Old vs New

[rilocay]

Okay, now when i watch the golden oldies, the classics, the older horror flicks, call them what you will, i am never scared or move an inch. Movies like the Texas chainsaw massacre, and Exorcist, dont do anything for me.


Then go to todays releases, well they do better but alot of them arent scary either. The remake of TCM was really good and the "scariest" movie ive ever seen. Sure im not one of the biggest horror fans, not even an average of the movies compared ot these boards, but the old flicks never do anything for me, and i have found its the same for anyone born in the past 18 or so years.


So is it just me, or is it with all todays things that the oldies become tamer and tamer as the grow?

[spacemonkey]

You cant expect for really old stuff like Hammer flicks to be on the same level as todays films.

What you need to do is keep in mind the time in wich it was made and judge the film on those terms, but I dont think its fair to compare the old with the new in terms of for example special effects, sound effects. Theres been waaay to many technological advances wich give the horror films of today the upper hand.

That being said, I think there are some older films that are waaaay better then whats being made today.

Take for example a film like Jhon Carpenters The Thing that movie is still excellent even by todays standards. In fact, not many of todays films can come close to it.

Also we need to keep in mind that the horrors films of the past broke their own ground when they first came out, like for example when The Exorcist first came out in the 70s, people were horrified by it, but couldnt help going to see it to the theaters. It was groundbreaking stuff in those days. Nowadays demon possesion is a common thing in horror movies, but the exorcist was one of those first few to tackle that subject.

So we need to not forget what the old films did for horror in the past, and appreciate them for what they contributed to the genre. In fact those older films helped shape horror into what it is today.

Some dont age well, that is true, but the really good ones remain scary to this day.

[EvilDeadGirl]

Nicely put Spacemonkey!

You have to realize that when a lot of the older horror films came out for the time period they were released they were scary as hell, TCM anyone?

Sure the movies are going to be completely different in regards to special effects and even DVD quality but that's to be expected. What would happen if the 70's gore were used today? Would those same films that you and others deam to be scary still be?

Personally, I prefer watching those golden oldies as opposed to todays horror. To tell you the truth it seems as though much of todays horror films relies too much on special effects, or actors/actresses that I can't stand. (Most of which have no talent)

I look at the back in the day type horror films and enjoy them I mean come on, don't tell me that A Nightmare on Elm Street doesn't still creep you out? Or Night of the Living Dead when watching it alone in an empty house give you the willies?

[Whiggles]

I don't really like to separate off old vs new. Both have their strong points. I personally rarely (if ever) find a movie scary, and even then I only find them creepy rather than outright terrifying. I think that the older movies have a more eery feel to them, though, since they feel like something out of another world and another reality. I think the earlier movies were much more inventive than the ones coming out today though.

[countchocula]

I don't really consider The Thing or TCM to be old, but I suppose that it would be hard to respect your elders if you've been weaned on hyperactive horror films. The genre is in tip-top shape at the moment, but I adore relics. They're much easier to enjoy if you're not looking for scares. In my estimation, nothing beats taking in a B&W creeper on a wintry, drizzly night.

[Jack_Cheze]

it wasn't that long ago that there was no MPAA ratings system. Society used to be a lot more polite, at least on the surface.

As the Vietnam war and the Manson family scared America things changed. People had never really thought of the cruelty that was present in TCM, Last House on the Left, and other films from the early 70's. They were used to mostly nice and happy films.

Those in their teens now were babies when Freddy Krueger turned from being a serial child killer into a standup comedian.

Yall are jaded...

[Romero&Juliet]

^ I dunno.. seems to me that LHOTL and TCM were both directed at a generation of people who embraced the hippy, trust-y culture.. and the characters who followed suit were BUTCHERED because of it: It preached moral, it was "hip", it had sex-stuffs.. all pre-requisites for modern slashers..

I doubt there's a definite cut off line from old to new (and I bet its a goldmine for good fanboy conversation), but as countchocula said, I wouldn't consider those flicks OLD as they were just as much a product of pop culture as a one-linen' Freddy Kruger..

[rilocay]

Yeah, when im viewing the older movies, i check out how they are done and stuff liek that, because i realise as things advance you see it more and more. Like i would say a modern day teen (like me, except i can see how things changed with his movies) Hitchock movies are crap. Sure youl be creeped next time in the shower but his methods have been copied so much its hard to see why he was all that back then.


But to know where you are going you have to know where you have been. - this goes well with horror movies i'd say.

[Jason13thh]

The 80's rules guys !!! see that:

Chopping Mall, F13th 6, The Hitcher, Manhunter, The Fly, Demons 2, Aliens ( all from 86, a very good year)
Opera ( 87 ) F13th 7 ( 87 )
The Thing ( 82 ) H4 ( 88 ) My Bloody Valentine ( 80 ) Just Before Dawn ( 80 ) Inferno ( 80 )
The Beyond ( 81 ?? )The Lost Boys ( 87 )
I love the 80's !!! they were the best years.
I am 27.

[rilocay]

Originally posted by Jason13thh
The 80's rules guys !!! see that:

Chopping Mall, F13th 6, The Hitcher, Manhunter, The Fly, Demons 2, Aliens ( all from 86, a very good year)
Opera ( 87 ) F13th 7 ( 87 )
The Thing ( 82 ) H4 ( 88 ) My Bloody Valentine ( 80 ) Just Before Dawn ( 80 ) Inferno ( 80 )
The Beyond ( 81 ?? )The Lost Boys ( 87 )
I love the 80's !!! they were the best years.
I am 27.


Lol, thanx for sharing that with us, but i was more on about why older horror isnt as scary anymore.

[Xipe Totec]

Well, I for one find lets say the original Nosferatu far scarier than for example 13 ghosts (DarkCastle), so I don`t actually agree with older movies being less scary.

[Jason13thh]

Ahhhh ... okay okay.
I don't know there was more atmosphere in the old movies I think and it depends on what you call old,too.

[spacemonkey]

Originally posted by countchocula
I don't really consider The Thing or TCM to be old, but I suppose that it would be hard to respect your elders if you've been weaned on hyperactive horror films. The genre is in tip-top shape at the moment, but I adore relics. They're much easier to enjoy if you're not looking for scares. In my estimation, nothing beats taking in a B&W creeper on a wintry, drizzly night.

I know some of my younger friends who do think that The thing (1982) is an old film, as soon as they dont recognize the actors they go " this is old isnt it?" Then theres the pace of the film, wich younger kids cant take. Its sad that most of todays youths are so jaded (though Im sure there are exceptions) that cant take in a good slow burner.

As for a good B&W older film like for example White Zombie is an excellent recipe for a creepy cold winter night! Actually its perfect for it!

[pyscho dude]

Well a horror movie has never really scared me but I do prefer the horror films from the late 70's and the 80's because they're more original and entertaining.

[HeavyK]

Older movies aren't as scary as newer movies but they are a hell of alot gorier and nastier then today's CGI horror fests.

[Cronos]

Older horror films and newer horror films arent scary, at least for me. the only horror films to scare me have been those from Japan

when they were released, older films would have been scary but are now tame by todays standards

although a few films such as the original TCM and The Exorcist are kinda disturbing with some of the images they contain, something which is rare in modern horror (except for Event Horizon)

Gore on the other hand was far better with the older films, at least before CGI....CGI is fake and looks it, whereas with older films sich as Zombi, the gore looks real and is much nastier than modern films

so gorewise, older is better but scarier, id have to go with Japanese films on that. Ringu being the only film to really scare me

at least thats my opinion

[Scully1888]

Buy Pet Sematary on DVD, turn the lights off, get the volume up to full, then you tell me that no old films are scary. :)

[artguylarry]

What is old and what is new? There were of course the old classic black and white monster films that may have scared us as kids. Then there are the slew of films being thrown at us today, starring every WB teen out there, backed by stupid humor and alternative music. What's scary about that? What about all that good stuff in between? There hasn't been a decent horror movie made since the early 80's in my opinion, most of them being around the mid to late 70's. The Omen, The Exorcist, The Shining, Magic, Burnt Offerings, etc. These movies were designed to grab us by the nuts (for those of us who have 'em) and hold us in it's dark horrific grip until the credits rolled. No humor, no comic relief, no teen music. Just horror. And the chilling music scores that only came from the movies of that time were pretty cool too. I have said this before and I'll say it again. I think they should get the comedy out of horror. Those who think the comedy only exists to make the scares more intense by "catching us off guard" are copping out. I find the horror film much scarier when I KNOW something is going to happen, but I don't know when, rather than having it thrown in my face in mid laugh. And that's what these great movies from the 70's and early 80's did. They kept us frozen in our seats, seconds away from heaving our nachos all over the people in front of us. And it didn't let up until the movie was over. (sigh)...ahh, good times. I miss 'em. I miss those movies

[krazy drako]

Doesn't matter to me. Long as it's a good movie. I thought 28 Days Later was a great zombie/world is ending movie. That's a recent one. My favorite old one(if 80's counts as being old) would have to be probably Evil Dead or Pumpkin Head(yeah thats right lol).



Originally posted by Cronos
the only horror films to scare me have been those from Japan.

I still don't get whats so scary about Japanesse horror movies. Oh well. :(

[Inglorious]

Old or new, I have no complaints, there are alot of old that'll get me; and a few new that'll get me too. The new TCM was creepy, but not totally scary. The Exorcist slammed me, it always will. And then there are the not-so-scary movies like Wrong Turn that work really well for suspense. And the crapped-out such as House of 1000 corpses that are just good for a bon fire.

It all depends on the film, whether old or new.

[Heavenley]

I have to say that I like both old and new horror films. I have found that some of the older horror films can be scarier especially the supernatural genre ( The Shining, The Changeling, The Exorcist etc.) but there are newer films that have creeped me out as well (The Blair Witch Project, The Sixth Sense, The Others, Session 9). Really depends on the movie.............but I love both old and new.

[Cronos]

Originally posted by krazy drako
I still don't get whats so scary about Japanesse horror movies. Oh well. :(

i dont know why i find them so scary, ive seen numberous other psychological horror flicks from the US that havent bothered me but Japanese flicks really bother me, i suppose its a mix of the odd images they contain and subtitles, making my brain work more because i need to read them to know what is going on

[krazy drako]

Ah! Yeah that is true. I personally like anime. Just got done watching the Animatrix.

Another good recent movie is Session 9. Awesome movie!:D

[Five Years]

I'm 18. I really don't consider John Carpenter's The Thing or The Exorcist or TCM to be old at all. I mean, think about how long the world has been around, think about how long film has been around. To be fair, film isn't that old either. Old horror to me is more like Edgar Allen Poe's stuff or etc etc. You get the idea. I try not to look at things in time unless I'm forced to. However, I will say this. Movies today, mostly, just plain suck. Especially a lot of recent horror. Movies are getting worse and worse. Freddy Vs. Jason was amusing...actually it was fucking hilarious, but I think I can safely say it wasn't supposed to be. Movies like The Thing take time to set up atmosphere, evoke actual emotions, then it makes you just as paranoid as the characters on screen. I don't think about "old" and "new" horror movies. Some are scary, some aren't. It normally doesn't matter when they were made, unless the story or an element of the story is really dated. The movies mentioned on this thread don't seem to be dated at all. The Exorcist didn't scare me, The Omen did. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) disturbed me, the remake was bullshit. It just depends on the person more than anything else.