Boo! (hoo-hoo)

Happy Halloween! 

To get into the true spirit of the day, I figured I'd talk about what I think is rotting the horror genre to further dull your insipid souls. 

Consider this a whodunnit of sorts, where we sift through and pin point our culprit. Because unfortunately we do have one. If there's something I've noticed throughout the years as a horror fan (who gets rattled so quick), it's the deterioration in the quality of horror film-making. Not to say there aren't any exceptions of course.

Also, quick shout-out to the parent of the horror genre who literally made it a codified genre after it's release, Dracula (1931). As someone who enjoyed the experience of reading the book by Bram Stoker, it's nice to see appreciation for frightfully good storytelling through film too.

So let's review our first suspect.

1. Psychological thrillers/horror movies

Psychological horror looks more into the mind and the psyche and how fear is a tool that can be used to controlling people or behaviors. We get character study films where as the story progresses the main character descends into madness like Mother!, Black Swan and Ma. We get movies focused on serial killers or psychopathy like Hannibal, Last Night In Soho, Orphan.                                                And we get situational thrillers that delves into the horror of a particular situation like Get Out, The Sixth Sense and Escape Room. 

Now, I am a huge fan of such kind of films and for good reason. They focus on the emotion and the environment of the story which makes it more grounded and believable. And believable horror is the most effective kind because the feeling of  'wait that could happen to me!' is the most haunting thought that could occur while watching a horror film. And while jumpscares and ghosts are just as effective when trying to insight fear into the human mind, relatability strikes a more deafening nerve in my opinion. Also, they are, for the most part very well-made. With stellar casts, directors and writers, they get the job done. There is an argument often made that technically thrillers aren't true horror and to that I say, if it makes you feel scared or feel fear, that's horror. It really isn't that complex.

But alas, it seems we have the wrong culprit. 

2. Body Horror

If we had to verbally describe our suspects, Body Horror would be the drunk, disgusting and pointless one to interrogate. So basically that one uncle I know we all collectively have. What I mean by that is that Body Horror freaks the living daylights out of me because I prefer to not see bones cracking and skin peeling and body contortions and though its such an out of body experience, its also niche (in the sense that its not too popular in horror to be a troublemaker). Not our killer but a killer nonetheless. Because watching such movies makes you want to die. Some examples (please for sanity's sake, don't watch) being The Human Centipede, Hostel and Swallow. I don't think I need to go into depth regarding what Body Horror is because it's quite self-explanatory. And I'm already uncomfortable. 

3. Comedy Horror

The lightness I need after *insert body shake* the previous one. Comedy Horror does something I enjoy quite well. Which is portray a horrific situation with a comedic undertone through quips, jokes or just making the film a black comedy. Some recent and popular films being Ready or Not, Chucky, The Menu and Happy Death Day. 

Something could be said about the strangeness in finding humor when being hunted by in-laws, a serial killer, a really pissed chef or a homicidal doll, but horror wouldn't work without some levity and comedy does that. Besides you'll find that comedy (in different forms) bleeds into most art as people like being happy more than being sad or stressed. 

Comedy Horror also brought us the satirical and parody movies of the 2000s that love it or hate it, was a success. And as someone who loves the Scary Movie series, I am grateful.

There is something to be said about the power of a likeable or relatable or entertaining character being the one to lead a story forward and how much it helps set the stakes, especially in horror. Something you'll find our culprit to be guilty of occasionally (90% of the time) butchering. 

4. Slasher films

'I wanna be in the sequel.'  

Hmm, I wonder if we have good main characters in theses films. Well, to break the news, we do! Buhahaha. You're not getting slashers yet! 

Known for their campy. gory and blood-dripping stories, slashers are exactly what they sound like. Lots of people slashing and being slashed and complaining and never learning ways to prevent the slasher. 

Here's where I may have a difference in opinion from some people. I hold the opinion which I relegate as a fact that all the good ones were in the 90's. Not something too hard to dispute since most of the new ones are re-boots, sequels, prequels or just bad. The exception I'm aware of being the X trilogy. But the 90's was a gold mine of satirical, bone-chilling and amazing slashers like Scream, Halloween, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Nightmare On Elm Street. 

Clearly stuff was going on at the time because the slasher genre hit a goldmine of hit after hit horror movies that captivated audiences and some critics alike. Some critics being used because film critics are allergic to campy, fun movies and prefer their Oscar-bait movies instead. 

This was a breeding of creativity in the horror genre by creating many fourth wall winks at the audience and critiquing the genre they were a part of. Admittedly, their subversion of tropes did end up later becoming tropes but that's just because directors are lazy so we won't blame the pioneers. We got the two-killer reveal, the town killer, the freaky monster dream guy, a stalker and so much more. Like I said, goldmine. We went from noir murders to silly chase scenes and honestly that's how I aspire my life trajectory. One weird to another. 

But we need more original ideas because money maker is not equal to good film. However, I have just an inkling that companies won't care so...hopefully we just get more creativity from directors. 

5. Supernatural Horror

Ghost movies. Spiritual movies. Paranormal movies. 

You get it.

Anything doused with catholic propaganda and cheap jumpscares goes under this category. So basically the Conjuring Universe, Final Destination, Poltergeist, Amityville Horror. 

I think it's not too hard to tell by my lack of descriptions that I'm not a fan. And if we were playing Clue, (shout-out to the Clue post!)  I'd be accusing these movies of every murder ever. 

It seems we have reached my culprit. 

Now, I have nothing against supernatural horror. I actually used to hold the opinion that those specific movies were more effective when it came to scaring me as an audience member. Used to. Because unfortunately what has happened over the past couple of years is just a sad, sloppy mess made for appeasing a money-hungry production company. Yes, I'm looking at you Warner Bros. 

We went from decent stories with good scares and horror elements to cheap remakes, sequels and just nonsensical plot points. The fact that a Conjuring Universe exists is just so absurd but it would at least make sense if it was good. The first few were.

Now, its delved into some weird Christian agenda film where the Warrens fight an occultist and are also somehow influencing the judiciary??? No joke, there's a scene in Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It (just why?) where they convince a judge that demons are real by introducing her to Annabelle. The same Annabelle who was an antagonist in one of the previous films. And this is supposed to be a one of joke but it's so stupid. 

The reason I bring up TCU is because currently they are at the forefront of the supernatural horror game. They are making the big bucks. But their movies sucks. 

And that's quite sad to see because there was a time where those were the movies that I considered horror. Actual horror. But now that all the sub-genres are better and crushing them, why aren't they improving? Why aren't they trying to get better and beat their competition. Because they don't have to. It's easy to make a cash-grab movie and they don't need to put the effort because they have an audience. They are lazy. 

And it shows. 

It's like a bleeding stain on an otherwise clean cloth. 

Anyways, I'm done pointing out my rotting carcass.                    

Have a horrible day!

🐄