During the 1940s, there seemed to be a trend toward "legendary" monsters like Dracula, the wolfman, the Frankenstein monster, etc.
During the 1950s, the trend moved toward giant mutations caused by atomic bomb blasts or other "science gone wild" accidents.
During the 1960s, the giant monster movies seemed to come mostly from Japan. Thanks to Hammer, we started seeing more of the "legendary" monsters again (usually involving Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee). Thanks to PSYCHO, we saw a lot of slasher rip-offs.
The 1970s brought us a lot of lesbian vampire movies and movies about the devil.
The 1980s was full of FRIDAY THE 13TH and HALLOWEEN rip-offs. Also, quite a few zombie movies.
In recent years, we have had to suffer through the SCREAM/I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER type films.
So, what do you think will be the next trend in horror movies? Are we going to see a lot of vampires? zombies? giant monsters? demons?
Anyone have a guess?
I hope that horror will soon turn away from visceral to more mental. It would be nice to have smarter horror films being made, instead of the standard mindless killing sprees.
Heck, I vote for more lesbian vampires!
I think there may be a trend toward more psychological thriller type movies-- though I have no evidence to back that up (never stopped me before).
The other trend is rehashment -- er, remakes, er, um, "homages".
I think over the next decade they'll be busy remaking everything, and probably making sequels to the remakes. Every now and then, someone will make a relatively original horror film but I don't think it will happen that often.
zombies seem to be making the comeback
I guess...though at least two of those movies were based on video games.
It would be nice if the DAWN remake took off in a big enough way that people started making a ton of zombie movies again the way they did in the early eighties. Assuming at least a few of them were any good.
jmc wrote:
> It would be nice if the DAWN remake took off in a big enough
> way that people started making a ton of zombie movies again the
> way they did in the early eighties.
I think the success of "28 days" (considering it was a foriegn pic) probably created interest in this genre again. Then we'll have films that will ride coattails of any successfull ones. Overall the "horror" films that come out lately seem to do well with audiences, particularly teens. Teens have always been the real target audience for horror films over the past couple of decades (as where prior to the 70's it seems like the more serious and violent were targeted to an adult audience) It seems like it would be a relatively profitable. God knows they've pretty much put a stake in the vampire genre
My problem with the slew of zombie films being produced as a result of the fair amount of publicity enjoyed by 28 Days Later is the fact that they all seem to be trying to emulate that film. House of the Dead (which was one of the worst movies I've ever seen, and immensely enjoyable) and the Dawn of the Dead remake both feature zombies of the fast, aggressive variety. This doesn't work. In 28 Days Later, they were fast and aggressive for a reason. The current zombie trend apes 28 Days Later, hoping that hollow imitation will bring in the box-office revenues just like daddy.
Of course, they weren't really zombies in 28 Days Later, they were humans infected with a disease. But the people making these movies don't seem to be paying much attention.
"Scary" would be a nice trend to start...
My prediction is that the current trend will continue for the forseeable future:
Nothing major coming out of Hollywood will be even remotely scary.
Occasionally something will slip past the "LACK OF QUALITY" controls of tinsel town and be scary or at least interesting, but most of those will be re-makes of films from non-english speaking countries.
Meanwhile, countries other than the US, whose film industry isn't in the grips of the "Let's tone it down so the stupid people can get it" mentality will produce the most interesting, thought provoking, and scary films.
And, oh yes - there will be a vast flood of made for TV and direct to video stuff. This product will, for the most part, follow Stugeon's Law (90% of Everything is Crap).
>>>Meanwhile, countries other than the US, whose film industry isn't in the grips of the "Let's tone it down so the stupid people can get it" mentality will produce the most interesting, thought provoking, and scary films.<<<
Why is it that no matter the genre, american films do dumb it down? I'm tired of people who say "I go to movies where I don't have to think". To me that's a pretty powerful statement...and perhaps hollywood was listening.
Nothing is worse than when the end of the movie has some revelation in which they begin to go into DETAIL to somehow explain to the audience with the assumption we couldn't get it. sometimes it seems to me that overall, films as a whole are just dropping in IQ. I'm not a movie snob either who strictly goes to indy films and fawns all over critics choices. I have a broad taste, I equally like movies with swashbuckling adventure and explosions. It just seems like half the time i'm being babysitted by hollywood during those 3 hours and instead of breaking out risk, it's hungry hungry hippos again..and again...
Why is it that no matter the genre, american films do dumb it down? I
Try being a musician and watching the pop music industry some time :)
Entertainment producers have learned that it's easier to produce a 'product' with known quantities that can be sold then to actually try to be creative and develop talent and take risks
I hate to say it but for everyone who says "the movie sucks" it tells me "there's someone who saw the movie" and the producers don't care if it sucks as long as you watch it so...we get what we ask for when we using our money to ask for more.
From what I've seen, the psychological thriller is quietly [in some cases] slipping in. It seems that the Hitchcock style is sorta returning [case in point; M Night Shymalan has, well to me anyway, a very Hitchcockian style in some cases]
But i think there are two main streams in horror films, the slick, smart, quiet thriller, and the bloody and jumpy slashy type films like Wrong Turn [oh, I meant Texas Chainsaw Massacre, they're basically the same!]
1. Zombie films are becoming more frequent: Resident Evil has it's sequel coming etc
2. Japanese horror is becoming to the horror genre what Marvel is to the comic genre, like the Ring sequel and I think someone mentioned 'The Eye' or something to that effect earlier on.
3. Remake Remake Remake till you can't make no more!
As long as they have the right atmosphere and an actual interesting and CREATIVE story, I really don't care what type of movie it is, be it slow, jumpy or remade. Just as long as it's not just a bunch of scantily clad teens running away from a guy with a knife, I'm happy.
"Anyone have a guess?"
We're going to see (already are seeing) lots and lots of T&A. Bet the farm.
However, to answer your question, I suspect we'll start seeing more T&A as the monster (Underworld, Terminator3) and not just as the victim.
"Why is it that no matter the genre, american films do dumb it down?"
It just seems that way, Susan. Why? Because the only foreign movies we see here are the ones that are good and interesting and well done. I'm sure France and Italy and Japan and wherever all make their fair share of crap... that crap just never finds its way over here. They probably assume (correctly in my judgement) that the only way Americans will tolerate subtitles/dubbing is if the movie is pretty good, or at least interesting.
It's kind of like asking why other peoples' kids are always better behaved than yours? Answer: because you see yours 24/7 and tend to remember their worst moments. You see other people's kids in controlled situations for very brief periods of time.
How about karate fighting lesbian Vampires that have mutated so they can walk around in the daytime and they inslave the human population for their own amusement and for producing more blood for them.
More than likely there maybe some more space type of films, like Event Horizon
hmmmmm.........Space Lesbian Vampires.........Invading a planet near you
Cool! When is Space Lesbian Vampires coming out?
FearlessFreep wrote:
> Try being a musician and watching the pop music industry some
> time :)
>
True, it makes me sick that all singers and bands are just selling an "image". You don't see the ugly talent which for eons have really been the ones with the voice. Not saying that ugly folks can sing better, but let's get real..half the talent out there isn't talent, it's a generic voice with boobs and legs. Our american idol is a joke (The only redemption is the guy from norway who sounded like a combination of bono and crash test dummies who won..now that hobbit could sing!)
>>Because the only foreign movies we see here are the ones that are good and interesting and well done. I'm sure France and Italy and Japan and wherever all make their fair share of crap... that crap just never finds its way over here. <<
I wish it would, at least it would be fresh new crap. I used to live overseas, seeing an american film was a rare thing. I guess we don't see much of foriegn stuff because they can't take the $risk$ unless it's guaranteed to make money
>>vIt's kind of like asking why other peoples' kids are always better behaved than yours? Answer: because you see yours 24/7 and tend to remember their worst moments. You see other people's kids in controlled situations for very brief periods of time.<<
Holy crap have you been to a mcdonalds or walmart lately? Nobody's kids are behaved! I remember we never acted up in public, not for fear so much of a spanking but we were expected to behave. Plus we didn't want to embarass ourselves. I went to eat yesterday and the kids in there were so out of control, loud, running around and screaming they were ruining people's meals and driving them out. The mothers sat there and did nothing, when they finally did they just yelled and exacerbated the problem. That's another topic, but dont' get me started on "other people's kids" ;-)
Yes- but on the other hand, a bad visceral oriented movie might still have entertainment value. A brainless, pretentious "mindf**k" movie made by someone with the mentality of an angsty, artsy-fartsy film school drop out would be unbearable.
Two cents- I've seen it happen. It ain't pretty.
"Holy crap have you been to a mcdonalds or walmart lately?"
Actually, I haven't patronized either of those corporations in over ten years, but that's another thread. When I'm in public, I generally tend to not notice other peoples' kids because I'm either busy taking care of my own or I have some sympathy in knowing how difficult they can be. The only time I take notice really is when I hear kids talk s**t to their parents or other adults. I heard a ten year old call his mother an idiot a few weeks ago and SHE f**king apologized for whatever it was he was mad about!! That kind of thing drives me nuts.
A brainless, pretentious "mindf**k" movie made by someone with the mentality of an angsty, artsy-fartsy film school drop out would be unbearable
First thing that came to mind,,,"Nadja"
Eirik wrote:
> I heard a ten year old call his mother an idiot a few
> weeks ago and SHE f**king apologized for whatever it was he was
> mad about!! That kind of thing drives me nuts.
Man, I've never seen anything that bad. Just parents who either stand there and take it, or in the worst cases, actually have an argument with the kid. Remember the days when back talk was simply not tolerated.
The thing that really bugs me is the parents who don't follow through on threats. The best example of this was on a recent grocery shopping trip. The kid was being loud and whiny and pushy, so his mother grounded him. He then engaged in an even louder and more embarassing display of whining and begging. She asks him "well, are you going to behave?" Then she lifts the punishment. Altogether, about 30 seconds passed. What in the hell did that teach the kid? It just left me speechless.
I don't think I've even heard of "Nadja" before. Was it any good?
I hope that's *Topless* Space Lesbian Vampires, otherwise it just won't have the necessary artistic integrity.
"I hope that's *Topless* Space Lesbian Vampires, otherwise it just won't have the necessary artistic integrity."
For artistic integrity shouldn't it be "Russ Myer's Topless Space Lesbian Vampires"?
I don't think I've even heard of "Nadja" before. Was it any good?
I'm sure the filmaker(s) thought so. It was very artsy and pretensious...and mind-numbingly dull. I think Nathan has a review of it at Cold Fusion (http://www.coldfusionvideos.com) but I'm too lazy to look it up
Of course the next trend in Horror movies will be the "Reality" horror movie. I can see the premise now... 12 obnoxious people in thier 20's share a big house(ala Big brother) on a deserted island(ala Survivor) trying to make it in the music business(ala American Idol) when a disgruntled TV viewer who is sick of stupid reality shows starts killing them off each more brutal than the last.
That part goes without saying. Afterall, the only way to understand that they are lesbians is because they are topless together.
I see Hollywood churning out more piles of crap like Underworld that all the whiny angsty little bastards that play that Vampires LARP will just f**king love. And some more really really really vomitous remakes like the hack job they did on TCM.
But while all that's going on, the TRUE horror fans like us will be ignoring that s**t because the floodgates have been opened by the likes of Rob Zombie and Eli Roth for true horror fans to make true horror movies, harkening back to the days (early 70's - mid 80's) when horror movies were at their peak. Cabin Fever and House of 1000 Corpses (I know, not everyone likes that movie, but there will be others, and the sequel is gonna rule) were great throwback movies. Sam Raimi is turning Steve Niles' amazing comic book series 30 Days of Night into a movie, and more to follow, including an Al Adamson-style satanic biker comic/movie called The Nail written by Niles and Zombie.
I'm kinda rambling, but my point is, it's been proven that good horror movies made by people who know what they're doing can make some money, so we're finally going to see some good stuff amidst the crap.
Brother R
Is someone other than Rob Zombie directing the sequel? Because that's the only thing that could save it.
I agree with your overall point, though, that enough good movies can slip in here and there.
The next trend will be horror movies that involve dead rappers, fast cars and stupid teenagers...again. : ( 'Uuuuuugggh' I don't feel so good.
Ooh ooh ooh, and MORE LEPRECHAUNS!!!! WOOHOO!
Brother R
Disease, like in 28 Days Later and that one where the hillbillies had necrotizing faciitis or whatever, might be a long term trend, it's a real fear which lends a quite a bit of credibility to zombie type premises. Another thing I noticed in 28 Days Later that might be the next big trend is movies based on primal and childhood type fears, like abandonment.
http://davemunger.blogspot.com
I thought of another one; old science fiction movies remade as horror. I saw 28 Days Later with two guys my age and young couple. Us old farts all recognized it as a tribute to Omega Man, the youngsters said it reminded them of ... what's the name of that movie based on the video game with the skinless dobermans and the Russian model named Mooshoo or whatever?
http://davemunger.blogspot.com
>Of course the next trend in Horror movies will be the "Reality" horror movie. I can
>see the premise now... 12 obnoxious people in thier 20's share a big house(ala
>Big brother) on a deserted island(ala Survivor) trying to make it in the music
>business(ala American Idol) when a disgruntled TV viewer who is sick of stupid
>reality shows starts killing them off each more brutal than the last.
The details are different, but that's already been done as Fox's Murder in Small Town X a couple years ago. Contestants had to solve a murder and each week one of them would be "killed off". Won by a New York Firefighter who was killed on 9/11.
JohnL wrote:
> The details are different, but that's already been done as
> Fox's Murder in Small Town X a couple years ago. Contestants
> had to solve a murder and each week one of them would be
> "killed off". Won by a New York Firefighter who was killed on
> 9/11.
I taped every episode of this show - the last episode was 9/4/01, and the winner was killed a week later trying to get more people out of the Twin Towers. Damn shame.
As far as the current trend in horror flicks, thankfully it looks like gore is making a comeback. Cabin Fever, Wrong Turn, all kinds of wierd movies like this seem to be getting past the MPAA without too much trouble.
Thank God for Lion's Gate.
>youngsters said it reminded them of ... what's the name of that movie based on
>the video game with the skinless dobermans and the Russian model named
>Mooshoo or whatever?
Resident Evil starring Milla Jovovich.
i think the next frontier for the "quote un quote" "horror" movies of our time will be insane clowns perhaps. But no matter what it will be about we need some new writers because the recent films have sucked such as halloween and friday the 13th and jason and cabin fever or whatnot... we need some of those 40s to 60s style films in black and white maybe and some scary stuff not just gore and violence altough that is good just we need horror back in our horror movies. We need a new modern day H.B. Lovecraft to bring back the good old days style of writing and filmaking. Please respond to me through my email adress if u want to discuss thi because i have alot to say but im not gonna add it cause noone is realli gonna read this but if u wanna see it email me at bal516@yahoo.com.