WHAT'S IN & WHAT'S OUT IN MODERN-DAY HORROR

[Antonio]

IN: Inspired twist endings (JEEPERS CREEPERS, THE OTHERS).
OUT: Stupid endings (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET).

IN: Talented newcomers (James Bentley and Alakina Mann in THE OTHERS; Justin Long and Gina Phillips in JEEPERS CREEPERS; Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring in MULHOLLAND DRIVE).
OUT: Television studs and starlets appearing in horror films (the entire Fox, WB and UPN network whores).

IN: Realistic teen characters (FINAL DESTINATION, GINGER SNAPS).
OUT: "Teen" characters portrayed by actors well into their 20's.

IN: Sympathetic, resourceful, intelligent heroines (Nicole Kidman in THE OTHERS, Gina Phillips in JEEPERS CREEPERS).
OUT: Clueless bimbos (Angie Dickinson in DRESSED TO KILL, Alicia Witt in URBAN LEGEND).

IN: Unique, non-traditional heroes (Johnny Depp in FROM HELL, Steve Zahn in JOY RIDE).
OUT: Dumb jocks, bad boy bullies, red herring boyfriends (Jared Leto in URBAN LEGEND, Kevin Spirtas in FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 7).

IN: Innovative directors (Victor Salva, Alejandro Amenabar, Peter Jackson).
OUT: Old school Hitchcock imitators (John Carpenter, Brian DePalma).

IN: Ghosts.
OUT: Slashers.

IN: Ambiguous motives.
OUT: Monologue explanations from the killer.

IN: Remakes.
OUT: Sequels.

IN: Actors returning to their horror roots (Jamie Lee Curtis in H20, Kevin Bacon in STIR OF ECHOES).
OUT: Horror movie snobbery.

IN: Fantasy-Horror.
OUT: Horror-Comedy hybrids.

IN: Psychothrillers.
OUT: Science Fiction.

IN: Big stars making their mark in horror movies (Bruce Willis in THE SIXTH SENSE, Denzel Washington in FALLEN).
OUT: "Musical Chairs" casting of the same group of actors (a crime most common in mainstream moviemaking...Julia, Sandra, Meg, etc.)




[This message has been edited by Antonio (edited 01-17-2002).]

[Juice]

IN: subtile movies
OUT: gorefests

[TooL]

Great post Antonio...

I agree with you especially about the "Inspired twist endings" being the in thing now.. I love um'

[The Rob]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">IN: subtile movies
OUT: gorefests </font>

http://www.joblo.com/ubb/frown.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
OUT: Stupid endings (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET).</font>


That was a cool ending bro.

[Topher]

First of all, great idea for a post!

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">IN: Sympathetic, resourceful, intelligent heroines (Nicole Kidman in THE OTHERS, Gina Phillips in JEEPERS CREEPERS).</font>

Hold up here a second. The girl in JC was incredibly stupid.. Well to be fair, it wasn't just the girl, it was every character... She may have looked smart compared to all of the other stupid people, but still.. She messd up A LOT.

I don't know why, but I'm really into this girls being the ones to save everyone.. It all started when I started watching Buffy, hmmmmmm.

I pretty much agree with all the other Ins and Outs. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Antonio]

IN: Actresses with Best Actress Oscar potential (Nicole Kidman in THE OTHERS, Tilda Swinton in THE DEEP END and Naomi Watts in MULHOLLAND DRIVE).

OUT: B-movie actresses with large breasts who CAN'T act! (Brinke Stevens and Leanna Quigley).

[This message has been edited by Antonio (edited 01-19-2002).]

[Lady Summerisle]

Barbara Crampton was great in the RE-ANIMATOR. She evoked real sympathy when she started suspecting Dr. Dan AND Dr. West.
SPOILER
Her Death was too sad, and undeserved.

LINNEA Q was faboo in RotLD, even if she is just a pair of breasts.

[Antonio]

You're right, LADY S...I was a bit hasty mentioning Barbara Crampton in the company of those other two women. Crampton was pretty good on the soaps, so I removed her name from the OUT list.

[Lady Summerisle]

Now I can sleep at night, Antonio, knowing that Barbara is not in the same category as Brinke Stevens.