this pablum for the masses.

Classics like 'The Exorcist' and the original 'TTCM', 'Halloween' 'Pyscho' etc are far superior to the crud that passes for horror these days.

Hell, although not pure horror, I'll take 'The Devils' Rejects ' over any 'Saw' 'Hostel' movie anyday.

Too each his own I guess....

Outdo in terms of money, of course, but hollywood is just giving what the people want. We went through a very similar thing in the late 70's to mid 80's with the slasher film.

I really miss being scared by horror films. It still happens, but not as often.

And shouldn't this be in the horror forum? We have one, why not use it?

Hey, denounce the SAW movies seven ways to Sunday for whatever crimes you feel they commit against quality horror cinema, but "unimaginative" is one adjective that won't stick.

I similar trend happend to comics back in the day and lead to the the comics code. The same sort of thing lead to the movie rating system. Maybe these will eventually get reined in. These movies are definitely not to my liking either. Just don't support them. No sense getting bent out of shape over what other people do that you have no control over. Make a difference by influencing the ones closest around you.

I don't mind gore if people are fighting in battle or whatever. But the whole "people getting tortured" bit I find to be a total turnoff...

I'm assuming Popcorn wanted people to see his thread and respond to it. -biggrin-


I agree that gore for the sake of gore is no good. I'd much rather have an atmospheric movie with little to no gore that actually scared me than one that had no point but to see how many times I could gringe at what I was seeing.

On the other hand, for the past several years we've had to endure PG-13 crapfests that didn't have to balls to show any violence in hopes of making money, now the opposite is happening.

The good news is that this is just a trend that will surely die off, and die off sooner rather than later IMO. In the mean time I suggest you do as I do and avoid any movie that you think is just playing on the gore factor. I've got plenty of actual good "horror" movies to watch.

I agree to a certain extent. I love the Saw films, but hated Hostel. I felt it was pure exploitation. I have no problem with gore at all.

I think what's sadder for Hollywood is the slew of Bring it on sequels.

I'm confused. Are you saying that Hostel was exploitive but the Saw films weren't? :confused:

I agree that the gore is getting overused but it's often part of horror flicks. Although the gore is not the only thing overused in movies today.


BTW, Signs was not a horror movie.

It's tough for me. I don't enjoy horror films, in the current sense (aptly named "torture-porn" as someone earlier said), in fact I get somewhat ill watching them (I just don't have the stomach for it I guess). But I don't mind a "thriller" or a "classic horror" type film.

That being said, I can't understand what motivates someone to even dream up some of this stuff. I say that as someone going into the film profession, I don't get it.

I think moviemakers have confused scaring people for grossing them out.

So Special-FX men can have a job.

I hate it when the gore is the central selling point of the movie but I also hate movies that are considered horror and have very little gore. There's fine line there.

Movies like the Friday the 13th series and Nightmare on Elm Street have gotten to the point where you're only watching them to see the creative ways the writers have dreamed up to kill people. They aren't very entertaining nor scary.

I think the days of films like The Exorcist where the movie gives you something to be genuinely scared about are long gone. I can't think of the last time I was actually scared by a horror movie other then The Exorcist, which still scares me.

Yep, something like the blood test scene in "The Thing" -- now that's some good tension. A really well made film that had some great scenes to back it all up.

I like movies like Saw and Hostel as long as good overcomes evil, in one way or another. I was more turned off and disgusted by the latest TCM and Devil's Rejects, but maybe that's just me.

I think the problem with pure horror films today is that they show too much. I want a horror film that once again gets inside of your head, plays with your emotions, and forces you to create the true horror inside of your own head. For the most part, it's usually more terrifying when a film forces you to imagine the gore and horror, since we usually picture something far worse than what they actually deliver.

Go back to that concept more, as well as setting, music, and just overall feel. It takes a lot to really make a great horror movie, way more than just gore. Who here doesn't get freaked out just by hearing the Halloween music start up?

I felt Hostel was PURE exploitation. Meaning that I felt the film was based on torture scenes with a story wrapped around it. Whereas I felt the trap/torture scenes in Saw were a bi-product of the story (teaching someone to appreciate life). I just got more out of the story and characters in Saw than I did in Hostel. It's just my opinion mind you. I'm sure it could be argued to death, so let's just leave it at that.

Good call. The minute I hear a "horror film's" rated PG-13, no go....that's like tryin' to watch a Scorsese film that isn't R-rated.

A PG-13 "horror film" is just goin' after $$$...yes, I do realize it's a business, but seriously, do it right or fuck off.

I'm guessing the huge opening of "Saw III" prompted this rant? Some of the recent wave of "torture-porn" that I've seen: Saw, Saw II, Hostel, Hills Have Eyes (remake), Devil's Rejects, Haute Tension, Cavaire. And you know ... I'll take these over another PG13 remake/ripoff populated with pretty faces and sporting a nu-metal soundtrack any day of the week. These movies actually have people behind them that are into making movies, rather than seeing it as an easy way to make to buck. I like variety in my horror. I love the classics, can appreciate good subtle horror ... and sometimes enjoy something nasty too. When done well it gets my heart racing like a thrill-ride. If that makes me morally bankrupt, so be it. I think the hard-core horror is seeing a comeback because we've been so long without it. For about 15 years, from the mid-80's, the MPAA had essentially cut the balls off of horror movies. In the last few years, things have really loosened up -- I'm sure most (if not all) of these movies would've gotten X/NC17 ratings 15 years ago (and either been cut to hell or buried and never released). There's always been an audience for extreme horror, and there always will be. Difference today is they can see this stuff in the theaters rather than having to track it down through video-trading/bootlegging.

Hear hear. I love a GOOD horror movie which in my mind is anything from the old Universal flicks to The Evil Dead to Romero's stuff. I can't stand this "torture and gawk" school of films ala Saw, Hostel, etc. and really don't get what people find appealing in them at all. Not for me.

It occurred to my while watching Saw III this weekend, whatever happened to actual scares? Actual Halloween/The Thing scares? Fuck stingers!!! Now it's all just repulsion and gore for gore's sake.