ForAcademicPurposes
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The house(s) in Paranormal Activity are gigantic fuck you mansions complete with a garden and a pool and a driveway. Is this the American Dream? Minus the Poltergeists?
Yes, including the Poltergeists.Is this the American Dream? Minus the Poltergeists?
Would you risk it?Yes, including the Poltergeists.
Would you risk it?
For that big of a house? Hell yeah, I'd be eating the ghosts ass as well.
The amount of bad vampire and cult movies should disqualify the 1970s even if there are quite a few shining stars. I am also not a fan of the really fucked up shit that leaked over to the early 80s.On balance, its unquestionably the 1970's, because that decade had the broadest variety of trends and styles.
Consider that at the start of the 70's we're at the tail-end of the era of Hammer and Amicus, the "technicolor" gothic horror boom that superceded the era of the Universal Monsters starting in the late 1950's.
In Europe, again coming in from the 60's we have the peak of the Giallo sub-genre, bringing a less fantastical flavour to accompany the traditional gothic and supernatural product.
Meanwhile In the US, we have the next revolution in horror - starting with The Exorcist in 1973 that killed Dracula and the rest of the traditional monster pantheon more decisively than any stake through the heart!
Following this initial cycle of possession/satan movies we then get the birth of the modern slasher movie; movies that kinda took the black-gloved killer of the Giallo and mostly dispensed with the "whodunnit" aspect to focus on suspense and shocks.
All across the board boundaries of extremity and taboo are being pushed, Cannibal movies (essentially spinning out from revisionist Westerns like A Man Called Horse), Nazisploitation movies, Zombie movies (following Romero), Sexploitation crossovers that made the most of relaxation of censorship and the viability of hardcore... I could go on, but I think the point is made.
If you like horror, pretty much of *any* style, there are classics to be found in the 1970's. Not to mention the fact that its the either the birth or heyday of so many legendary genre film-makers... I could list them but it'd be pretty redundant as more or less every big name was active during the decade.
Honestly, on reflection the 70's is absolutely untouchable.
I have watched many of those in the last year and I did not think they held up well outside of cinematography. Most characters in these films have a stage actor vibe and that took me out of the moment. Also, Cannibal Holocaust was released in 1980 and is part of what I disliked most about some 70s horror (the macabre just for the sake of it).You guys are crazy...
Obvious mainstream titles, bigger and more influential than practically anything else in history.
The Exorcist
Jaws
Alien
Then we have;
Prime Argento: Suspiria/Profondo Rosso
Tobe Hooper: Texas Chainsaw Massacre / Eaten Alive
Early Craven: The Hills Have Eyes / Last House On The Left
Early Carpenter: Assault on Precinct 13/Halloween / The Fog
Romero at his best: Dawn Of The Dead / Martin / The Crazies
Fulci when he still got decent budgets: Don't Torture A Duckling /Zombi 2 (aka Flesh Eaters)
Early Cronenberg: Shivers/Rabid/The Brood
Early DePalma: Phantom Of The Paradise / Carrie / The Fury
How about:
The Wicker Man
Don't Look Now
Phantasm
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers
Cannibal Holocaust
And this is disregarding all the late era Hammer, and Amicus movies, all the great later Vincent Price (AIP UK) movies like the Phibes movies and Theatre Of Blood.
From Italy we have the entire giallo phenomenon! From France Rollin's oddball arty sexploitation stuff, from Spain Serrador's Would You Kill a Child and Avati's House with Laughing Windows.
Seriously, if you think there's any argument in terms of quality and impact, you need to learn more about the genre.
Sorry, that's the plain truth from someone who generally consider's himself an 80's guy.
I have watched many of those in the last year and I did not think they held up well outside of cinematography. Most characters in these films have a stage actor vibe and that took me out of the moment. Also, Cannibal Holocaust was released in 1980 and is part of what I disliked most about some 70s horror (the macabre just for the sake of it).
I will still to this day enthusiastically rewatch the Carpenter films, Black Christmas, Dawn of the Dead, House, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Seven Notes in Black but that does not mean I like the decade in horror as a whole.
I am not a big sci-fi fan but the Aliens poster always looked cool as hell to me.I've got room for one more (large) poster in my bedroom and I'm trying to decide which one to get. Leaning hard on Event Horizon because I already have a science fiction theme going on in here.
I've always hearted Wes Craven's Nightmare on Elm Street. I consider it to be one of the best but it wouldn't compliment the others.
Autopsy, Joy Ride, Wrong Turn, Hatchet, FeardotCom, Ginger Snaps, Gothica, Tales of Terror: Haunted Apartment, Pulse, Art Of The Devil 2, Dark Water (2002), Apartment 1303 (2007), Insidious, Phobia 2, Cloverfield, Shutter, The Grudge, The Signal (2007), The Collector, The Mist, Session 9, Cabin Fever, Hostel, Saw, The Skeleton Key, Dagon, Los Otros, 28 Days Later, Frontier, and Final Destination. We have had this conversation before though.90's-2000's were the worst decades followed by 80's but at least the 80's had some of the best classics. 90's were mostly trash with good films few and far between. What even classic came out in the 2000's? Kairo and a few other Asian horror movies?
A good option. I've thought about it too. The blue also compliments the Ghost in the Shell poster that I have. Thing is I already have an Alien (1979) poster. It's not big but it's Alien.I am not a big sci-fi fan but the Aliens poster always looked cool as hell to me.
The best films during those decades were all Asian Kairo, Dark Water, Shutter, the Grudge, (Ringu and Noroi which you didn't mention). In terms of American horror you have Paranormal Activity, 28 Days Later, Insidious and Blair Witch Project which were good not a real strong list across 2 decades imoI am not a big sci-fi fan but the Aliens poster always looked cool as hell to me.
Autopsy, Joy Ride, Wrong Turn, FeardotCom, Ginger Snaps, Gothica, Tales of Terror: Haunted Apartment, Pulse, Art Of The Devil 2, Dark Water (2002), Insidious, Phobia 2, Cloverfield, Shutter, The Grudge, The Signal (2007), The Collector, The Mist, Session 9, Cabin Fever, Hostel, Saw, The Skeleton Key, Dagon, 28 Days Later, Frontier, and Final Destination. We have had this conversation before though.
I was only addressing 2000s and I did not like Noroi or the American adaptation of Ringu enough to mention them. My favorite horror films of the 2000s were Spanish (Dagon, Los Otros, and [REC]) and American (Cloverfield, Final Destination, and The Skeleton Key). I would also mention Pan's Labyrinth (Spanish), but it was not really horror per se. As far as the 90s are concerned the American horror films were dominant. The Asian ones were super niche and an acquired taste.The best films during those decades were all Asian Kairo, Dark Water, Shutter, the Grudge, (Ringu and Noroi which you didn't mention). In terms of American horror you have Paranormal Activity, 28 Days Later, Insidious and Blair Witch Project which were good not a real strong list across 2 decades imo
Not many pop culture icons were born in the 90s. From the top of my head, Ghostface and Candyman, Sadako etc.The best films during those decades were all Asian Kairo, Dark Water, Shutter, the Grudge, (Ringu and Noroi which you didn't mention). In terms of American horror you have Paranormal Activity, 28 Days Later, Insidious and Blair Witch Project which were good not a real strong list across 2 decades imo
Different strokes. I respect your opinion even though I disagree. Yeah, I loved REC, Pan's Labyrinth and Devil's Backbone too. If you take away the Asian and Spanish horror then the situation was even more dire during that time.I was only addressing 2000s and I did not like Noroi or the American adaptation of Ringu enough to mention them. My favorite horror films of the 2000s were Spanish (Dagon, Los Otros, and [REC]) and American (Cloverfield, Final Destination, and The Skeleton Key). I would also mention Pan's Labyrinth (Spanish), but it was not really horror per se. As far as the 90s are concerned the American horror films were dominant. The Asian ones were super niche and an acquired taste.
Dark Water (2002) is really the only one I would rate highly of those you listed. I much preferred Art of the Devil 2 (TH 2005), Apartment 1303 (JP 2007), and House (JP 1977) to it though.
P.S. Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity are trash-tier to me. Streamer garbage before streaming became mainstream.
Despite a larger quantity of films of varying origins coming out today I would prefer the non-Asian/Spanish releases of the 2000s to the last decade of horror.Different strokes. I respect your opinion even though I disagree. Yeah, I loved REC, Pan's Labyrinth and Devil's Backbone too. If you take away the Asian and Spanish horror then the situation was even more dire during that time.
I know what you mean but can you indulge me nonetheless? What are you favorite examples from the past?Plus we have really lost the sleezy/pervy camera eye that helped many a horror film bridge the gaps between moments of suspense and terror. Playing lust and terror off each other is a vital ingredient to lots of these films (IMHO).
I feel like a lot of more recent horror films are fairly sterile. You have guys like Eli Roth, the Terrifier guy, or Ty West with the Maxine films where there is flesh on display, (mostly) women being put in very uncomfortable, dangerous situations, a salacious element with sex, peeping tom type views of women undressing, a stalking element, all that kind of thing that adds titillation and arousal that then gets carried over to horror and fear when folks get killed. This was in full swing back in the 70's and 80's with Wes Craven, the FXIII films, Halloween, etc as well as the italian stuff. Yeah, it's gross and pervy when you look at it objectively but I think in the viewing experience its a crucial element of why these films worked so well for me.I know what you mean but can you indulge me nonetheless? What are you favorite examples from the past?
Nah. Only black and white films don't benefit from higher resolutions. Anything else is better at 720p or more. I watched Dawn of the Dead in 720p sometime back and it looked fantastic. I was noticing details that I missed before.I am of the opinion that old horror should be watched in standard definition and nothing higher than that.
Often necessary. You want to get into the pov and see it through their eyes. You don't want to feel like you're watching actors on a screen and be closer to realism. That is actually why most people are morbidly interested in these films in the first place. But yeah, some directors have a knack for that and executing it.This was in full swing back in the 70's and 80's with Wes Craven, the FXIII films, Halloween, etc as well as the italian stuff. Yeah, it's gross and pervy when you look at it objectively but I think in the viewing experience its a crucial element of why these films worked so well for me.
I can't believe 80's are winning you people have lost your goddamned minds. Alien, Texas Chainsaw Masacre, Exorcist, The Omen, Halloween all classics were from the 70's. Even Friday the 13th and The Shining can be considered 70's cause they were released in 1980.
The 80s were filled with iconic characters and mainstream campiness so I can't say I am too surprised.
Night of the Demon
Friday the 13th series
Nightmare on Elm Street
Maniac Cop
Sleep Away Camp
Phenomena
Hellraiser
Gremlim
Child's Play
Terminator
Return of the Living Dead
Maxiumum Overdrive
Ghoulies
Critters
Creature
Forbidden Planet
Slumber Party Massacre
Halloween movies
The Thing
Prince of Darkness
Motel Hell
Killer Klowns
Fright Night
Reanimator
Star Crystal
Aliens
Honestly I couldnt give a shit about "icons" and anyway Michael is from the 70's and Friday the 13th was released in 1980 so Jason can be considered from the previous decade too. Only people who legitimately think the 80's were the best are those stuck on shlock who go to horror cons and make their love for slashers their entire identity.
The 80s were filled with iconic characters and mainstream campiness so I can't say I am too surprised.
Oh you sweet summer child, it was his mother in the first one! Hockey mask Jason wasn't till Friday 13th 3D!Honestly I couldnt give a shit about "icons" and anyway Michael is from the 70's and Friday the 13th was released in 1980 so Jason can be considered from the previous decade too. Only people who legitimately think the 80's were the best are those stuck on shlock who go to horror cons and make their love for slashers their entire identity.
Bottom line no 80's movie can hold a candle to the classics from the 70's Off the top of my head I can think of The Thing as the only film as good as the classics from the 70's
I stand corrected anyway I have an ilogical hatred for "icons". I can honestly say Friday the 13th is one of the horror movies I've ever seen! I've never watched the Freddy movies but I'm sure they'd also get ranked as some of the horror movies I ever seen too.Oh you sweet summer child, it was his mother in the first one! Hockey mask Jason wasn't till Friday 13th 3D!
It does seem to go in waves. More suspense/tension hirror in the 70s, cartoony slashers in the 80s, and meta horror leading to the ghost craze and japanese stuff of the 90s into the 00s.I stand corrected anyway I have an ilogical hatred for "icons". I can honestly say Friday the 13th is one of the horror movies I've ever seen! I've never watched the Freddy movies but I'm sure they'd also get ranked as some of the horror movies I ever seen too.
Don't come for me if our friend can claim the 90's were the best decade for horror. I can hate the chukys, Jasons and Fredys of the horror world