Horror films are not what they used to be. In our days they tend to be boring, dull or too gory and not scary.

So many genres are losing their way these days Comedy and Horror are leading the way by a good length or tow though. Horror these days seems to be more about making a coherent movie in which the audience can also laugh and be entertained meanwhile comedy seems to be more and more about trying to shock the audience into laughter or embarrass them to the point where they watch the movie through the gaps between their fingers. I can't help but feel that somewhere the ingredients got mixed up for each genre.

Just come across your blog Mark, and it's fantastic. When are you going to take over from Wossy on Film 2008???

Mark Kermode on Film 2008, I just have visions of the head exploding scene in Scanners.



They should bring back the X rating. It just sounds so much trashier and sounds great in trailers.



Oh yeah Prom Night is pointless, boring and rubbish.

Mark Kermode on Film 2008? No way!!! They should give him his own programme. One hour long!! It could be about film and music, including interviews. Or he could present a movie and, after watching it he could have a debate about it with special guests and people phoning from home. Hey Mark!! Please do it!!

There are plenty of excellent horror films still being made today. Take last years wildly inventive 'Behind the Mask' which featured a small camera-crew, spending a few weeks making a documentary about a 'serial killer in the making'. It contains that wonderful blend of 'knowing' references to horror cliche' as well as a terrific sense of humour.



Then there is the equally spectacular A l'interieur, which I will try and mention in every post I make on here, till you all go and see it. It is, perhaps, your typical 'womam in peril in a dark house at night' scenario, but there is enough of a twist there, and as Mark requested, it is as pure bloody nasty a film, as you are likely to see, and I have seen them all. It throws everything at you, along with one specific scene that delicately balances on that thin line between going-too-far and perhaps going even further!



Even the traditional old-school slasher, saw a decent addition to it's genre, with last years 'Hatchet' which, whilst horribly unoriginal, paid tribute to those films of the past, by, again, throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at you, in terms of 'in your face' gore, and not a CGI moment in sight, to boot. How it should be done and a young director in Adam Green, to keep an eye on in the future.



The thing all 3 have in common? Despite being excellent movies, not one received a theatrical release here in the UK. A disgrace.



The watered-down remakes will keep being made, as they put bums on seats, and they will remain watered-down, because they appeal directly to the core demographic whereas more risky pictures only appeal to the die-hards out there.



It's unlikely to change.

One notable remake that added somewhat to the original, and that was pretty entertaining if you ask me, was the Rob Zombie 'Halloween'. Other than that, I'm pretty much in agreement with Mark on this one.

Rob Zombie's Halloween was Hysterical... I love the way that chubby little Michael Myers turns into a 15 foot brick out-house - and the way he has the foresight to buy the padlocks for his cellar after he's grabbed Laurie.

Nosferatu



It's still the most atmospheric and unnerving horror movie, and it was the original horror movie. Even Coppola paid homage in 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' though I bet most people never even realised how much!



To be scary you have to get under the skin, maybe like House of a Thousand corpses ;-), there has to be something demented about a horror movie for it to shock. The genre died when Blair Witch made it's dismal appearance.



Way t'go Mark Hooo ya, or should that be BOOO!

Another excellent post, Mark. It truly is deeply depressing that people see this as good entertainment nowadays - not just this particular movies, but needlessly violent movies such as Saw and Hostel; torture porn, basically.



Hilarious when you started imitating Styllone.

immaculate opinion (as usual) on slashers there. Prom Night's remake is about the most perfect example of abysmal modern-horror cinema i've ever seen.