Horror Movie Box Office Massacre

[hollywoodgothiq]

This article at Reuters says there's a "bloodbath at the box office" for recent horror films: http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=filmNews&storyID=2005-07-25T073936Z_01_N25696088_RTRIDST_0_FILM-HORROR-DC.XML.

It's hard to argue that the genre is not in a slump; after all, several recent titles have done bad business. But does this really mean audiences are losing interest? Or is it just a matter of bad filmmaking (i.e., HOUSE OF WAX) and/or bad timing (releasing LAND OF THE DEAD in summer instead of the fall)?

I like to think the report's of horror's death are greatly exaggerated, but is this just wishful thinking on my part?

Read more here: http://hollywoodgothique.bravejournal.com/entry/13947

[Elvis_Christ]

Horror will never die out

[The_Return]

Originally posted by Elvis_Christ
Horror will never die out

I agree. Sure, it's pretty sick at the moment, bit showing faint signs of recovery...

[Elvis_Christ]

Its always been pretty underground and never really appealed to the masses. But its diehard fans will always keep it going.

[hollywoodgothiq]

I think I disagree. Too many horror films have managed to become blockbusters -- clearly they can appeal to a wide audience.

Sure, there is a kind of schlock-gore film that will never appeal to mainstream viewers, but think of films as different as THE EXORCIST, JAWS, THE SIXTH SENSE, and THE GRUDGE -- it wasn't just a cult of horror fans buying tickets to those films.

[filmmaker2]

Horror is one genre where the thematics are primal; so it never really goes away. Always comes back in cycles with occasional blockbusters.

And that is why Pinhead RAWWWWWWWWKS.