Giving up HORROR movies for a while...

[Peter Vincent]

My recent trip to the Amityville Horror remake has really got me considering putting horror movies on hiatus for a while! Lemme 'splain...

I think perhaps I've become somewhat desensitized to horror movies as of late...they don't give me the VA VOOM they used to. I was MAJORLY disappointed by the likes of Amityville, Ring 2, Cursed Boogeyman & so many others that have come out recently and I thought it was just a matter of it taking A LOT to impress me, but maybe I'm just "maxxed out" on my horror input. Some even have/had good reviews by critics...so what's wrong with me?

I'm forever compaing sh*t I see now to the original, foreign movies made better or 80's movies I grew up watching (my fav decade) and, though a part of me feels the comparison seems unfair...its THERE! I feel like I've seen it all before. Only movie that left a lasting impression on me recently was Saw, but even that had its scenes that reminded me of other films (Texas Chainsaw, Se7en, etc). Has anyone ever felt like this? Maybe I just need a 6-month to 1-year hiatus on watching horror, that way when I come back to it I might love it that much more.

Maybe its just part of getting older! I'm hittin 31 in June (Gosh damn, it never evened dawned on me 'til I wrote it)...maybe soon all I'll be watching is those serious adult dramas...nah!!!

Whatchu guys think?

[Mok]

I know what ou mean man. But I just saw Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things this past Halloween and it really freaked me out. Maybe you should just lay-off the newer stuff ;)

Rent or buy a Japanese film called Old Boy - absolutely brilliant/inspirational non-horror film.

[indiephantom]

time to switch to porn for awhile, dude. :banana:

[maskull]

I think your problem is that the movies you're going to see lately aren't great movies. look around this board. most of the movies you just mentioned got a lot of negative reviews.I think it's more that Horror movie fans are just a little more picky than the average person and therefore you're fine.

I'm 32 now and I haven't started to watch serious adult dramas. (DAMN! I'm 32!!!)

[Shannafey]

I actually find myself venturing more and more back into Scifi, which was my first love!! With the new Battlestar series, new Star Wars film coming out and a new Dr. Who series, I'm more and more interested in revisiting the stuff I loved as a kid. I am presently watching the cheesy 80s Buck Rogers series. With Scifi, there have been some good recent offerings, but with horror, like you said, there hasn't been much to make me love the genre!

[MrKateB]

I think you're going through the same thing I went through twice already...The first time was around the mid-late 80's, when horror films started to disappear from theaters, producers and directors of horror films in production started referring to them as "thrillers", and really lame horror movies were going direct-to-video at a very fast pace. I had rented so many lame ones that I got sick of them and just stopped. at some point in the mid 90's, I got reinterested again, and would pick them up here and there, but can't remember too many good ones.

I think "Scream" was the first one in awhile that had really reinvigorated my love of horror films, and again, after seeing too many cheaply done, lame, straight-to-video crap (no offense, but many of them "star" Brinke Stevens--what the fuck?) I have again started to fade on horror films. I am still way into the older ones I've loved growing up etc., and there is the oddball release of one that has never been available etc., but many of these new titles just suck.

Maybe you SHOULD take a break for a little while, almost guarantee you'll come back with a renewed interest.

[Ash28M]

I think that way every once and a while, but then I always end up watching one out of nowhere that gets me excited about it again. I think you need to stop look in at the main stream stuff for entertainment. There few and far between.

[indiephantom]

I actually find myself venturing more and more back into Scifi, which was my first love!! With the new Battlestar series, new Star Wars film coming out and a new Dr. Who series, I'm more and more interested in revisiting the stuff I loved as a kid. I am presently watching the cheesy 80s Buck Rogers series. With Scifi, there have been some good recent offerings, but with horror, like you said, there hasn't been much to make me love the genre!

SF was my first love, too. Funny thing is I haven't kept up with it as much...but when I do, I really really enjoy it. I'm even considering getting into reading more science fiction. But I'm such a horror nut. Although I love lots of everything, except overly manipulative saccharince crap.

[VideoViolence]

Eh, you'll be fine. You're just jaded by all the horse shit that's come out lately. And I don't blame you one bit. But giving up horror? You're nuts, lol.

[Stige]

I assume this is true for lots of us. I see a lot of the new stuff and think "whatever................" and it pains me to buy new stuff unseen. BUT I have no problem upgrading or maybe buying two or three copies of the same glorious 70's or 80's flicks I love. The problem isnt horror, it's just the watered down, copied, "re-inventions" stuff that has been showing up lately. I remembered the 80'2 and before, loving almost anything i rented /saw, these days it's a question of being pleasantly surprised by enjoying new stuff when on rare occasion it happens.

[evildeadfan123]

I just turned 36 in February, and I have been mostly turned off by the some of the recent Direct-To-Video horror films. They are pretty much shot on Digital Video.

[Paff]

Well, for one thing, stop watching the damn remakes!

Then, I'm not sure if it's what you're doing already, but try filtering in OTHER genres as well. A steady diet of one type of film, no matter how good, will desensitize anyone.

Finally, like everyone else has said, watch more quality films instead of just anything horror. Be more discriminating in your choices. Mok mentioned Oldboy (which is South Korean, not Japanese). I'd say check out A Tale of Two Sisters. Two Sisters is not just a great horror movie, it's a great MOVIE. As in, mainstream quality acting, cinematography, writing, direction, the works. If you watch that movie and still feel that horror is not worth your time, then you can give up the genre for a while.

[Mok]

Mok mentioned Oldboy (which is South Korean, not Japanese).

Damn I knew that too. I remember realizing it by the subtitle options.

[speanroc]

i stay away from new horror for that very reason besides there's plenty of old stuff i havent seen yet............

[Jimbo]

I am always taking breaks.I like to flip around genres all the time.If I am getting a little burned out on horror I tend to watch westerns or classic dramas for a while.Hell I even watch an occasional musical from time to time.It puts things in their prospective and it is always a treat to go back and rediscover my first love (horror).I also get on kicks were i will just watch certain directors films.That is always fun as well.Or for me at least.Just take a break and look outside of the box for a while and try something new.

[SinisterJim]

I took a big break from horror around '91/'92 until about 2000...I really don't remember why, obviously horror dried up at the theaters around that time, but I even lost that passion for the older movies and films I grew up with. I have to thank a former co-worker around 2000 for reminding how great horror was, we would talk endlessly during work about our faves growing up, then I started purchasing horror DVD's like a madman! I usually start getting the horror jones around July, that run's through Halloween (of course). I also have different periods of the year I may focus on certain genres, lately it's been film noir, and some classic asian or samurai films...but I also mix it up a lot in the spring, an adventure film here, drama there, science fiction, maybe a western or some cult films. I just love movies, this keeps it interesting and lively too.

I have to say, with the movies you listed, I would have given up on horror! First, avoid the teen-safe PG-13 dreck, unless you get great reviews and word of mouth from trusted sources, steer clear! Check out the growing library of classic and/or lesser known horror films, different sub-genres...don't be affraid to be adventureous with purchases every now and then.

I don't think you will see some real horror until this summer, with High Tension, Undead, Land of the Dead, Devil's Rejects or Cry Wolf opens, I believe all of these are R rated, and some are pushing that to the limit.

[dwatts]

I actually took a break from horror for ten years or more. I go back into horror probably four or five years ago.

Still, clearly the problem here is crappy new films at the cinema - hardly a reason to quit an entire genre is it? If you take your horror focus from what is out on their on DVD, covering many decades and sub-genres, rather than what is currently doing the rounds, you'll be better off. I hardly have time to watch the classics, let alone new things.

Still - I reckon it's essential to watch other genres. I mean, they're horror FILMS, and there are many different kinds of films. Other genres use similar techniques and conventions, so there's a lot to enjoy. If you're ONLY watching horror, then you're missing 95% of cinema.

[RyanPC]

No, you shouldn't give up on horror. Sure, the newer movies mostly suck, but I'm positive there's plenty of classic horror you haven't seen yet. :)

[tobaccoman]

If those are your latest horror experiences (first-time viewings), then I feel sorry for you. There are plenty of classics that I'm sure you haven't seen (not many have) and I'm sure there are many newer ones that you haven't seen either (albeit from foreign lands). I'm sure you've probably seen May (it's one of my faves), but have you seen Love Object (It's on the same grounds and a wonderfully edecuted film), but what has mostly hit well with stateside (true horror fans, not the teeny boppers that fill the theatre) are the horror/comedies (a la Bubba Ho-Tep and Shaun Of The Dead). If you aren't looking in the foreign markets right now though, you're really missing out. I'm anticipating so many future releases right now that it is hard for me to understand how somebody could be going through this type of a problem. I know there aren't many actual horror titles (at least that meet the level of our interest) on slate at the moment, but there are so many dark drama/thrillers that are able to re-create/re-establish those horrific themes we've come to revere)! I for one have yet to see so many Takashi Miike films, Old Boy, The Machinist, Irreversible, Haute Tension, A Tale Of Two Sisters. I still haven't seen so many of the actual classics though, that it's hard for me to start on the newer stuff. There are probably about twenty titles from each decade that I've heard so many great things about, but still haven't been able to catch up on. I sure hope you can get over this little problem of yours (if you see it as such, which I'm guessing you are or else you wouldn't have brought it up), and find something truly horrific to occupy your time.

[DVD Connoisseur]

I've not watched a horror movie for around 3 months, with the one exception of a recent viewing of Friday the 13th Part IV.

No particular reason, other than I've been watching episodes from vintage Doctor Who series and current television shows.

I must admit, there's not been a recent DVD release that I've been particularly excited about....

[wago70]

All great posts! Good thread. I'm in the same boat. The current expensive drive-in flicks (even the non-horror ones) just don't do much for me. I'm lucky to live in San Francisco because there's ALWAYS classic films playing somewhere in the city. Two weeks ago I saw DEEP RED on the screen for the first time. Good print - it was wonderful. Other films I saw on the big screen: the '78 Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Son of The Blob, many GODZILLA flicks, The H-Man...watching them reminded me of why I love horror and sci-fi films.

[tobaccoman]

Originally Posted By wago70
Two weeks ago I saw DEEP RED on the screenMan, I'd kill to see any Argento on the big screen!

Hey wago, where do you live?

[Agent Z]

Man, I'd kill to see any Argento on the big screen!

Hey wago, where do you live?


I'm lucky to live in San Francisco because there's ALWAYS classic films playing somewhere in the city.


I don't buy into the argument that "they don't make em like they used to", because there have always been bad films throughout each decade...as well as good films. Sometimes you have to know where to look at the time (hint: foreign) and deal with the trends of the moment (glut of remakes).

For every five Chainsaw/Dawn/ etc etc remakes, there's a Identity or A Tale of Two Sisters out there also. The ratio seems to favor the bad films, but that's just the nature of the beast. Regardless, there are still great horror films being made.

[Horrorfan]

Pete I guess the thing you need to ask yourself are you a horror fan or a horror watcher?

The biggest problem with so called horror fans of today is the spend hours upon hours bitching how the new stuff isn't as good as the old. The problem is why there sitting there hugging there copys of the SAhining and the Exorcist good films past them by.

Now me my self I watch horror from all around. From silent horror to the modern era I give everything a chance. That is what fan does. Sure you run into stinkers but hey the fun part is separating the stinkers from the future classics. look at Shaun of the dead. Now there is a classic in the making.

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the remake of The Amityville Horror. Me personally I did really enjoy it. I upsets me hearing my fellow horror peers roll there eyes when they were sitting through it. I enjoyed it ,founds some great chills and left with enjoyment.

So before you leave the genre step back a minute and ask your self what you are. I am almost your age(27) and find horror films as fun now as they were in my younger days.

[tobaccoman]

Originally Posted by tobaccoman
Man, I'd kill to see any Argento on the big screen!

Hey wago, where do you live? That was intended to be a joke, I obviously saw where he lived. Sorry, if my humor fell flat!

[NewYawkRipper]

Ive never really been afraid of a horror movie, I more or less enjoy watching people die in the most drawn out hillarious ways. It may sound a little twisted, but watching two people getting speared together while humping in Friday the 13th when I was 5 yrs old was a hoot!
Then I saw The Exorcist shortly after and feel asleep because it was to boring.
Then I found a bootleg copy of City of The Living Dead around 1991 in a comic shop and fell in love with Italian horror instantly. The gut puking scene was an instant riot.
So more or less, I find most horror to be comedy. Its stuff like Cannibal Holocaust, Make them die slowly, the stuff with unneccessary animal killings that truly bother me.

[rxfiend]

right now, my horror passion is being overshadowed by the upcoming Star Wars flick. until that movie comes out, i'll be in full fanboy/geek mode. lol. however, the summer looks good for horror in the mainstream theaters with Land of the Dead and others.

[badnewsbrown]

.

[wago70]

I don't buy into the argument that "they don't make em like they used to", because there have always been bad films throughout each decade...as well as good films. Sometimes you have to know where to look at the time (hint: foreign) and deal with the trends of the moment (glut of remakes).

For every five Chainsaw/Dawn/ etc etc remakes, there's a Identity or A Tale of Two Sisters out there also. The ratio seems to favor the bad films, but that's just the nature of the beast. Regardless, there are still great horror films being made.

Yeah, I know...but you see, with Identity and Tale/Sisters - those were pretty original productions. Fresh. New. Something to get excited about. The current remakes...it's just to soon to me. I mean, wasn't there at least a 30 year difference between The Thing and Blob films?
I want freshness...oh goodness :eek2: I'm making movies sound like detergent. But I see what you mean - it's true, too.

[dwatts]

--Ive never really been afraid of a horror movie, I more or less enjoy watching people die in the most drawn out hillarious ways.--

People watch horror films for different reasons. For me it largely depends on the mood. Sometimes watching a bit of wanton gore is great fun, no doubt. However, I must say, those times when a film really does scare you - there's nothing like that. If horror films never did that, I'd be less interested in the genre. I don't think it has anything to do with being desensitized by watching horror films (I've watched many of them, for many years) but rather it depends upon ones personality. Regardless, I am open to being truly frightened if the filmakers have done a good enough job - and when I am, it's a true highlight like no other.

[RyanPC]

Two weeks ago I saw DEEP RED on the screen for the first time.

Oh God, that's an Argento fan's wet dream! :sperm:

I wanna live in San Francisco now. :(

[Evil Dead Guy]

It seems today Hollywood cannot make decient Horror film anymore, as it's all seems crap these days. The old days was the best time for Horror films, i mostly watch older stuff as back then they where alot more entertaining than the one's today.

[Horrorfan]

Yes but if we don't go see new stuff remakes become heavy because a name can ring in a crowd. Whats sounds more appealing to the ear Darkness Falls or Dawn of the dead? I rest my case.

[Agent Z]

The old days was the best time for Horror films, i mostly watch older stuff as back then they where alot more entertaining than the one's today.

Again, I think people are always going to be swayed by nostalgia here...over the reality that there was crap back then too. And lots of it. Growing up in the 80's, horror fans complained about every flick being a slasher flick (and they were right to a degree). Now, some of those same flicks that people were condemning (My Bloody Valentine for example), they consider staples of the genre.

There are always going to be more bad films than good films (in any genre, btw), but there are still good films being made out there.

[maskull]

Yes but if we don't go see new stuff remakes become heavy because a name can ring in a crowd. Whats sounds more appealing to the ear Darkness Falls or Dawn of the dead? I rest my case.
um...which one are we supposed to think sounds better? they both sound cool to me. :confused:
...though only one of them was a good film.

[Horrorfan]

Well what I am getting at if the modern horror fan hates all new Horror films studios go back to the basics with remakes of fan favorites to make a buck.

[dwatts]

I think one of the issues is that we expect too much. When a new film comes out, we seem to demand that it blows us of our seats. "a fun way to spend 90 minutes" is not good enough. A good, but not great film is rubbish. A fine effort that doesn't quite gel, is worthless.

We don't have the same standards for older flicks. Dawn of the Dead is an example of a fun way to spend 90 minutes, which marks it as not terrible for me. TCM was prety naff. But there's a lot in between, and I think modern audiences are just expecting so much, movies are bound to fail. Every time we appraoch a new film, we need to be more open. Everything won't be the next "Night of the Living Dead", there are all shades of artistic gray......

[KR~!]

While most American Horror flicks have been crap for the most part for a long time now, there are still plenty of old classics and Euro and Asian titles that are always being released. Get an all region pal converting player and enjoy :)

[maskull]

Well what I am getting at if the modern horror fan hates all new Horror films studios go back to the basics with remakes of fan favorites to make a buck.
well the problem with that statement is that a lot of horror fans also hate the remakes...sometimes even more than the bad original films being put out these days.
anyway I agree with you about people who hate a movie just because it's a remake. that just doesn't make any sense to me. I really liked the Dawn of the Dead remake and enjoyed TCM and The Grudge. I pretty much don't mind if it's a remake as long as it looks like a good movie, i'll go and see it...maybe even the Black Christmas remake. That being said, it does get discouraging occassionally when it seems like every movie coming out these days is some kind of remake. I wish Hollywood would take more time to create some new ideas. I don't even want them to stop with remakes, just maybe tone down the number of them that they are doing.

....and as far as I'm concerned, there's plenty of great movies still being made today. you just have to look a little harder for them in the glut of family friendly movies. Don't just watch the trailers that play before the movie at your local multiplex. That's why boards like this are great. You're always discovering new movies to check out.

[SinisterJim]

Nostalga is a factor, as is your age, fave sub genre, and a million other factors...ultimately though, it comes down to the skill and mindset of the filmakers! The recent crop of big studio 'thrillers' are just that, the studio's idea of what people want, what they can market to the teen-set, which means PG-13, to maximize profit. You may have skilled writers and directors, who capture great visuals, but lack in telling a visual story or working with actors. Most come from music videos or advertising...which appeals to teens, and thus, studios want that appeal in the film. This is why most (not all) of the horror greats from the last 30 or so decades have been from independant studios and filmakers who go it alone...they are not concerned with what's trendy or marketable, they are willing to deal with more risque subject matter, darker themes and flawed characters, more likely to show things studios say they shouldn't. Watch project greenlight, not only does it confirm most of our problems with Dimension, but I believe it is a glimpse at most studio's handling of horror films. The best stuff the last few years has been independent and foreign, they seem to be more willing to go further and deal with disturbing concepts.

With the exception of studios like Lions Gate, most will not change anytime soon...and anyone following the entertainment industry knows of all the proposed remakes, some of which may be good, others will, no doubt, confirm our suspicions.

[nukfut]

I think one of the issues is that we expect too much. When a new film comes out, we seem to demand that it blows us of our seats. "a fun way to spend 90 minutes" is not good enough.

I have to disagree with this, at least on a personal level. I don't expect to be blown away by most horror films. But I do get annoyed at the PG-13'ification of the films these days. It just seems Hollywood isn't interested in making raw, in your face, horror films these days. And I understand it's a business and they're in it to make money, but from a consumer point of view, it's very frustrating. I guess that's why I always look back on the 70's and 80's as the golden period of horror.

[wago70]

Again, I think people are always going to be swayed by nostalgia here...over the reality that there was crap back then too. And lots of it. Growing up in the 80's, horror fans complained about every flick being a slasher flick (and they were right to a degree). Now, some of those same flicks that people were condemning (My Bloody Valentine for example), they consider staples of the genre.

Really? In my neck of the woods, we rushed to see every horror flick that came to town. I was only in middle school, but it was easy to get my older brother or cousins to take me. Sometimes my aunt would drive 2 1/2 hours to get to Reno and ask if we wanted to see BOOGENS, FINAL EXAM, BLOOD BEACH, GRADUATION DAY, ect.
Everyone leaving the theater never seemed disappointed at all. Compared to what was showing on Creature Features (Hammer, Godzilla, ect), this was the new thing. The mainstream critics were bashing away - but when you see excited teens leave a showing of HELL NIGHT - you know this was a pleased market. If Jamie Lee Curtis was headlining the film, I swear PROM NIGHT had a line down the street...and this was even months after it premiered on network television!
There was crap (When the Screaming Stops, The Prey, ect) that had us scratching our heads, but we weren't as critical of film in general back then. We watched, enjoyed and then went home (or bragging at school the latest horror flick we saw). This is just my tale, though.

[nukfut]

Really? In my neck of the woods, we rushed to see every horror flick that came to town. I was only in middle school, but it was easy to get my older brother or cousins to take me. Sometimes my aunt would drive 2 1/2 hours to get to Reno and ask if we wanted to see BOOGENS, FINAL EXAM, BLOOD BEACH, GRADUATION DAY, ect.


These kinds of stories bring a tear to my eye. :-)

[mandy bradley]

I have to agree with everyone on this thread who said stay away from the remakes. All these remakes that they have been coming out recently, have been big disappointments. Just look around this forum, there have been a lot movie suggestions on less known horror films that you may enjoy. Hopefully, Hollywood will see that all these remakes are horrible and start coming up with some original stuff.

[wago70]

I think, too, when video became more popular that is when the crap really started coming out. We got educated real quick about these glossy video covers trying to make a movie from '64 look (then) current. Don't even get me started on direct-to-video flicks that were just bottom of the barrel cheap.
By 1983, I was horrored-out and took my break. Later, there was NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, ALIENS, HELLRAISER, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD - all good, solid flicks that had people buzzing after leaving the theater. Sneaking in on video store shelves with little fanfare was Corman/Concord duds, Brinke Stevens' (and her crew) flicks, ect. that didn't do much to advance the genre. Still, good or bad, none of them were stuck in this current remake rut.

[wago70]

These kinds of stories bring a tear to my eye. :-)
Oh man, she was so cool. If it was her pay weekend, she'd bring up her kids on Friday evening and it was only a matter of minutes after they arrived where she'd go, "...let's see something scary! What's playing?"
They lived in a small town where the movies played a whole year later and they didn't have cable so they came up to "the city :rolleyes: often".

[dwatts]

--I have to disagree with this, at least on a personal level.--

Fair enough. I still think, as a general rule is applies, bt of course I wouldn't say it is true of everyone. Take the TCM remake. The original is one of the most lauded films in genre history - what exactly did we expect of the remake? Was it to just as shocking, just a thrilling, just as visceral? No chance, I say. Not even close. But I think some people have complained about it largely because it didn't measure up to the original, which is after all, one of the best horror films of all time. Personally, I'm not too surprised it didn't measure up.

-- It just seems Hollywood isn't interested in making raw, in your face, horror films these days.--

Or ever. As pointed out earlier in the thread, didn't the true "in-your-face" titles ceom from independents?

[Agent Z]

There was crap (When the Screaming Stops, The Prey, ect) that had us scratching our heads, but we weren't as critical of film in general back then. We watched, enjoyed and then went home (or bragging at school the latest horror flick we saw). This is just my tale, though.

Well, you WERE in middle school. :p

[shift]

Here is a tip. We all know that if the horror movie is rated pg13.. then its not gonna be a good ass horror movie will great kills, violence and sex scenes. I feel that a lot of horror movies now are trying to get the PG13 rating so they can get more $$$ from younger audience to come a see it w/o mommy and daddy consent. Yje box office wants $$$ and not to really please the audience. I just saw cursed and it was ok. I saw the US version of The Grudge... it was ok/good. They were both pg13.
I feel that much horror movies that hit the box office is just another spoof of the wanna be 80's horror, but cutting what real horror movies are suppose to be. Well welcome to the new ERA. Babyboomers are gone!!

[Erick H.]

Sorry to hear about your horror burnout,but it is understandable.The truth is,it seems like half of the market is now made up of remakes and half of the remainder is made up of films trying to "recapture the feel" of 70s and 80s horror flicks.The most frightening word I've heard coined in the last decade is "re-imagining",it implies so much.,it delivers so little.Theres' an older term for this concept,it's called ripoff !

It's your luck to be living in what amounts (in terms of horror flicks) to the experience of biting into a bad oyster.Ever do that,it's disgusting.But still,if you love 'em,you don't give up on oysters,you just consider them more carefully.If they just remade a movie you LOVED,chances are you aren't gonna like the remake,so save yourself the pain.If the trailer to a film looks like 100 other films you've seen,know what,the movie probably IS like 100 other films.Theres no law that says you have to see every turd torpedo the studios launch at you,weigh your options.Don't just stick to the multiplexes,try an arthouse now and then(if you're near one),they show a lot of off the wall stuff(I just saw the original GODZILLA in Japanese in the theater,called GOJIRA,it was great !).One lucky break nowadays is that the dvd market is huge,via online rentals or e-bay purchases you can get films from around the globe AND revisit(or catch up to) beloved horror cult films and classics,check out the good stuff ! Less you risk missing out on a good new one,listen to word of mouth more than box office tallies,any hyped piece of crap can get a big opening haul if it comes out on 2000 screens.Remember also,there are always cinema cafes,wait a bit and you can at least get a sandwich and a brew for your trouble.Don't give up,just broaden your options and don't automatically see every flick that comes down the pike.Remember ,if the studio makes a mint on a BAD film,they have no incentive to make a GOOD one ! Hang tough,chill for a while,watch a good disc then wait for something new,it'll come,just be patient !

[wago70]

Yeah - it's just a matter of time before someone delivers something special.
Until then, I'm indulging in the past with much glee. DEATHDREAM? I really thought it was a solid flick. THIRST? I couldn't stop watching it - intriguing, "different" flick. What else - I'm ready for more!

[BloodMan]

I watched The Bite again today (that poor vid is gonna wear out soon enough) and man... its so frikkin awesome. Wish they'd make em like that still. But mehh. It probably felt that way to people in the 80's wishing stuff was like the 70's. Its a cycle. And round she goes.

[wago70]

Well, you WERE in middle school. :p
Well, yeah - those were advertised in such a way that...well, you know the story: ingenious marketing. Another one that worked well: TOURIST TRAP. Didn't see that one coming - the PG rating really fooled us into not expecting a full-on teens-in-peril flick. Another funky time I had at the movies was, in 1983 we got in to see DR. BUTCHER M.D. (with a note from our parents that it was okay to admit us - it worked!). However, the movie that showed was none other than BLOOD FEAST! Upon seeing the '60's fashions and all the rest this film is now known for, people were leaving the theater in droves. All except for us and 2 other people. We just watched it and actually enjoyed it. At school, nobody got my "have you ever had an EGYPTIAN FEAST?" joke in the lunchroom. *good times*

[Erick H.]

Man,I used to have so much fun in the 80s catching horror flicks ! I went to a quadruple feature to see the new ELM STEET(4) ,with the first three cut together to run in a continuous loop,non stop movies right up to the new film.I ducked out during pt. 2 and ran accross to WENDY'S,then returned with a double with cheese and a bag of fries tucked into my jacket to continue the show.I saw REANIMATOR with a buddy with only two other people in the whole place,buy 20 minutes into it,we were the only ones left there,the others got too grossed out.I saw Dead Alive with a friend and the only other guy there was a passed out drunk,he slept though the whole flick !I caught SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW on my own,just as the house lights went down ,two teenage girls(underage) came in and sat directly behind me in a huge theater,they freaked during the whole thing.I caught an unadvertised sneak of a film that turned out to be NEAR DARK.DAWN OF THE DEAD and THE EXCORCIST were at packed lateshows,as was THE DEAD ZONE.To this day one of the best audience reactions I ever saw was to a packed house for CREEPSHOW,a simmilar crowd for POLTERGEIST went totally nuts ! I Caught AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON the day before school started and a strange girl burried her head in my shoulder for half the run of the film,scared witless,as the credits started she bolted out of the theater.To this day I wished I had followed her ! Fun days !

[wago70]

Serious fun days! Great stories! One time I got carded and kicked out of DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE for sneaking in. The same worker let me in the following week (!) to see TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH.
We had this multiplex that opened up that soon became known at the "$1.00 Theater" since it was a second-run show house. It was the suburbian Grindhouse. Here's some films that played there (usually for one week before disappearing): Grim Reaper, Don't go in the Woods, Blood Feast, The Hearse, Don't Answer the Phone, Final Terror...you get the picture. What was amazing was that no matter what the film - there was ALWAYS a huge line down the hallway mostly on the weekends. It was kinda charming to see competing crowds lined up near each other for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and NIGHTMARE.
They tried to do the midnight thing, but the only film that struck a cord was DAWN OF THE DEAD (which they aquired only once) and ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. The midnight marquee looked like this (I have the ad in my collection): NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, DAWN OF THE DEAD, ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, THE WARRIORS, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, WIZARDS, ERASERHEAD. All for one night and each playing in a different theater. How in the hell do you choose between NIGHT and DAWN?

[nukfut]

As pointed out earlier in the thread, didn't the true "in-your-face" titles ceom from independents?

Good point.

[Peter Vincent]

Wow, I didn't expect to see this thread go 4 pages. All U guys had GROOVE-TASTIC comments. In response to some comments that stood out...

...I consider myself a HORROR FAN! As far back as I can remember (I'm gonna say 6- 7 years old which would've been late 70s very early 80s) I used to pillege flea markets & comic shops for HORROR comics. Old Unexpected, Tales From The Crypt, House of Horrors and the like are what I "stashed" and LOVED! I got into these before I got into superhero comics. Horror TV & Movies were something I always wanted to see despite cowarding at times (one that comes to mind was the original Phantasm....gave me nightmares for years).

...I've also tried my darnest NOT to compare the new sh*t with the genre of movies I grew up watching & loving (the 80s), but its occurred to me that Hollywood has run out of ideas for horror and now has to bit off the past or make it "kid-friendly" which stinks. Despite being a fan of Dark Castle movies, I recently saw a trailer of House of Wax and it looks like crap!

...and again, its more of a desensitation of gore, people getting cut up, monsters & even "jump scares".

I've decided to take a month long break from watching any of my horror movies...I figure I'll get the withdrawal after a while!