JDFP
01-Jul-2009, 08:11 AM
The problem with horror movies these days is that it is all about gore, T&A (tits and ass for the great unwashed), and a bunch of unrealistic supermodel looking people never over the age of 30 running around in the film.
To number # 1: Some good gore is never bad, but if the film is run by gore, and you have no plot, you have no decent script, you have no decent story to tell, all the gore in this world will not save you. Compare "Hostel" to "The Exorcist" for example. "Hostel" was all about screwed up, crazy-as-hell, gore. "The Exorcist" certainly had its extent of pea-soup pouring moments (and at the time stabbing yourself with a crucifix screaming "Jesus f**k me!" was completely over the top, hell, I'd argue today that it's still over the top). "Hostel" is a messed up gore-fest of just "eww...". However, "The Exorcist" still scares the shit out of me because (especially for the 70s) it had PLENTY of disgusting moments but it wasn't driven by the disgusting moments -- it was all about the story. The story, and the character interaction within said story, has to drive a film first and foremost. Everything else is nothing if you don't have a good story to tell. Max Von Sydow is a brilliant actor (by the way, the only actor I know of who has played a priest, a knight, Satan, and Jesus all together. How many other actors do you know of who have played BOTH Christ and Satan?) and really brought amazing development to the "The Exorcist". Who will remember "Hostel" twenty years from now?
To Number # 2: I'm a 28 year old guy, so I'm never going to complain about really good T&A. Give me some Winona Ryder with a...., er, ahem, nevermind. What I am wanting to say is that yes, sex plays an important role in anything. We're sexual creatures. All of us as humans. But, good horror doesn't have to be driven by T&A and sex. Take the original "Twilight Zone" in the 50's for example. There was NEVER any T&A in the original "Twilight Zone", and yet the "Twilight Zone" managed to tell some of the finest horror stories ever developed and even to this day, in my humble opinion of course, some of the finest segments of science-fiction and horror to this day. Rod Serling, Richard Matheson, they all knew it was about the STORY -- give the story credit. The character interaction will flow from the good story, a story worth telling, and if it's really worth telling -- you don't have to pile it up with insane amounts of ridiculous gore for "shock" value and you don't have to pile up any T&A for effect for those of us guys who enjoy a damned good looking gal... Don't get me wrong, there ain't a damned thing in the world wrong with being a guy and seeing Winona or Keira Knightly and thinking "Hmmm...." to yourself, but good horror is NOT about T&A. It's all about the story.
I don't know how many times I can express that... it's all about the story. Tell a good story, everything else will fall into place.
To number # 3: It seems that the vast majority of movies today (especially horror flicks) are all about people in their 20's who are all extremely fit, all extremely good looking, and all insanely horrid actors. Don't get me wrong -- there are a minor few younger folks who are decent actors/actresses, but it just doesn't seem to be about the craft anymore. Personally, if I see a movie where all the actors/actresses look like supermodels, I just shake my head and sigh and say: "Here we go again..." -- I'm sorry folks, but it is just not realistic. Yes, people want to see 'pretty' people on screen -- but those of us who want to see life realistically want to see real people from all backgrounds.
Anyway, I'm drunk off my bloody frakkin' arse. I've been downing Budweiser and smoking non-filtered Pall Mall's all night. I just felt like expressing some stuff (Thanks to Bud helping me out) that has been on my mind as far as modern horror goes for some time.
I don't want to really start an argument with anyone. I respect all the folks here, these are just some of my own personal thoughts, my own personal opinions. I welcome anyone else to express their thoughts on "Modern Horror"... personally, I'm going to grab another beer...
j.p.
To number # 1: Some good gore is never bad, but if the film is run by gore, and you have no plot, you have no decent script, you have no decent story to tell, all the gore in this world will not save you. Compare "Hostel" to "The Exorcist" for example. "Hostel" was all about screwed up, crazy-as-hell, gore. "The Exorcist" certainly had its extent of pea-soup pouring moments (and at the time stabbing yourself with a crucifix screaming "Jesus f**k me!" was completely over the top, hell, I'd argue today that it's still over the top). "Hostel" is a messed up gore-fest of just "eww...". However, "The Exorcist" still scares the shit out of me because (especially for the 70s) it had PLENTY of disgusting moments but it wasn't driven by the disgusting moments -- it was all about the story. The story, and the character interaction within said story, has to drive a film first and foremost. Everything else is nothing if you don't have a good story to tell. Max Von Sydow is a brilliant actor (by the way, the only actor I know of who has played a priest, a knight, Satan, and Jesus all together. How many other actors do you know of who have played BOTH Christ and Satan?) and really brought amazing development to the "The Exorcist". Who will remember "Hostel" twenty years from now?
To Number # 2: I'm a 28 year old guy, so I'm never going to complain about really good T&A. Give me some Winona Ryder with a...., er, ahem, nevermind. What I am wanting to say is that yes, sex plays an important role in anything. We're sexual creatures. All of us as humans. But, good horror doesn't have to be driven by T&A and sex. Take the original "Twilight Zone" in the 50's for example. There was NEVER any T&A in the original "Twilight Zone", and yet the "Twilight Zone" managed to tell some of the finest horror stories ever developed and even to this day, in my humble opinion of course, some of the finest segments of science-fiction and horror to this day. Rod Serling, Richard Matheson, they all knew it was about the STORY -- give the story credit. The character interaction will flow from the good story, a story worth telling, and if it's really worth telling -- you don't have to pile it up with insane amounts of ridiculous gore for "shock" value and you don't have to pile up any T&A for effect for those of us guys who enjoy a damned good looking gal... Don't get me wrong, there ain't a damned thing in the world wrong with being a guy and seeing Winona or Keira Knightly and thinking "Hmmm...." to yourself, but good horror is NOT about T&A. It's all about the story.
I don't know how many times I can express that... it's all about the story. Tell a good story, everything else will fall into place.
To number # 3: It seems that the vast majority of movies today (especially horror flicks) are all about people in their 20's who are all extremely fit, all extremely good looking, and all insanely horrid actors. Don't get me wrong -- there are a minor few younger folks who are decent actors/actresses, but it just doesn't seem to be about the craft anymore. Personally, if I see a movie where all the actors/actresses look like supermodels, I just shake my head and sigh and say: "Here we go again..." -- I'm sorry folks, but it is just not realistic. Yes, people want to see 'pretty' people on screen -- but those of us who want to see life realistically want to see real people from all backgrounds.
Anyway, I'm drunk off my bloody frakkin' arse. I've been downing Budweiser and smoking non-filtered Pall Mall's all night. I just felt like expressing some stuff (Thanks to Bud helping me out) that has been on my mind as far as modern horror goes for some time.
I don't want to really start an argument with anyone. I respect all the folks here, these are just some of my own personal thoughts, my own personal opinions. I welcome anyone else to express their thoughts on "Modern Horror"... personally, I'm going to grab another beer...
j.p.