Horror film thread.

[Mr Mystery]

Yep. I love horror films me.

From the dawn of cinema, through the heyday of Hammer and Amicus, via dodgy B-Movies and Video Nasties, right up to the awkwardly contrived modern day, its quite possibly my favourite genre (though Sci Fi is a close contender).

Even the 'torture porn' slasher flicks which were briefly fashionable press my buttons!

And it's a love affair that's been going on since 1990ish, when (whilst waaaay too young) I first saw Pet Semetary. Although far from a good film, it left a real impression on my young mind, and a craving for more.

In particular, I enjoy crappy Italian zombie movies. The crappier and more contrived, and the more gratuitous the nudity, the happier I am! Their inherent ridiculousness cheers my heart!

But that's not to say all horror films are cack. Far, far from it. When they're good, they are awesome. Take Ring, that now classic Japanese effort. Perhaps it's the extra level of attention the subtitles require (not hipster! I have it on VHS, and it doesn't have a dub on it) but it is such an excellently atmospheric and genuinely scary film! Even it's follow ups (sequel and prequel) are worthy additions, without being needed to make sense of the original.

Creature features too, love them to bits! Currently watching Rogue, which seems essentially to be Jaws, but with a Crocodile. Australian effort, and nicely paced so far!

So, any other horror fans out there? Whether you have a thing for psychological horror, or you're and out and out gorehound, let your voices be heard!

[Cap'nSmurfs]

The John Carpenter/Kurt Russell version of The Thing is one of my all-time favourites.

[Mr Mystery]

Yup. A truly excellent combo psychological horror creature feature!

Simple premise well acted and executed.

And also an excellent example of why a modest budget, and inventive crew makes for the best horror. Much like Alien, which straddles the same genres!

All too often as soon as a sequel or remake is given a big budget (not bigger necessarily, but big) the charm and creativity is sucked right out, rendering a well loved story into just another gore fest! Now don't get me wrong, I like a silly gore fest, but when remaking or reimagining, you need to be bringing a lot more to the table than just a higher body count and a gribblier creature.

Example of the bad? The Thing prequel. Utterly, utterly pointless. No need. Didn't add to the mythos, just cheapened it.

Example of the good? Possibly controversially, I vote 'Nightmare on Elm Street'. Perfectly timed, and managed to dig past the campiness of the later instalments, reminding us just why it was such a successful franchise, whilst adding more to the story. Not everyone's cup of tea, but certainly proof positive remakes/reimaginings can work really well!

[Kirsten]

I love horror films but I have never been scared by them. I can get emotionally invested in most films, comedies, action etc. but for horror I am always aware it isn't real. I love supernatural/monster films like vampires, through to cloverfield etc.
last night I watched Extinction, eastern european made I am guessing, zombie apocalypse type stuff. not really terrible, but nothing much happens either, they manage to make a zombie film with no real tension, which is sort of a skill...
Favourites, Dog Soldiers, The Descent, 28 Days Later, Let The Right One In.

[Mr Mystery]

Some are genuinely scary. Again, I find a good 'actually quite scary ratio' with Japanese films. Could be extra level of attention required by subtitles.

And Paranormal Activty. First one makes me just about poop myself, and there are definite 'watch through my fingers' moments. First two for sure are beautifully understated. No warning, sorry tension music ruining....sorry enhancing the scares. And much of it is pretty damned subtle. Three and Four are otherwise good fun, but do suffer from the law of diminishing returns.

Sadly the same cant be said of other 'found footage' films. Yes I'm looking at you Blair Witch Project, you steaming pile of poop! Way, way overhyped!

Perhaps that's one of the secrets of horror's appeal to me. There's been so much churned out over the years, and on such low budgets its rare they get a great deal of hype. As such, each one is a voyage of discovery. Granted the vast majority seem to swiftly set sail for Banality Bay, and some go straight to the local poo farm without passing go or collecting £200, but those hidden gems make horror prospecting worth it!

[Kirsten]

I quite enjoy things like Nightmare, Friday, etc. but they are just funny. watched the first Hellraiser last year, wasn't impressed. the ring was ok. I do like the cheesy b movie horrors, I saw one when I was very young called something silly like Attack of the Killer Toupee. Also Ice Spiders, Ghost Ship, one I can never remember the name of with a krakken type creature attacking people on a ship who's tentacles open up and curl round people. The Mist, Event Horizon, The Sphere, all excellent.

[Psychosplodge]

I've always found the Japanese/Korean horrors scariest. They used to show them at pics on a friday night in on one of the smaller screens at local cinema, which was fun :D

Hollywood has pretty much turned into a gorefest rather proper psychological horror. Never really been into the older stuff I can't get past the rubber masks.

[Mr Mystery]

Older stuff is worth persevering with.

It's an odd mindset required. First, you do indeed need to see beyond the shonky masks. Second, you need to remember how strict censors were even 30 years ago. Horror has progressed considerably in the past few decades. Budgets and technical capabilities in particular have helped, as has a general relaxing of censor squeamishness.

Never write off an old horror film because it's old!

[spaceman91]

Any fans of a scare should have a look at Spanish horror. Mostly about god and daemons but it is really good stuff.

[Mr Mystery]

Got any recommendations for specific titles?

If it's anything like Del Toro's work (root culture and that) I'm definitely in!

[Ze_Shoggoth]

Silk- it is a South Korean film Its really well filmed.

and In the Mouth of Madness - that film is so cool.

Princess of Darkness - John Carpenter film.

Fatagn!

[alshrive]

recent films I have watched that may fit here include Pandorum. It has space and tension. I love it :)

[Mr Mystery]

And in today's Amazon wishlist....

Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected
Hammer House of Horror
plus various other 70's TV horror anthologies...roll on pay day!

Seriously, if you haven't caught any of the TV Horror produced in the 70's, it's worth checking out. Yes it looks dated, no the gribblies aren't massivley convincing, but the production values are sound! Most are genuinely quite creepy, and the acting is top notch for the budget!

[Kirsten]

the masters of horror series has some fantastic episodes too

[Psychosplodge]

Now When it comes to cheesy horror movies I've got a liking for Ginger snaps, can't imagine why :D

[Kirsten]

ginger snaps is an amazing film, a superb werewolf movie. the sequels are fun too

[Psychosplodge]

I'm not sure I've seen the third.
The second was enjoyable though too.

[Deadlift]

The Shining, my favorite horror of all time.

[Wolfshade]

ginger snaps is an amazing film, a superb werewolf movie. the sequels are fun too

There are sequels? Why did no-one tell me this?

[Kirsten]

two, Ginger Snaps Unleashed, and Ginger Snaps: The Beginning

Unleashed carries directly on from the end of the first, Beginning is set in 18th or 19th century US frontier, but with the same sisters. sounds dreadful, but actually isn't.

[Psychosplodge]

The only problem is the names... all I imagine is a biscuits bursting out the packet, and the prequel is set in a bakery...

[Wolfshade]

The only problem is the names... all I imagine is a biscuits bursting out the packet, and the prequel is set in a bakery...

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/3082720768/hD7682131/

[Mr Mystery]

two, Ginger Snaps Unleashed, and Ginger Snaps: The Beginning

Unleashed carries directly on from the end of the first, Beginning is set in 18th or 19th century US frontier, but with the same sisters. sounds dreadful, but actually isn't.

I shall look into these. Good Werewolf movies seem to be fairly thin on the ground.

I guess American Werewolf in London kind of broke the genre by being awesome.

[Psychosplodge]

Oh it's much better than that nonsense.

[Kirsten]

Dog Soldiers is the best werewolf film

[Psychosplodge]

Never got round to watching it.

[Mr Mystery]

Dog Soldiers is the best werewolf film

Darn tooting!

Spoon's last words...cinema genius!

And most pleasing to see a highly trained military unit act....like a highly military training.

[Deadlift]

Has anyone seen the very creepy "Salad Fingers" animation shorts on youtube. Weirdly compulsive viewing but very very creepy.

[Psychosplodge]

About a decade ago :D but they're still creepy

[Mr Mystery]

Really? I just found them contrived and rubbish.

I then saw an interview with the creator on Channel 4, and yeah. Bit of an arse really.

If you want odd and creepy, Chris Morris.... Jam.

Particularly the home buying sketch. Or the plumber and baby sketch.....

[Psychosplodge]

They were created by that nob who plays Devo weren't they?

[Mr Mystery]

Devo....to me that means a US electronica/postpunk/new wave band?

[Psychosplodge]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7RBelz8BgX0

[Brakkart]

I'm not much for horror really though I will watch them now and then and I do have a fondness for a very few films. I have to agree with Kirsten and Mr. Mystery above that Dog Soldiers is the best Werewolf movie ever, do yourself a favor Splodge and watch it, well worth it. I am though a big fan of well made gothic horror films such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, The Wolfman (the recent version), Sleepy Hollow and From Hell.

I also like a handful of modern day horrors like American Werewolf in London (still the best transformation sequence ever) and my all time favourite horror movie is The Relic as I've always found museums to be a bit creepy anyway (still love visiting them though) so having some 'orrible critter stalking and killing in a Natural History Museum while it stages an exhibit on the Supernatural and Superstitions is brilliant on the part of the writer.

Dunno if any of you saw it but the BBC did a fascinating documentary series in 3 parts not that long ago called A History of Horror which was written and presented by Mark Gatiss and covers the evolution of horror movies from their beginnings with the classic Universal era, through Hammer and up to the 70's and 80's with the emergence of slasher films and films with satanic themes like The Omen and Rosemary's Baby. It gets repeated now and then on BBC4.

[Kirsten]

If you want odd and creepy, Chris Morris.... Jam.


Jam is the most amazing thing ever

[Mr Mystery]

Damn straight!

[Kirsten]

the final sketch of the first episode is still my all time favourite sketch.

[Deadlift]

I like black humour as opposed to true horror, genuine scary stuff usually has me jumping behind the sofa. I'm sure you guys are well aware of "the league of gentlemen" who I really enjoyed. Very dark and very funny. The Christmas special gave me nightmares :o

[Kirsten]

league of gentlemen was excellent too. "I'm looking for a boy" "poofter eh?"

[Mr Mystery]

Which one is that? Not seen it yonks

[Kirsten]

the doctor and the woman with the sore knee


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0n4hclzCyE&list=FL4-Hc0DFgr3GIRWthqzfPYg&index=97

[Deadlift]

league of gentlemen was excellent too. "I'm looking for a boy" "poofter eh?"

Little bummer boy. Come before your type in the forces, you won't catch me with my trousers down!

:D

[Mr Mystery]

Just tried and failed to watch The Woman in Black, having greatly enjoyed it first time around.

And for me, unable to sit through a second viewing isn't unusual for Horror.

Oddly, I think that's a good thing. You see, the scares, thrills and suspense tend to be one hit wonders by their nature. Knowing they're coming, well it's harder to appreciate them...

[Ze_Shoggoth]

There are sequels? Why did no-one tell me this?
I think I have only seen part of them when they were on syfy
The original was really good though

Fatagn!

[Wolfshead]

Apologies for the threadnomancy, but I thought it better to revive this than start a new one.

Me and my wife are big horror fans (we bonded over a mutual love of Hammer Horror and Ingrid Pitt!) and we're always on the look out for something new or that we haven't seen.

I fell in love with horror as a young'un watching stuff on telly like 'The Little Vampire' (not the Canadian remake, but the original dubbed German series), 'Count Duckula' and 'Groovie Goolies' before graduating to classic horror as a teen. I got a telly in my room and suddenly had access to the Friday night horror double bills on BBC2 and Channel 4. I got my love of Hammer and first wave Universal horror from there, as well as catching some more obscure stuff like the terrible, cheesy and fun to laugh at 'Blood of Dracula' and 'The Fly'. From there it was on to 70's and 80's stuff like 'The Omen', the 'Elm Street' movies and 'Night of the Living Dead'.

I love the 'League of Gentlemen', too, and the Christmas special is my favourite portmanteau horror "film" ever. Not one duff story in the whole thing, which is a massive achievement as even the best of Amicus's output had a dodgy one ("The Elemental" from their 'From Beyond the Grave' is as close to a stinker as they got in that flick. It's good, but not up to par with the rest).