what do you miss most about old school shockers?

[radioheadfreak]

Sometimes when I watch a good old fashioned horror classic i think to myself....why cant it be like this now??

Not to say i didnt enjoy Scream for what it was...a PARODY...but I dont appreciate what came along with it.

So I ask u now, what do u miss most about old school shockers?

Is it the atmpospheric pacing, the good solid acting, the fact that they were so multi layered? Answer away!

[skweemkween]

Great topic, I remember when I first came on these boards two years ago, I posted something similar. I don't know what it is about the older ones that have some kind of - raw style and energy to them.

I think one think that a couple things for them which is rather shitty now, is casting and the directors. There are far more directors with little movie making experience as much they have music-video directing experience. Sorry,but that doesn't boost my confidence.
The casting back then didn't seem so superficial and determined by a target market. There seem to be younger and even younger great-looking, model-worthy actors in horror now then ever before. Back then, they had mutton chops and split-ends. They seem to have more believeability. Christ, is that a word??? You know what i meant.

[Antonio]

Competent acting, likable characters and motives with a method to all the madness.

[Jason13thh]

The 80's rule, yeah baby !!!


See that:

Manhunter, The Hitcher, Chopping Mall, F13th 6, Halloween 4, Sleepaway Camp, Inferno ( Argento ) Opera, Return Of The Living Dead, The Fly, Neon Maniacs, Stage Fright, A Blade In The Dark, The Lost Boys, Near Dark, Just Before Dawn, The Burning, My Bloody Valentine, Big Trouble In Little China, The Thing, etc...

This was the best period, ever.

[pyscho dude]

Yeah the 80's definately rocked. I miss the high levels of gore and nudity, the atmoshphere, the great scores, and the originality.

[artguylarry]

I think what I miss the most is the absence of humor. Remember when a horror movie would grab you by the nuts and wouldn't let up until it was over? It was more than just jumps and scares. It was KNOWING something was around the corner, and KNOWING you would jump, but you didn't know when. It was eerie, creepy music. And it was the insane grin, the white of the eyes, or the demonic toy that had us seconds away from heaving our nachos all over the people in front of us. Now there's too much comic relief, too many one-liners, too much hip music and WAY too many WB teens. I miss the way it used to be.

[saintofscars]

I still miss gratuitous nudity, because when you see it now most of the ladies have those ugly silicon things. Never had to worry about that in the 70s/80s.

I like 'em natural... :)

[Shockwave]

The tension. There is no build up or sense of tension in these new horror movies.(putting THE RING aside)

[kirkman316]

I totally agree Shockwave:

There is absolutely no suspense any more. The victim walks around aimlessly. The killer pops out and slices their throat. The victim dies. The killer disappears.

Scream was the last horror picture to have edge-of-your-seat suspsense. Even its sequels didn't have that.

[Shockwave]

Scream was the last horror picture to have edge-of-your-seat suspsense. Even its sequels didn't have that.

Ha! Good call on Scream, i had forgotten about it. Aye, it had a hero i cheered for and a nice build up.

[TheDeadWalk]

I miss the old schools ability to just be themselves, and not be judged for being modern to the times. They were accepted on an as-is basis, and if it included popular styles, trends, and songs it was O.K., and on a "just because" basis. Today's films can't get away with it.

In reference example: "Last House on the Left"

[Mr.HyDe807]

I enjoyed how i had no idea who some of the actors were, therefore not expecting anything from them.NOw, most horror movie has to have that one actor/actress that will get people to see the horror movie. {EX: kelly rowland in Freddy Vs. Jason}

[CamaroMatt1996]

What I miss about the old skool 80's horror flicks is the soundtracks were either cheesy or creepy, and the atmopshere was so much better. Nothing like watching an old 80's horror movie on a old VHS tape with all the grain etc. That makes the film creepy IMO.

Word
Matt

[EvilDeadGirl]

Posted originally by Mr.HyDe807 - "I enjoyed how i had no idea who some of the actors were, therefore not expecting anything from them.NOw, most horror movie has to have that one actor/actress that will get people to see the horror movie. {EX: kelly rowland in Freddy Vs. Jason}"

I couldn't agree with you more! Those little known actors were pretty damn good, hell better than some of those "actors" that we have in todays horror movies. (Eliza Dushku, yea she's hot but I don't think her "acting" is all that great.)

Not too mention the blood. Hot damn where has all the gore gone? Right out the damn window that's where! I miss the buckets of blood and the detail that they used to show with a slit throat. Your very lucky if you get to see even a smidge of that anymore. AND the great soundtracks. You know, the music that actually flowed with the film instead of suddenly hearing a hit song that's overplayed on the radio. I could go on and on but in short The 80's fuckin' ruled!

[Quiver]

Originally posted by CamaroMatt1996
Nothing like watching an old 80's horror movie on a old VHS tape with all the grain etc. That makes the film creepy IMO.

Excellent point Matt. Sometimes I will go out of my way to buy an old VHS copy of a movie, just because the grain almost makes it feel like a Documentary style film.

Honestly, for me the movies that most symbolize slashers from the 80's are the Sleepaway camp films. The first one is a bonified classic in my eyes, and the costumes and atmosphere just scream "80's"

The sequels took all of the horror cliche's from that time (Gratuitous nudity, gore, inventive deaths) and bumped them up 10 times. The second film even took the Scream route, and kinda poked fun at the horror cliches, and this was ages before Scream was even thought of. Even the star of the sequels (Pamela Springsteen - sister of Bruce) helps define the 80's feel.

Pamela Springsteen rules!!! \m/ \m/

[Haddonfield]

Originally posted by Shockwave
The tension. There is no build up or sense of tension in these new horror movies.


Yep, you nailed it. There is nothing particualy intense anymore in horror movies. No build up, no slow walk down a house. Its either kids talking or a meaningless kill.

There doesnt seem to be that many plots either, not that any of these films from the 80's had great story ideas but at least the originals had a story to tell. The motivation behind the killers in lets say Scream, all of them, is borderline pointless. Friday the 13th went for the "shock" ending twist with finding out the motivation for the killer and it worked. Freddy's story was told along the way of the movie and was a very interesting idea. Michael, for the most part, had zero motivation..just wanted to kill a few people, but the plot wasnt what Carpenter was going for, it was going back to the above mention of tension. (say that 5 times fast!)

plus, nastalga plays a big role on how we feel about the "old school" movies. Ill bet some 12 year old in 10 years from now will be talking with his friends and saying how fantastic Wrong Turn was, or how scared they got while watching Ghost Ship. To most us, all those campy 80's flicks are a symbol of our youth.

[CamaroMatt1996]

I agree with you Quiver about 'Sleepaway Camp.' Totally awesome series. Like you said, it defined the 80's!

Word
Matt

[Jason13thh]

Yeah Sleepaway Camp is a damn good slasher and I mean it.

[HeavyK]

The GORE!!!! Enough of this CGI shit and turning the camera away at the last second. Most horror movies today only show the before and after effect of the killing.

[IamNoOne666]

I have to say gore, agree with people when they say I'm tired of the cgi crap. Honestly it sounds said but the nudity, I'm tired of these new young actors thinking thier above that. Another thing i miss is charcters you can like, there have been a few in recent horror movies just not as many as the ones back in good ol days. And i agree with people when they say suspense, there is no suspense in these new movies 95% of new horror i can predict whats going to happen and when, 1 that comes to mind is Jeepers Creepers i called everything that was about to happen in that some of which i could even countdown to when it would happen.

[IamNoOne666]

sorry for 2 post in a row but HeavyK said it perfectly when it comes to the gore.

[KillerKlown]

Originally posted by HeavyK
The GORE!!!! Enough of this CGI shit and turning the camera away at the last second. Most horror movies today only show the before and after effect of the killing.


Too true - I would love to see a modern splatter flick, with eyes and intestines flying everywhere. Ain't gonna happen though. :(

[Shockwave]

The lower body counts. The deaths counted for something and were usualy pretty inventive.

[Boba Joe]

Yeah, I definitely miss the style of 80s horror.