HORROR MOVIES: IS THE FRANCHISE DYING? OR, MAKING A KILLING?

Perhaps, one of the most popular genres in The film industry is HORROR movies. Whether it’s the new faces of whore or classic characters being remade for audiences, it’s not hard to see why. In the past couple of years there have been new faces of her added to the genre as well as remakes of classic movies. However, Do they live up to their predecessors? Personally one of my mottos is “Life’s no fun without a good scare!” a line that pays homage to Tim Burton’s 1993 Classic Film THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, but I suppose you might say, “That’s a Ghost of a different color.”

Depending on what era you grew up in everyone has their own opinions. Name’s like CHRISTOPHER LEE, VINCENT PRICE, PETER LORRE, BORIS KARLOFF, LON CHANEY and BELA LUGOSI, Classic actors who’s very present sent shudders down the spines of Movie goers, Old and Young.

In the 70’s and 80’s a new version of the genre evolved, and HORROR Movies were dubbed TEEN SLASHER Flicks, obviously because the main target of the Killer was Teenagers, whether it was being stranded somewhere in the woods, or in quiet Suburbia, there was no escape. Classic Monsters while still prominent were given facelifts in movies like AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, THE HOWLING, FRIGHT NIGHT and THE LOST BOYS and names like LEATHERFACE, MICHAEL MYERS and most notably FREDDY and JASON became synonymous with fans. Serial Killers, who essentially became “unkillable”.

In the 90’s Horror was still a pretty popular genre. However, the approach to Horror was more “realistic” as oxymoronic as that might sound. Even though the cliche of Serial Killers stalking the hapless victims was still a common theme, the movies played out to be more like a Murder “Mystery”, I myself who went to theaters, growing up on movies like this, being a Teenager myself at the time, was shocked. It felt as if the days of yester-decade was gone and the Films seemed like, “What if SCOOBY-DOO, was a HORROR Movie?” Well, that was my impression anyway.

Somethings changed, and some stayed the same. There was the Hero/Heroine who always seemed to outwit the Maniacal Killer, only this time the Killer was not a Monster, or had any Supernatural Powers, it was just a normal human-being, with an axe to grind....literally.

“Cut” to the 21st Century, enter a new spin to the genre, Gore Galore. The Bloodier, the Better. Movie franchises such as SAW, FINAL DESTINATION and HOSTEL while some had rather clever plots and slightly interesting storyline really wanted to push the envelope, each one trying to out due each other, realizing that audiences wanted see more than hapless victims getting stabbed, shot, etc. took it to new extremes, mutilating their actors and actresses in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine.

Another trend that seems to popular in today’s HORROR Movies? Remakes. Some people say, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattering.” Others say, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!”

It seems sort of ironic that Hollywood, the land of make

believe would run out of ideas, but in the case of some movies, that’s exactly what’s happening. Films like TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, FRIDAY THE 13TH, NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. were classics when they came out in their respective decades, but have been rehashed and put up on the Big Screen once again. Some remakes seem to hit the nail on the coffin, while others it just seems to are trying to keep the franchise “alive”.

I suppose in a way it has its ups and downs. The Good? It gives newer generations a glimpse of, and hopefully an appreciation for the classics The Bad? It just seems to be a way for movie makers to “save their skins”, not to mention their extravagant amenities and palatial homes.

Point is, it’s just one person’s opinion I’m sure other people have their ideas on what should and shouldn’t pass for Horror, and when to say, “I can’t watch this anymore!”

Personally? One of my favorite aspects of the HORROR Genre, is much like FANTASY, there is no shortage of Special Effects. In the end, all I can say is, “What’s your favorite Scary Movie?