I love horror, but nothing's really scared me other than doctor's visits in over a decade now. The slasher stuff is just gross. Yes, torture porn like the Saw movies can make me squirm and uncomfortable as all get out...but scared? Not reatlly ever.
The Descent I think was the most modern movie to really give me a good scare. It wasn't the last 30 minutes when the cannibals become the terror. I didn't care for that at all. It was the clausterphobia and omniprensent dread that just kept building every moment they were underground. The build of tension was damn near perfect. I just didn't care for the payoff.
Below is another good "horror" movie. It's a WWII submarine movie. The captain has died, the viewer is not certain of all the details. They've rescued survivors of a ship and have brought a female on board (bad omen, I guess?...holy shit, we would have reacted differently in the 90s). But anyways, the boat is having issues... and you are left to wonder for a long time if it is indeed haunted or if the crew is just losing it.
I like the horror that messes with the mind. Showing gruesome stuff for shock is just that... cheap shock. It surves a purpose, I do enjoy the Toxic Avenger movies and such from time to time. But Hollywood has forgotten one simple fact...what we conjur in our imagination is much more horrific than what they are prepared to show us in an R rated movie. The less you show, the more impact it can actually have. Treat your audience with respect and don't feed them everything.
I really need to see the new Nosferatu movie. I've heard good things about it and the dread that it builds. I absjolutely loved the Lighthouse and enjoyed the Northman so I'm interested to see what he's done with this one.
