What's with Hollywood's obsession with Horror movies in 2009?

[creekin111]

I'm not just posting this because of Halloween movies coming out for Halloween. But throughout this entire year there's been nothing but horror movies that come out every fucking weekend!!!

This has to be due to the declining economy. Hollywood becomes spineless and keeps feeding the general public cheap horror movies to turn a quick profit.

A basic search I did for Horror genres on IMDB with over 1,000 votes from the USA (non-tv releases)...

1. A Perfect Getaway (2009) 6.6/10 (4046 votes)
2. Alien Trespass (2009) 5.8/10 (1367 votes)
3. Antichrist (2009) 6.9/10 (9188 votes)
...aka Antychryst (2009) (Poland)
4. Bakjwi (2009) 7.6/10 (1192 votes)
...aka Thirst (2009) (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
5. Blood: The Last Vampire (2009) 5.4/10 (2705 votes)
...aka Last Blood (2009) (Japan: English title)
...aka Rasuto buraddo (2009) (Japan)
6. Doghouse (2009) 6.2/10 (1190 votes)
7. Drag Me to Hell (2009) 7.4/10 (32292 votes)
8. Død snø (2009) 6.6/10 (7236 votes)
...aka Dead Snow (2009) (Europe: English title: festival title) (USA: new title)
9. Friday the 13th (2009) 5.8/10 (21219 votes)
10. Grace (2009/III) 5.7/10 (1659 votes)
11. Halloween II (2009) 5.1/10 (5508 votes)
...aka H2: Halloween II (2009) (USA: promotional title)
...aka Rob Zombie's Halloween II (2009) (USA: complete title)
12. Horsemen (2009) 5.6/10 (5499 votes)
13. Hush (2009/I) 6.2/10 (1174 votes)
14. Infestation (2009) 6.3/10 (1407 votes)
15. Jennifer's Body (2009) 5.6/10 (5648 votes)
16. Laid to Rest (2009) 5.1/10 (1413 votes)
17. Lesbian Vampire Killers (2009) 5.4/10 (3708 votes)
...aka L.V.K. (2009) (Europe: short title)
18. My Bloody Valentine (2009) 5.8/10 (14264 votes)
...aka My Bloody Valentine 3-D (2009) (UK: promotional title) (USA: promotional title)
...aka My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009) (UK: poster title) (USA: poster title)
19. Orphan (2009) 7.2/10 (10096 votes)
...aka Esther (2009) (France)
...aka L'orpheline (2009) (Canada: French title)
...aka Orphan - Das Waisenkind (2009) (Germany)
20. Pandorum (2009) 7.2/10 (3863 votes)
21. Red Sands (2009) 4.6/10 (1297 votes)
22. Saw 18 BILLION 456 THOUSAND and 21!! (2009) 6.7/10 (2612 votes)
23. Sorority Row (2009) 5.6/10 (2120 votes)
24. The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations (2009) 5.9/10 (3272 votes)
25. The Collector (2009/I) 6.2/10 (1084 votes)
26. The Devil's Tomb (2009) 4.1/10 (1949 votes)
27. The Final Destination (2009) 5.1/10 (9077 votes)
28. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) 5.8/10 (9748 votes)
29. The Last House on the Left (2009) 6.7/10 (14685 votes)
30. The Lodger (2009) 5.7/10 (1108 votes)
31. The Unborn (2009) 4.5/10 (11787 votes)
32. The Uninvited (2009/I) 6.3/10 (11478 votes)
...aka Der Fluch der zwei Schwestern (2009) (Germany)
...aka Les intrus (2009) (Canada: French title)
33. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) 6.5/10 (20975 votes)
34. Walled In (2009) 5.0/10 (1149 votes)
35. Zombieland (2009) 8.2/10 (21950 votes)


And there's still another 2 months to go. Enough Hollywood!!! You suck at it (at least 99 times out of 100)! Seriously for those pining for snuff films or just mindless violence you can probably find those videos on the internet for a lot cheaper than a movie ticket. Go search theync if all these horror films aren't enough to quell your taste for shock value.

Not to say that all the above films are shit but c'mon. How many zombie movies, vampire movies, psychopathic killer, ghost movies can they possibly crap out??? With all these horror films, there's bound to be a decent one but my God how many times do they have to fail in order to have one good horror film?

Imagine all the better film ideas that were scrapped in favor of these quick buck money making crap films. "Oh wow, geee look that guy had his head cut off. How shocking." I mean is there anything such as 'social desensitization'? How many times can you see a torture scene or (for action films a Mexican standoff)?

[Highspeed]

It was probably either this or 35 sequels to High School Musical :(

[QUENTIN]

Well, you hit the nail on the head man. It sounds like you know what their obsession is. They're generally cheap to make, easy to slap together (standards tend to be lower), and have a much higher return on investment than most genres.

In other words, it makes a lot of sense for Hollywood to put out an endless stream of bad horror movies. The solution, as for remakes or any other trend you think sucks, is to not go see them.

[LordSimen]

Because Hollywood realizes what the superior pictures are. The horror ones. :D

As for your question... What the fuck you babbling on about? How many times can we see a torture scene? Huh? There's only two or three movies with anything I'd qualify as a "torture scene" in them. Most of those flicks are either ghost stories, zombie flicks or slasher films. Couple vampire flicks and thrillers as well. In fact, that entire list is quite varied.

[outsyder]

There are a lot of horror movies which are considered good because they are so bad.

[creekin111]

Because Hollywood realizes what the superior pictures are. The horror ones. :D

As for your question... What the fuck you babbling on about? How many times can we see a torture scene? Huh? There's only two or three movies with anything I'd qualify as a "torture scene" in them. Most of those flicks are either ghost stories, zombie flicks or slasher films. Couple vampire flicks and thrillers as well. In fact, that entire list is quite varied.

A. this is just a rant so babbling (or lack of a better word) I would guess is a requirement.

This list is just from 2009 and basically use the same formulas from other films prior to this year. And torture is among many common ingredients used ad nauseum in horror films, literally.

Torture scenes, I'll give 6 examples off the top of my head...

Saw I
Saw II
Saw III
Saw IV
Saw V
Saw VI

and I'm sure there have been a slew of Saw copycat films.

Other overly used common elements...

Creepy child.
Vampires.
Zombies.
Werewolves.
Remake.
Sequel.
Prequel.
Sequel to a prequel.
Prequel to a sequel.
Psychopathic killer.
Comedy horror.
Haunted house.
Exorcisms/possessions.
The devil.
Aliens.
Vacation/resort/tropical settings.

And all these elements are presented like its never been in a film before. Like its new fresh territory. Never before seen in film! Again I'm just generalizing but IMO just seem worse in the horror genre than others (the action genre is almost as guilty though).

My point is Hollywood is definitely going to become more mainstream than ever before because of the weak economy. Even tough times puts a tight stranglehold on new ideas/concepts.

[LordSimen]

Torture scenes, I'll give 6 examples off the top of my head...

Saw I
Saw II
Saw III
Saw IV
Saw V
Saw VI


Uhhh... Must I quote you? I guess I do.

What's with Hollywood's obsession with Horror movies in 2009?

I even put in bold the part that makes your examples null and void. I hope you noticed.


Other overly used common elements...

Creepy child.
Vampires.
Zombies.
Werewolves.
Remake.
Sequel.
Prequel.
Sequel to a prequel.
Prequel to a sequel.
Psychopathic killer.
Comedy horror.
Haunted house.
Exorcisms/possessions.
The devil.
Aliens.
Vacation/resort/tropical settings.

Sequel, prequel or remakes aren't "elements," first off. They're classifications. And Zombies, werewolves, creepy children, psychotic killers, the devil, aliens- Those are monsters. A staple of horror movie is the movie monster, in whatever form they come. Overly used? Is this a rant about THIS YEAR or about every year since the dawn of Cinema?


Sounds to me like you just HATE horror movies from any year in any decade and should just stop watching them altogether because they are clearly not for you.

[creekin111]

Uhhh... Must I quote you? I guess I do.



I even put in bold the part that makes your examples null and void. I hope you noticed.



Sequel, prequel or remakes aren't "elements," first off. They're classifications. And Zombies, werewolves, creepy children, psychotic killers, the devil, aliens- Those are monsters. A staple of horror movie is the movie monster, in whatever form they come. Overly used? Is this a rant about THIS YEAR or about every year since the dawn of Cinema?


Sounds to me like you just HATE horror movies from any year in any decade and should just stop watching them altogether because they are clearly not for you.

To clarify 2009 has too many horror films & the majority of those horror films used tired and overused themes. I just dislike how ideas get watered down to the point where nothing original can come out of the genre anymore.

I do like horror films if they are good. I'll bet there were some good horror films this year. I'll even bet this year had more good horror films than any other year this decade. That being said when Hollywood produces these films on an assembly line you're bound to have a good one here and there.

My problem is how many great original ideas have been scrapped in favor of these quick money makers? IMO, its just gone overboard this year it seems.

[LordSimen]

There's no such thing as an original idea, just combinations of old ideas in a way that someone with a lesser frame of reference can't recognize.

[ilovemovies]

A Perfect Getaway is not horror. And though I haven't seen it yet, The Lodger looked more of a thriller than a horror flick from the trailer.

It's too bad it's October and there are only 3 horror flicks out in theaters. Even more disappointing is only one of them (Zombieland) is actually worth watching.

[creekin111]

There's no such thing as an original idea, just combinations of old ideas in a way that someone with a lesser frame of reference can't recognize.

Agreed. There are no original ideas. But the more those old idea is blurred the more enjoyable a film can be (or usually is). Keyword: blurred. Many horror films refuse to attempt to blur. Its like they are utilizing past ideas and taking the credit for themselves instead of expanding on those original ideas. They know their target demographic is teenagers/young adults with little or no knowledge of film language. Film is an exciting journey into the unknown and not familiar revisits to common/tired themes.

Quick example, I was watching The Strangers the other day and nothing shocked or startled me throughout the film. I knew as soon as the friend pulled up to the house he was not going to be killed by the killers but by the shotgun. No matter how much it looked like the stranger was about to kill him there was no doubt in my mind he was going to be shot by the couple. Just about nothing about it set it apart from other horror films.

[QUENTIN]

There's no such thing as an original idea, just combinations of old ideas in a way that someone with a lesser frame of reference can't recognize.

So like... what were the first stories combinations of man?

I think you might have blown my mind.

[Tweek]

There's a The Butterfly Effect 3? :(

There aren't original ideas anymore, Dude. I've accepted it, you can too. There can be new twists on things, but completely original? Nah.

QUENTIN got it right, I think, at least for movies like The Unborn and Friday the 13th and all that. There are non-generic horror movies, though.

[creekin111]

There's a The Butterfly Effect 3? :(

There aren't original ideas anymore, Dude. I've accepted it, you can too. There can be new twists on things, but completely original? Nah.

QUENTIN got it right, I think, at least for movies like The Unborn and Friday the 13th and all that. There are non-generic horror movies, though.

That's the phrase I was looking for. How one defines what 'generic' is is the key.

[EVILxxx]

They've been obsessed with making horror films since Scream because they are relatively cheap to make and have a high chance of turning a profit. Now... if they were only obsessed with making GOOD horror films.

[LordSimen]

So like... what were the first stories combinations of man?

Experiences.

[LordSimen]

They've been obsessed with making horror films since Scream because they are relatively cheap to make and have a high chance of turning a profit. Now... if they were only obsessed with making GOOD horror films.

They were obsessed before that too.

[FireCaptain4]

In my personal oppinion, I think we need more werewolf films. Maybe... ten or twenty more. Oh, and more seamonsters. Vampires? Eh, after Daybreakers comes out, I think I can do without anymore for the rest of my life.

[EVILxxx]

They were obsessed before that too.
Well they were making them for sure but it can be argued that Hollywood was truly gay for horror after the success of that film.

[LordSimen]

Well they were making them for sure but it can be argued that Hollywood was truly gay for horror after the success of that film.

It was also gay for horror after the success of... Every successful horror film ever made, from Scream to The Exorcist to Halloween to the original Tod Browning Dracula.

[someguy]

The horror genre is cyclical, there's always a rough patch. I'd say that right now is that rough patch, we'll have to wait before something comes along and triggers more good horror movies.

[Salieri]

There really doesn't seem to be that many more than any other year. I think less than half of those listed even got a theatrical release in more than just a few theaters, and most of them are done by production companies that typically do mostly horror movies, so I'm not sure how much it has to do with the economy or how many "better ideas" are being turned away by these companies.

[echo_bravo]

Like Evilxxx and Quentin have already said, horror films are usually cheap as hell to make. I dont follow the box office trends that much, but I would think a lot of them are highly profitable. They normally dont require a great script or top notch director. You never really see A-List actors in most of them, so you dont have to worry about paying the actors a shit ton of money.

[Jon Lyrik]

Horror movies usually suck because they are the cheapest genre to make and have an easy-to-please general audience. Just ask Roger Corman or the Troma guys.

It's not like serious dramas, which skew towards older and more critical types, even if they are generally cheap (not counting period pieces). Sci-fi and fantasy are generally costly. Romances aren't produced as much as they are potentially profitable, but they often need stars.

[fooknasty]

In my personal oppinion, I think we need more werewolf films. Maybe... ten or twenty more. Oh, and more seamonsters. Vampires? Eh, after Daybreakers comes out, I think I can do without anymore for the rest of my life.

I agree! Werewolves and sea monsters are the shit!

[creekin111]

Ummm... yeah, Transylmania? My God when does it stop? Looks absolutely awful. Razzies? I know its a comedy but c'mon! smfh

[LordSimen]

It's a comedy movie, you even acknowledged that. If you don't like Horror movies then stop seeing them.

[Sgizzy316]

Plain and simple, Hollywood has lost the ability to scare the audience. Now all they can do is gross us out. The reasons that movies like Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project were so successful were not only because of the fact that they were innovative but the originality of the scare tactics and lack of cgi. I am a horror fan and honestly hadn't been scared of a movie like I was from Paranormal Activity in 15 years. The older movies, before CGI and all kinds of FX scared people bc it was stuff that no one had ever seen. Once we gained an immunity to it Hollywood reverted to cheap scares and now that we have grown tired of that, they really have nowhere else to go.

[cloneofkelso]

There is very little originality in hollywood now a days and all they can do is use the shock factor to sell tickets it is really sad!

[shoe1985]

Like mentioned with The Strangers spoiler in this thread, if you have seen really one horror movie, you have seen most of them. If you have seen Halloween, you have basically seen all teen horror movies. They are cheap to make, and generate a quick cash flow.

Look at The Weinsteins, they have resorted to making horror movies again, Scream 4, because taking risks has proven unprofitable for them.

It is not easy to make profitable movies. You could have a great script with a talented crew, but still end up with a poor movie, or one that just does not generate a lot of money.

Who would have thought Titanic would have grossed as much as it did? Who would have thought The Dark Knight would have? Look at Spiderman 3, after two good movies, you get a crappy film that did make money, but the reception was poor. It will be interesting to see how the next one performs.

Then you get movies that somehow become sleeper hits, The Hangover, and you are trying to figure out how it was so good and success.

Horror movies are cheap and make a quick profit. There is a built in niche that will see them no matter what. People just like to get scared.

[Brendan M.]

Does Dead Snow, Antichrist, and Thirst really count in regards to this list? They are not Hollywood films.

[Ratlehed]

Most recent horror movies are pretty bad. But they are cheap to make and even if they dont do well at the box office. They always make a killing on DVD sales/rentals.

Plus, teens/kids like horror. Doesnt matter if the movie sucks or not. Youngsters need to be busy on a weekend night so they'll gladly shell out $$$ to see a film like the Sorority Row remake.

[SAI]

The bottom line on this? Hollywood likes money. From that, like a river made of shit, flows its every decision. Horror can be made cheaply and turn a profit, thus Hollywood likes it (at least in its PG13 variety). That said, I don't think there's been notably more of it this year.