Horror - the BLACK SHEEP of cinema
August 16th 2006 22:32
What is the horror movie genre really about?
Well, for starters, just to whet your bloodlust, it’s about scaring the bejesus out of you. But more specifically, it’s about confronting your fears within the confines of a safe environment, like a cinema, or your living room, or if you are in for the “grind house” experience, then a dodgy drive-in (but you gotta scout around for those).
Horror is no doubt the most lambasted genre in cinema’s history. But in reality, it is the most manipulative genre and, arguably, the most powerful.
This is why horror movies will never die. They just get re-born, or become re-animated … or simply rise as the undead.
Horror movies are chic again, which in Hollywood terms, means they’re making money. Unfortunately, it also means they’re a dime a dozen. Genuinely shocking and/or scary horror flicks are actually hard to come by. For Hollywood it’s easier to throw in some pretty actors to lure Joe Average into the cinema, than it is to provide the legion of true horrorphiles the sweat, blood and tears that make up a truly great horror movie.
So, why do we keep coming back for more? Why do we keep renting out, or scouring the online DVD sites, for those glory holes of repulsion and terror? Because horror movies provide a necessary escape from the real horrors of reality, yet within a context that enables us to confront the demons, yet safely knowing we won’t be losing an arm or leg over it.
It’s about a catharsis; taking us to the edge of the abyss, teetering, peering down into the sordid depths. It makes for an intense time at the movies, but then, what is cinema, if it doesn’t push your buttons, if it doesn’t provoke a reaction, or some kind of an emotional, even physical, response?
Horror movies are the black sheep of cinema, and proud of it.
Welcome to my world of high art and deep trash …the PLEASURE OF NIGHTMARES!
Well, for starters, just to whet your bloodlust, it’s about scaring the bejesus out of you. But more specifically, it’s about confronting your fears within the confines of a safe environment, like a cinema, or your living room, or if you are in for the “grind house” experience, then a dodgy drive-in (but you gotta scout around for those).
Horror is no doubt the most lambasted genre in cinema’s history. But in reality, it is the most manipulative genre and, arguably, the most powerful.
This is why horror movies will never die. They just get re-born, or become re-animated … or simply rise as the undead.
Horror movies are chic again, which in Hollywood terms, means they’re making money. Unfortunately, it also means they’re a dime a dozen. Genuinely shocking and/or scary horror flicks are actually hard to come by. For Hollywood it’s easier to throw in some pretty actors to lure Joe Average into the cinema, than it is to provide the legion of true horrorphiles the sweat, blood and tears that make up a truly great horror movie.
So, why do we keep coming back for more? Why do we keep renting out, or scouring the online DVD sites, for those glory holes of repulsion and terror? Because horror movies provide a necessary escape from the real horrors of reality, yet within a context that enables us to confront the demons, yet safely knowing we won’t be losing an arm or leg over it.
It’s about a catharsis; taking us to the edge of the abyss, teetering, peering down into the sordid depths. It makes for an intense time at the movies, but then, what is cinema, if it doesn’t push your buttons, if it doesn’t provoke a reaction, or some kind of an emotional, even physical, response?
Horror movies are the black sheep of cinema, and proud of it.
Welcome to my world of high art and deep trash …the PLEASURE OF NIGHTMARES!
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Anonymous
i'll look forward to reading more in the future
keep it scary
Comment by Cryptic
Comment by Anonymous
Dario Argento has a lot to answer for too! Surreal nightmarish sound & vision!
David Cronenberg, Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter, Mario Bava ... the list goes on.Your text goes here
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Hammer Horror, early Craven,Argento, Bava, Cronenburg, Carpenter etc.. just like "Anonymous" warped my young mind and hooked me.
A few recent ones I enjoyed-
Lucky McKee's May
Neil Marshall's The Descent
Bill Paxton's Frailty
Julian Richards The Last Horror Movie also entertained and made me chuckle.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Glad you respect the masters!
Have only seen The Descent which you mentioned, although something creeping at the back of my mind is telling me I've seen Frailty also ...
The Descent was one of the best horror flicks I've seen in a long time ... !!!
Along with the remakes of Dawn of the Dead and Hills Have Eyes ... (more on those at a later date)
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
As for the Hills have Eyes remake found that to be quite dull and by the numbers. Surprising because the same director helmed Haute Tension which was a toe curler ride up until that stupid last 10 minutes.
There are not many US horror films in the last 10 years I rank. Most modern delights are Asian or Spanish (eg: The Eye, Ringu, Audition, Evil Dead Trap, The Nameless, Faust 5.0 etc)
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
I'd claim that horror films can be comic, or indulge in moments of comedy, whereas thrillers can't afford to slacken the tension.
So, to me, thriller is about fear, and horror is more about disgust, which might or might not be allied to fear.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Fritzwing
along w/such, horror also entails, though not necessarily terminates in, death.
this is why, again perhaps solely for myself, the truly great, "creditable" horror films/stories swing & sway on the twin hinges of identity and life: who/what is a human being? what is life for? is death itself the ultimate horror, or is there something worse? when/how does the self cease to exist?
to be sure, these are metaphysical considerations but i think they are at the core of every decent horror story, zombies, werewolves, & vampires notwithstanding.
Comment by Fritzwing
these obvious, "gross" aspects make it easy for some people to dismiss the entire field.
of course these and other elements may be part of a good horror story but many people seem unable/unwilling to go beneath such surface details to get to the warm, moist, still-dripping meat of a fine tale.
(p.s.-for a concise, carefully-written, intelligent take on the subject, read Horror Films by R.H.W. Dillard, 1976, Simon & Schuster, if you can find it)
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Fritzwing
upon reflection, i think that horror also has to do with a seismic/unnatural disruption in the status quo, a significant alteration in the natural order.
so the horror genre could include such films/stories as The Birds, Phase IV, Village Of The Damned, and, forgive me, Night Of The Lupus and Food Of The Gods.
in any case, i think horror does elicit a visceral response. it strikes in the gut to inform us that something is very, very wrong, on a level that is split inside the ordinary/normal/logical of every day existence. horror produces a nauseating spin on consensual/individual reality.
thus, another branch of horror: reality asunder, torn and smashed violently or subtly twisted and splintered.
Comment by Fritzwing
i would tend to file it "terror/thriller/suspense", though i see her point.
thoughts?
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I missed a Phase IV screening at Sydney FIlm Festival a few weeks back. Is it any good?
Comment by Fritzwing
it is good in a meticulous, thoughtful way, rather than via non-stop, high-end action/special effects, the presence of which could be argued for here.
the story unfolds in a methodical, creeping manner, so that the inevitable conclusion packs a stunning punch.
it comes across as menacingly credible rather than hysterical/campy.
mind you, the above is based on years-old memory as it's been awhile since i've seen the film.
Comment by Fritzwing
it is good in a meticulous, thoughtful way, rather than via non-stop, high-end action/special effects, the presence of which could be argued for here.
the story unfolds in a methodical, creeping manner, so that the inevitable conclusion packs a stunning punch.
it comes across as menacingly credible rather than hysterical/campy.
mind you, the above is based on years-old memory as it's been awhile since i've seen the film.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I'll keep my eyes peeled for an old VHS copy perhaps ...
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile