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At The End of the Day, People Still Want to be Scared. . .
One thing we've been pondering here lately is the state of horror in the general audiences mind. Take you the horror fan (and rabid Bidite) out of the equation for a moment. What does the general audience want to see when going to see a horror film? It's that question that we ask ourselves and is that topic we want to dissect. What makes people go see horror, what are they looking for?
Horror fans (fanboys and fangirls) enjoy seeing just about anything and everything to do with the genre. Yes, we are guilty ourselves for taking in the "bad" horror film from time to time. It comes with the territory. So as much as we moan and complain, we still buy tickets for "remakes" and "reboots" and we will see just about every bad CGI, horribly acted, slaughtered fest Hollywood can throw
at us. But we can ll wear the "Remakes Suck" shirt and have fun because we love the genre. We move on knowing in our hearts that somehow we are still doing the good of the genre, representing like any sports team fan, in both the good days and dark days.
http://i55.tinypic.com/ivh4rr.jpg" class="photoborder" />
Kind of melodramatic isn't it? But its true. Die hard fans will watch anything. So with that in mind what does Hollywood need to do to make a successful horror film for non-horror fans? Or the more casual, general audience, however you want to put it.
Do they focus on remakes? They tend to do well with the general audiences but are also more of a cater to fanboys . . . and fangirls. It's not something new and original so we all (except some "special" ones) know whats in store. Thus reflecting in ticket sales. If you liked the film the first time you'll probably like it a second. Or so they hope.
So if remakes aren't the key than how about the famous SAW inspired "torture porn" movies? It was effective at first. Creating a sense of uneaness and showing us step by step mutilation of another human being. It has that "car crash" sense that you don't want to look but have to anyway. It's disturbing yet appealing. Very morbid people we are in this world. Hollywood has made money on this formula but it's not the big ticket win anymore with general audiences. They want change. They want something new.
What does that leave out? How about the new fad 3D? It's the rave nowadays. Wait a minute, it was also the rave in the 60's then 80's. Hasn't Hollywood learned this lesson before? Yes, the technology is better. Yes, you can charge a higher ticket price. But the gimmick has always wore out its welcome. We have a feeling the same is going to happen here. Yes, we enjoy films if they use 3D right. The problem is they don't. Because its the "in" thing to do right now and because you can charge more (thus creating higher revenues) production companies are almost demanding it. Caung an influx of bad 3D movies. What does that do? It creates a tuation when people become fatigued by the technology. Yes, some films are good but some are also really, really bad. You tend to fall back on
what you're use to. What are we all use to? Traditional 2D film would be the answer. On Jeopardy you would have just won something.
Now is where we tie in our title to this article and look like geniuses in the making. People want to be scared. It's that mple. Take PARANORMAL ACTIVITY as a latest example. Look back even further at films like THE EXORCIST, POLTERGEIST and PSYCHO, the list goes on and on. The general audience is looking for one thing and one thing only. Its what we all craved in the beginning (yes, us fanboys, fangirls and Bidites). Its the feeling you get when you watch a film that has that slow burn. The build up to whats in the other room. Whats waiting on the other de of the door? Its the unknown that keeps us coming back. No yesterdays news (think remakes) although those films have their place.
Non horror fans and hardcore genre fans want one thing. The mple feeling of being scared. The sooner Hollywood figures that out the sooner their will be record breaking horror films. It doesn't take a lot of money to make a horror film. So its easy to turn a profit. When your little no budget film gets sold and watched by nearly the entire world is when Hollywood realizes the true potential of horror. Its that next indie film or big name directors dedication to the art of truly scaring the audiences that will translate to successful horror. And that film will ngle handedly once again take horror to heights we've never seen before. And hopefully scare the hell out of us at the same time.
Source: HorrorBid
Horror fans (fanboys and fangirls) enjoy seeing just about anything and everything to do with the genre. Yes, we are guilty ourselves for taking in the "bad" horror film from time to time. It comes with the territory. So as much as we moan and complain, we still buy tickets for "remakes" and "reboots" and we will see just about every bad CGI, horribly acted, slaughtered fest Hollywood can throw
at us. But we can ll wear the "Remakes Suck" shirt and have fun because we love the genre. We move on knowing in our hearts that somehow we are still doing the good of the genre, representing like any sports team fan, in both the good days and dark days.
http://i55.tinypic.com/ivh4rr.jpg" class="photoborder" />
Kind of melodramatic isn't it? But its true. Die hard fans will watch anything. So with that in mind what does Hollywood need to do to make a successful horror film for non-horror fans? Or the more casual, general audience, however you want to put it.
Do they focus on remakes? They tend to do well with the general audiences but are also more of a cater to fanboys . . . and fangirls. It's not something new and original so we all (except some "special" ones) know whats in store. Thus reflecting in ticket sales. If you liked the film the first time you'll probably like it a second. Or so they hope.
So if remakes aren't the key than how about the famous SAW inspired "torture porn" movies? It was effective at first. Creating a sense of uneaness and showing us step by step mutilation of another human being. It has that "car crash" sense that you don't want to look but have to anyway. It's disturbing yet appealing. Very morbid people we are in this world. Hollywood has made money on this formula but it's not the big ticket win anymore with general audiences. They want change. They want something new.
What does that leave out? How about the new fad 3D? It's the rave nowadays. Wait a minute, it was also the rave in the 60's then 80's. Hasn't Hollywood learned this lesson before? Yes, the technology is better. Yes, you can charge a higher ticket price. But the gimmick has always wore out its welcome. We have a feeling the same is going to happen here. Yes, we enjoy films if they use 3D right. The problem is they don't. Because its the "in" thing to do right now and because you can charge more (thus creating higher revenues) production companies are almost demanding it. Caung an influx of bad 3D movies. What does that do? It creates a tuation when people become fatigued by the technology. Yes, some films are good but some are also really, really bad. You tend to fall back on
what you're use to. What are we all use to? Traditional 2D film would be the answer. On Jeopardy you would have just won something.
Now is where we tie in our title to this article and look like geniuses in the making. People want to be scared. It's that mple. Take PARANORMAL ACTIVITY as a latest example. Look back even further at films like THE EXORCIST, POLTERGEIST and PSYCHO, the list goes on and on. The general audience is looking for one thing and one thing only. Its what we all craved in the beginning (yes, us fanboys, fangirls and Bidites). Its the feeling you get when you watch a film that has that slow burn. The build up to whats in the other room. Whats waiting on the other de of the door? Its the unknown that keeps us coming back. No yesterdays news (think remakes) although those films have their place.
Non horror fans and hardcore genre fans want one thing. The mple feeling of being scared. The sooner Hollywood figures that out the sooner their will be record breaking horror films. It doesn't take a lot of money to make a horror film. So its easy to turn a profit. When your little no budget film gets sold and watched by nearly the entire world is when Hollywood realizes the true potential of horror. Its that next indie film or big name directors dedication to the art of truly scaring the audiences that will translate to successful horror. And that film will ngle handedly once again take horror to heights we've never seen before. And hopefully scare the hell out of us at the same time.
Source: HorrorBid
Horror Domain - Cursed Evil Overlord
Tuesday 6/14/2011 at 02:00 AM | 77433
Great article Justin. I'm not sure how you managed to squeeze this in with me texting you every five minutes!!!
Anonymous
Tuesday 6/14/2011 at 02:36 AM | 77436
Hahahaha! Hey I can multi task with the best of 'em! Glad you enjoy it Brian. I love doing stories like these and with you always nailing the news it makes it so much eaer. :P
Horror Domain - Cursed Evil Overlord
Tuesday 6/14/2011 at 02:55 AM | 77438
This is a great article man, thoroughly enjoyed it and thoroughly agree with every word. I would have added Indious to the films at the end because not only was it not a remake (although it had it's influences) but I felt that at times it was scary, suspenseful and surpring. It had the right kind of muc score and right kind of vibe that I wish we would see more often in films nowadays.
Sephit
Tuesday 6/14/2011 at 06:33 AM | 77444
Couldn't agree more, INDIOUS is a perfect example of what will bring horror into more homes much like those other titles I mentioned did. Great movie and a film that truly has that feeling that a good scary movie should have. Its great to see films such as that being made but not only that, it was made for a mere 1.5 million dollars (nothing these days) and brought in 50 million dollars and counting. It proves that scares sell. And it brings non-horror fans into theaters and moves them inches closer to our de. Its an all out great thing and I pray we see more of it.
Horror Domain - Cursed Evil Overlord
Tuesday 6/14/2011 at 07:11 AM | 77445
A very well written article, and one that I couldn't agree with more. There is a difference between gimmicky, short-lived sell tactics and a real horror movie. I loved INDIOUS, and two of my favorite film series have been Saw and Paranormal Activity. INDIOUS and PA are honestly two movies that caused me to have problems sleeping for a little while, and THAT is what I want from a horror movie; a good story and real scares!
AMadSquirrel21
Wednesday 6/15/2011 at 10:26 PM | 77486
"It doesn't take a lot of money to make a horror film. So its easy to turn a profit."
Very true r, but it does take some money. You can't always go make a 2000.00 wonder and have it be the next best thing. It is very difficult to find people who are enthuastic about Working for no money.
Just my .02 worth is all, nonetheless, this is a very good article.
Very true r, but it does take some money. You can't always go make a 2000.00 wonder and have it be the next best thing. It is very difficult to find people who are enthuastic about Working for no money.
Just my .02 worth is all, nonetheless, this is a very good article.
aceofspades70
Sunday 6/19/2011 at 05:07 PM | 77590
Could not have said it better myself.
nolifefan
Tuesday 6/28/2011 at 01:22 PM | 77802
