Horror Movies

[HalfElven]

I was at a party the other nite and we ended up having a huge discussion on which type of Horror movie we thought were the best and why. So I figured I'd ask those of you who liked Horror movies which type you thought were best and why?

Violence, gore and Nudity are in just about every one made, aside from those what else do you think It needs to consider it worth watching and recommeding to your friends?

 

[IrishTickle1]

Well, there's the kind that is basically ignored now a days in favour of jumpy scares and tits, and that's the suspenseful horror films. The Thing and Alien are two that come to mind, where, rather than going for cheap thrills and nothing more, tried to make actual films, with plots and characters that made sense, and nothing could happen for ages but rather than beinb bored, you had this horrific feeling of dread over what could happen. Makes for a much scarier experience.

 

[Random_noob86]

The best horror movie?

...Bambi. 😱

...The Grudge didn't seem too frightening, I don't think Grudge 2 will be, either...

Silent Hill was a pretty good recent horror movie, in my opinion. The Ring was pretty good, too. ^_^

Honestly, timing, suspense, and nudity is what frightens me the most. Gore and blood are usually very fake and even when it's realistic, it's not all that frightening to me. Suspense and timing. And nudity. In my opinion, each of these alone aren't all that scary. Most horror movies work best when it's a combination of each like bloody nude scenese, etc. That's my opinion, anyways.

 

[MistressValerie1]

I prefer supernatural-type villains and action which is more implied than shown, like in Stephen King's It. Leaving something to the viewer's imagination helps keep a film engaging.

 

[juggernaut]

I've never seen a movie I thought was scary. I find anything with one of the Baldwin brothers disturbing, but not scary.

 

[HalfElven]

Thanks Mistress, I wondered if anyone would bring that one up. There were over 20 people at that party and not one of them brought that movie up, they were all picking movies like cabin fever, the saw movies, and just about every Zombie movie you could think of. I was begining to think I was the only one who thought "IT" was among the best.

The first Friday the 13th and the first Nightmare on Elm street were alot more suspensefull after that though I thought they just got stupid. Same old story just different actors and actresses, and how much blood, guts, and nudity can we cram into 90 minutes.

 

[Umojar]

Silent Hill was pretty damn good I think. Especially considering it was based from a videogame. But I think the real winner would have to be texas chainsaw massacre. Both the newer one and the old one had their moments, but I think the fact that leatherface is more realistic is what makes it good. Plus, nothing's scarier than being stuck in the middle of nowhere with crazy rednecks.

 

[Janus4385]

I've never seen a movie I thought was scary. I find anything with one of the Baldwin brothers disturbing, but not scary.

What he said...

If I do have to pick something, I'd go with one like "Evil Dead"; I've never been really sure of what exactly this movie is supposed to be, horror? comedy? Who knows... The important thing is that I find it to be entertaining as hell, best comedy of all time if you ask me. The movie has it all, haunted woods, haunted house, ghosts/demons, a guy with a chainsaw instead of a hand, time travelling, what else could you possibly put in a movie :laughing:

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

This is a bit off-topic, but is is true that Mormons aren't allowed to watch r-rated movies? At my GW shop yesterday, while we were painting, we somehow got to talking about the Aliens series of movies (you know the ones with Sigourney Weaver), and one of the guys said he's not allowed to watch r-rated movies.

One of the employees, who was also sitting there painting as there were no customers in the store at that moment, said "you're mormon, aren't you?" And the guys like "yeah". To defend the employee, whom I also consider a friend, he wasn't assuming he was mormon, he merely guessed it because there is another mormon patron and they've talked about it before what mormons can't do, etc.

Anyways, is it true, and, why is it if it is? I don't know whether it's moral thing only or its strictly a religious code. I'd like to think it's a little of both, but I don't know.

On topic, I too have never seen a horror movie, new or old, that truely scared me. I'm either hard to scare, please, or both.

I'm tired of Hollywood with their 97% CG and 3% story, and them telling us whats scary. People are not frightened by the concept of what someone else thinks is scary. Signs is not a horror movie, but it accomplishes perfectly the mystery, wonder, and excitement of what the hell is out there in those crops and how this family is going to get through it, together.

By using M Night Shyamalan's example of classic horror and suspense, you the viewer are able to make that evil or that presense whatever you want it to be until it is revealed, because you are forced to your imagination, and your imagination is the x-factor in a horror film. Even though we know they're aliens from another planet and, as a plot device its revealed before you even see the movie, the movie accomplishes what it set out to do.

These newer, more recent movies are just repetative in some way or another, and they push these CG effects on you like that alone is the deal maker.

Hollywood either needs to go old-school again or GTFO with their horror movies. They're not scaring me anytime soon.

 

[TheChameleon]

Silent Hill was pretty damn good I think. Especially considering it was based from a videogame. But I think the real winner would have to be texas chainsaw massacre. Both the newer one and the old one had their moments, but I think the fact that leatherface is more realistic is what makes it good. Plus, nothing's scarier than being stuck in the middle of nowhere with crazy rednecks.

My only problem with leatherface is he's like a 450 pound lumberjack and can run at a speed higher than a distressed female cheerleader type girl. ALL while carrying a running, buzzing chainsaw.

I have a challenge for anybody who says that its possible for a giant to outrun a cheerleader.

Try outrunning an athletic girl you know, while your carrying a chainsaw, thats on, and your pressing the "Kill" buttons.

Bets are 11 to 1 that you won't catch her, and, you might fall down.

I thought 28 days later was an awesome movie, although, it never scared me.

The CONCEPT of that movie scares me, however. Imagine waking up in a hospital all alone, in an abandoned city. The first thing you see is a priest who's only goal is to tear your skin from your bones and eat you.

Tell me that isn't scary.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I think the majority of the problem is the over-flooding of horror movies these days. People have just become desensitized to them. They're either trying too hard to be scary, or they are, but it just doesn't phase people anymore.

We live in a post 9/11 world, the cost of living is going up, we've got wars going on all around us and potential wars looming, and we're constantly on our guard and have to be careful who we trust. People are just plain stressed out. We don't have the time to be scared by make-believe, we're living in a constant climate fear no horror movie can duplicate.

That, and Hollywood horror movies suck now because of this or that. Its the obscure, independant film makers that hold the key to getting the horror genre out of the hellhole it's gotten itself into, because they have the right mindset and old-fashioned way of thinking.

 

[Violetta]

I don't watch all that many horror movies, mostly because, as has been mentioned many times, they just aren't scary and fundamentally, aren't good. But there is one thing I'd mention that I've always thought gave some movies a good freaky element. Some of the scariest moments in movies that I remember are from Alien and Event Horizon, and movies like that. Putting the movie in space gives the movie a more sadistic feel, although it doesn't have to be space exactly. By setting things up there, suddenly the characters have to choose to stay with whatever danger (the more vague the better) is inside, or go outside where there's certain death. Movies set in a town with ample transportation or any place that isn't totally surrounded by water or something just aren't as scary. The character is ultimately stupid for not cutting their losses and running.

The other thing that's scary that more movies need to figure out, is the things a mind can do to itself. I swear, I've been far more scared walking down a dark street alone than I ever have watching a movie. Because the cause of fear in a movie is "real" to the characters. If there were simply a danger and the movie explores how the characters' perceptions make it worse and worse, that would be a lot scarier.

I don't know if I explained either of those things very well. Here's hoping I did.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

No, you explained it well enough. Also, I think space or sci-fi horror movies have that unique feel because its in a contained environment the victims cannot escape from. The claustrophobia of a place in a horror movie, whether it be a space ship, a bunker, or a house, is a key element in keeping the plot simple, but exciting because the viewer's mind and attention doesn't wander as much and is forced to focus on specific things, areas, and even get used to certain lighting arrangements. This is supposed to also display the frantic mindset of the victims so we can understand how they see things and feel them.

You know you're watching a good horror movie when you forget you're watching a movie at all. Also, when you forget that the music treatment exists just for you and that the characters don't hear it because its not really there, is another indicator that you've lost yourself in the movie- reality is not something you're aware of.

Most horror movies cannot achieve this for the viewer, which is why they fail and people criticize them.

 

[Floyd1]

The gothic horror movies from Hammer productions, in the 1960's and 1970's (usually starring Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee) are excellent. Look at the older horror flicks sometime.

 

[Violetta]

Floyd, you just won so many cool points for mentioning the old Cushing/Lee films. 😉

 

[HalfElven]

Hey Floyd, I grew up watching those types of horror movies, Lee, Cushing, and my personal favorite was Price. Diary of a Madman still ranks among my all time favorites. The Dr. Phibes movies, House of wax and The Masque of the Red Death, are ones I'll still sit and watch to this day even though I've seen them dozens of times. They never disappoint.

 

[Senshi1]

Oh man, horror movies... At one time I was a major horror-movie buff. I had, literally, a room full of merchandise (the lifesize Freddy Krueger, a Chucky replica, masks, models, and about 50,000 videos) but lately they've just gone shit.

"Nightmare on Elm Street" (yes, and the sequels, up until "New Nightmare") were amazing. "Childs Play", ditto. (I actually always thought Jason Vorhees and Michael Myers were a bit overrated).

But modern ones like, teen slashers, crap. They're all the same.

- One group of teenagers (including a ditzy girl, a slut/jock couple [who will have sex and then die], a quiet guy, an innocent virgin girl, a blonde and caring guy, a black guy or girl [who will act stereotypically black - "shut yo' ass up, beeyatch!" etc])
- Alcohol and drugs for the teenagers - the innocent virgin girl and the blonde caring guy will both object but be shushed accordingly by their companions
- The slut/jock will indeed have sex. The slut will flash her breasts for exactly 4 seconds
- Killer in an optional mask and wielding an obligatory sharp implement shows up and picks off one or two victims stealthily (at least one will by by beheading)
- Teenagers act confused and scared, try to escape, find that they are trapped (the black guy will then punch a wall and shout "This is BULLSHIT!!")
- Killer shows himself openly and chases them all around. Much blood.
- Finale, and we're left with innocent virgin girl, blonde caring guy and quiet guy. Quiet guy will be killed.
- The scene will somehow manage to catch fire. There will now be a ring of fire around the area, which will remain until the end.
- Caring blonde guy jumps in to save his girl, gets knocked the fuck back and lies on the floor (trickle of blood from his forehead, one hand outstretched, calling innocent virgin girl's name).
- Innocent virgin girl screams and looks doomed as the killer approaches.
- A sharp pole impales the killer from behind (and splashes virgin girl with blood). You see caring blonde guy standing there, having impaled the fiend.
- "I love you blonde guy!" "I love you, virgin girl!" *kiss* *police/fire brigade show up*
- *killers hand twitches* Dun dun DUUUN!!


Utter cack.

 

[Kalamos]

If I do have to pick something, I'd go with one like "Evil Dead"; I've never been really sure of what exactly this movie is supposed to be, horror? comedy? Who knows...

I do: it's fun.

😀

 

[Christopher Syn]

Hey, everyone...how about giving credit to where it all began? I am speaking of the silent classics like "Nosferatu", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Vampyr", and "Calagari"...to mention a few. They were all born out of German Expressionism, and retain their "leave it to your imagination" status, relying on shadow, light, and GOOD SCRIPTS to tell their stories.
And as long as we're in the Way-Back Machine, how about "Dracula", "Frankenstein", "The Old Dark House", "The Thing" (1951 version), and countless others from the Universal vaults. They are seperate works of art that have endured in a world that has become so "dumbed down" as far as the genre is concerned, that all you remember is, literally, gore and tits. Sorry, Hammer fans, but that's all it boils down to, setting aside the technicolor, and advanced effects of the time.
Thank you, Mistress Valerie for mentioning "Alien", which does stand alone as a wonderfully suspensfull film.Why? Because they kept the creature in shadow and suggestion till the last reel.
OK. Sorry for the tirade. I'ts just that I get really angry when someone expounds on the "awsomness" of Chucky. Rod Serling did it better in "Night Gallery" with the "Talkie Tina" episode.

 

[ticklingxxx1]

Hi!!! Shining is one of my best..Session9 and the new japanese kind...all who involved little children(cause they make me fear..hihi) and which have scenarios such old psychiatric hospitals!!!!!! I love also old fifties horror movies...and like too Rob Zombie as regist who revival this genre....Ciaooooooo

 

[TheChameleon]

Suicide Club!

Anybody ever see the movie "Suicide Club"???

That was an awesome...well, not really horror, but, the violence put it in the horror section.

Like, at the beginning a group of high-school girls in they're little japanese schoolgirl uniforms all jump in front of a subway train, SPLAT!

Just for kicks.

 

[PGSegal]

My Two Cents in this Thread

I find movies that could really happen, no matter how far fetched, are the scariest. Now, by could really happen, I mean with the material world and not the supernatural one. The Devil's Rejects fits that mold, and so did The Skeleton Key. I get some arguements about THe Skeleton Key, but there's nothing in that movie that couldn't be explained without supernatural elements. It's like the tagline said, "It can only hurt you if you believe."

With that being said, I'd like to share something. About two weeks or so ago I was at best buy and I noticed a package called Blood Bath 2. There were four movies for 7 bucks. I picked it up and found some interesting things.

While the movies weren't good, I did see some cool stuff. The first was a movie called Legacy of Satan. I did a search on IMDB and found that this was the only non-porn directed by the director of The Devil and Miss Jones, and Deep Throat. This movie was absolutely horrible. There was another called Blood Song. It's a low-budget slasher flick with Frankie Avalon portraying the slasher. Oddly, there's no mention of Frankie Avalon on the packaging. Make of that what you will.

 

[ILove2Tickle1]

About Vlad's question. I am a Mormon (non-partispating, but grew up with it). Yes, it's true that there's a restriction about watching R-rated movies. But you'll find out that a lot of mormons "bend" that rule just a little bit. 9.9

I find movies that could really happen, no matter how far fetched, are the scariest. Now, by could really happen, I mean with the material world and not the supernatural one. The Devil's Rejects fits that mold, and so did The Skeleton Key. I get some arguements about THe Skeleton Key, but there's nothing in that movie that couldn't be explained without supernatural elements. It's like the tagline said, "It can only hurt you if you believe."

That's what I liked a lot about most of Vincent Price's horor movies. They tended to fall in the "possible" catigory and he was very good at what he did. He was one of the best. n.n But I'm not talking about the campy stuff that he did at the beginning, but the later stuff when they really went for the scare.

 

[PGSegal]

Oh, and as far as movies that could really happen, how could I forget about Saw and Hostel. I'm normally pretty tough to violence on movies, but I cringed all the way through Hostel.

 

[Cbarton]

There was another called Blood Song. It's a low-budget slasher flick with Frankie Avalon portraying the slasher. Oddly, there's no mention of Frankie Avalon on the packaging. Make of that what you will.

Frankie Avalon?? Whoa...all the Beach Blanket movie residuals must have run out for him to do something like that. Just please tell me that Annette was not one of the victims....😉