Movies: Horror Movie Discussion

[Porn*]

Bram Stokers Dracula was excellent but I didn't consider it horror until the very ending... was more of a drama.

 

[TheThrill81*]

Bram Stokers Dracula was excellent but I didn't consider it horror until the very ending... was more of a drama.

I thought Keanu Reeves' acting was horrific.

But yeah, that was only a year after Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey was released. So every time I saw him in Bram Stoker's, I couldn't help but think of Theodore Logan.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Surprised 2 of the highest grossing horror movies of the last 2 decades haven't been mentioned yet.

The Others with pre-plastic surgery Nicole Kidman - suppose this one could also be classified as a thriller as well. Quite the twist at the end!

The Ring - American version with Naomi Watts. She does a great job conveying the urgency of her situation as it slowly dawns on her that she only has 7 days to save her and her son's life.

Another one that isn't mentioned here is Pandorum although I guess that could be classified as horror sci-fi. I have mixed feelings on this one as I found the first 20 minutes brought great tension and many questions. How did these people get on this ship? What is their purpose for being there? What are those creatures and how did they get on the ship? Unfortunately it unravels quickly with rather uninteresting and undeveloped characters and uninspiring and frankly boring climax between the protagonist and antogonist. Still, I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it for those first twenty minutes alone.

Best modern day Dracula is Francis Ford Coppola's version from 1992 - I would recommend that over any other modern versions including the 2000 version and the 1970s version with Frank Langella which felt like an incomplete story.

Shoutout to 1408 and the Descent - two more recent horror movies that standout for me, especially the latter. Empowered female characters with a back story in a horror movie? Imagine that! Too bad the writers ruined it with the Descent 2 and it's nonsensical twist ending.

Anyone see The Host - the Korean monster movie from 2006? Saw that on Netflix a few years back and thought it was good, but not great.

Also, let's not forget the first found footage movie that started the rage which continues to this day - The Blair Witch Project.

Honestly I didn't think much of any of those movies

Infact I hate 90-95% of so called horror films released since late 90's

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Both the Ring and The Others were generally well-received by audiences and critics alike. They didn't follow the disturbing trend of torture porn so often found amongst current horror movies. There was none of the cliches one would typically find in a horror movie. The writers created strong, interesting female characters instead of going down the well-worn path of the helpless, illogical, irrational females. Both were well-acted by the leads and some of the supporting characters. Actually I include the Descent in this category as well.

Why exactly are these are these not good horror movies? I need a better explanation than an appeal to history - older horror movies are better than newer horror movies...and something more descriptive than xxxx movies are steaming piles.

 

[member 51464]

Both the Ring and The Others were generally well-received by audiences and critics alike. They didn't follow the disturbing trend of torture porn so often found amongst current horror movies. There was none of the cliches one would typically find in a horror movie. The writers created strong, interesting female characters instead of going down the well-worn path of the helpless, illogical, irrational females. Both were well-acted by the leads and some of the supporting characters. Actually I include the Descent in this category as well.

Why exactly are these are these not good horror movies? I need a better explanation than an appeal to history - older horror movies are better than newer horror movies...and something more descriptive than xxxx movies are steaming piles.

I may be misremembering.....isn't The Others the one that starts off like a thriller/mystery and then "OMG, IT'S ALIENS"? It just seemed really stupid when I saw it in theaters, and I was in my early teens. If early teens me thought it was not clever, then I doubt grown up me would be anymore impressed

 

[Big Phil]

Well, that would explain why you didn't like it...

Also, yeah, Devils Rejects was a great movie.

I entered the movie theatre thinking it would be just a classic "whodunit". But it ended up being typical Hollywood when it comes to horror. This time they make fun of the audience because who in their right mind likes a horror movie? Well, I do, and I think the ones that are done right can be epic.

 

[member 151739]

I think we should all watch the same horror flick sometime and talk about it.

 

[TheThrill81*]

I think we should all watch the same horror flick sometime and talk about it.

Good idea. I nominate we watch Cool As Ice.

 

[F L Y E R S]

Saw Annabelle today. Pretty good I thought. The ending not so much. But definitely enjoyed it overall.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Just finished watching this often overlooked and underrated 80's gem for the first time.

'Twas very atmospheric and pretty creepy. Plus I'll never see the late Jack Albertson in the same way (as the fun-loving Grandpa Joe from "Willy Wonka") ever again.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

Just saw Grave Encounters for first time. Very solid 2011 atmospheric creeper set in abandoned asylum. Thode types if horrors get me almost every time

 

[Smelling Salt]

Just saw Grave Encounters for first time. Very solid 2011 atmospheric creeper set in abandoned asylum. Thode types if horrors get me almost every time

It didn't blow me away but I didn't mind it.

 

[Smelling Salt]

Watched Insidious 2.

God, I couldn't STAND this friggin movie. I actually wanted to shut it off after 30 minutes but I had **** all to do so I kept going. I got sick of the cheap jump scares very quickly, which is all this movie is. Also, the "scary" friggin creepy violins etc during the jump scares would absolutely blow out your speakers so I would turn it down but then everyone is whispering. Drove me bonkers.

Lin Shaye is awful, at least in this.

I give it a 3/10, with one of those points being extra because Rose Byrne is so adorable. I generally enjoy Patrick Wilson but I felt bad for him being in this turd.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Just finished watching this often overlooked and underrated 80's gem for the first time.

'Twas very atmospheric and pretty creepy. Plus I'll never see the late Jack Albertson in the same way (as the fun-loving Grandpa Joe from "Willy Wonka") ever again.

I haven't seen that in longtime

It had pre Kruger Robert Englund in it as well

It was an interesting film with a nice twist at end

 

[JDinkalage Morgoone]

Watched Insidious 2.

God, I couldn't STAND this friggin movie. I actually wanted to shut it off after 30 minutes but I had **** all to do so I kept going. I got sick of the cheap jump scares very quickly, which is all this movie is. Also, the "scary" friggin creepy violins etc during the jump scares would absolutely blow out your speakers so I would turn it down but then everyone is whispering. Drove me bonkers.

Lin Shaye is awful, at least in this.

I give it a 3/10, with one of those points being extra because Rose Byrne is so adorable. I generally enjoy Patrick Wilson but I felt bad for him being in this turd.

Jump scares are the bane of horror movies. It's terrible.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Yesterday I watched Dracula 2000 on SyFy. Alright, fine, I can suffer through that crap to get to Children of the Corn....oh, it's a 2009 remake of CotC. Alright, thanks SyFy, that's disappointing...what do you have for me now? GHOST STORM? Alright, peace out SyFy. C- for effort.


Watched The Awakening. Not too bad. Not too great.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Yesterday I watched Dracula 2000 on SyFy. Alright, fine, I can suffer through that crap to get to Children of the Corn....oh, it's a 2009 remake of CotC. Alright, thanks SyFy, that's disappointing...what do you have for me now? GHOST STORM? Alright, peace out SyFy. C- for effort.


Watched The Awakening. Not too bad. Not too great.

Quality of channel has declined bigtime since switch to SyFy.

Before that switch they actually tried to put out good shows and ok films. They also put forth some pretty damn good effort in miniseries as well (Taken and Tin Man)

Since then just low quality nonsense and even the so called high quality efforts like remaking Children of the Corn turn out to be terrible and just star cheap actors from other SyFy programs

-- For the record ,, The Original Children of Corn and its sequels aren't much better but at least I grew up watching that --

 

[Beef Invictus]

Quality of channel has declined bigtime since switch to SyFy.

Before that switch they actually tried to put out good shows and ok films. They also put forth some pretty damn good effort in miniseries as well (Taken and Tin Man)

Since then just low quality nonsense and even the so called high quality efforts like remaking Children of the Corn turn out to be terrible and just star cheap actors from other SyFy programs

-- For the record ,, The Original Children of Corn and its sequels aren't much better but at least I grew up watching that --

Yeah, the remake wasn't terrible as far as SyFy efforts go nowadays and that Zita Vass girl is really hot. But like you said, I was hoping for the original.

I don't mind when SyFy purposefully makes movies like Sharknado, but I really wish they would balance that with legitimately good programming instead of something so bad it's entertaining...enough of the Troma style stuff.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Yeah, the remake wasn't terrible as far as SyFy efforts go nowadays and that Zita Vass girl is really hot. But like you said, I was hoping for the original.

I don't mind when SyFy purposefully makes movies like Sharknado, but I really wish they would balance that with legitimately good programming instead of something so bad it's entertaining...enough of the Troma style stuff.

Troma stuff at least was entertaining in its absurdity in 80's ,, SyFy/Asylum films are just trash

As for SyFy COTK ,, Only reason I watched it was because it had Kandyse McClure in it

 

[Spawn]

I'll go against the grain and say that (with a few exceptions) 80s horror movies are terrible. The Halloween series, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm street etc.... all horrible. The kind of horror movie I absolutely hate.

I just don't enjoy movies where it seems like 1/2 the purpose is the body count. And that's all those movies have ever been to me.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

I haven't seen that in longtime

It had pre Kruger Robert Englund in it as well

It was an interesting film with a nice twist at end

Yeah I enjoyed it.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Troma stuff at least was entertaining in its absurdity in 80's ,, SyFy/Asylum films are just trash

As for SyFy COTK ,, Only reason I watched it was because it had Kandyse McClure in it

Yeah, her and Zita. Giggity.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

I may be misremembering.....isn't The Others the one that starts off like a thriller/mystery and then "OMG, IT'S ALIENS"? It just seemed really stupid when I saw it in theaters, and I was in my early teens. If early teens me thought it was not clever, then I doubt grown up me would be anymore impressed

No, I don't remember any suspicions of Aliens being behind the mysterious acts in The Others. It's a ghost story. Maybe you are thinking of The Forgotten with Julian Moore?

 

[member 51464]

No, I don't remember any suspicions of Aliens being behind the mysterious acts in The Others. It's a ghost story. Maybe you are thinking of The Forgotten with Julian Moore?

I think you are right! My apologies for the confusion. I guess it was hard for me to keep such simple titles straight. I've never seen The Others. But I stand by thinking The Forgotten was effing brutal.

 

[Big Phil]

I'll go against the grain and say that (with a few exceptions) 80s horror movies are terrible. The Halloween series, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm street etc.... all horrible. The kind of horror movie I absolutely hate.

I just don't enjoy movies where it seems like 1/2 the purpose is the body count. And that's all those movies have ever been to me.

The sequels got a little silly that way. But in all three series, the first ones did not have a giant body count. Halloween is a perfect example of an old school horror film with little blood, little murders and the less you see the scarier it is. The original Friday the 13th didn't have a high body count in comparison either to its sequels. It is a classic "whodunit". Original Nightmare on Elm Street was the same way, not a high body count.

The original movies in all of these series were classics and can always withstand the passage of time. The ones that followed weren't always good and once they started focusing on the body count more than the plot, they got worse. I'll say though that even in Friday the 13th Part 2 it was still a very good follow up.

Watched Insidious 2.

God, I couldn't STAND this friggin movie. I actually wanted to shut it off after 30 minutes but I had **** all to do so I kept going. I got sick of the cheap jump scares very quickly, which is all this movie is. Also, the "scary" friggin creepy violins etc during the jump scares would absolutely blow out your speakers so I would turn it down but then everyone is whispering. Drove me bonkers.

Lin Shaye is awful, at least in this.

I give it a 3/10, with one of those points being extra because Rose Byrne is so adorable. I generally enjoy Patrick Wilson but I felt bad for him being in this turd.

Yeah, it wasn't very good. You know, you get that with horror movies. The first Insidious was great. It kept your interest. It had a nice twist, very creepy actually. You might not look at a baby monitor the same way. But that's the thing when horror movies become sequels. It is really hard to compete with the original, you have to tread carefully and not screw it up. Here, they screwed it up.