Horror Film Help Needed!!

[scaredykitten]

Hello everyone,

I'm in the middle of a University project which requires me to design posters for a horror film festival (which I will make up!). I don't know that much about horror films, but I know that I'd like to possibly make it a festival which is kind of 'non-gore', where all the films are more psychological horrors than the ones with monsters in them!

I've been doing my research, but I'd like to get more views from the fans themselves, which is why I'm asking you all if you have any recommendations, suggestions or ideas as to where I could get more information or what films I could watch.

Any help whatsoever will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!:) :)

[scaredykitten]

Brilliant, thanks. Whos' the director for that Session 9? Oh and have you been to any horror film festivals before?

[Angra]

Dark remains

There are tons if you´re into Asian horror as well.

"Ju-on" for instance. ;)

[scaredykitten]

Cool, thanks to you too! My mate is into Asian horror...but is'nt it really gore-y?

[The Flayed One]

Not all Asian horror is gory. Some has none at all.

As far as good psychological films, it doesn't get much better than 'The Other' in my opinion. Not to be confused with 'The Others' with Nicole Kidman, The Other is a brilliant 1970's PG horror film that was out of print for a long time. As luck would have it for you (and a lot of horror fans) it recently got a DVD release.

[scaredykitten]

Not all Asian horror is gory. Some has none at all.

As far as good psychological films, it doesn't get much better than 'The Other' in my opinion. Not to be confused with 'The Others' with Nicole Kidman, The Other is a brilliant 1970's PG horror film that was out of print for a long time. As luck would have it for you (and a lot of horror fans) it recently got a DVD release.

Aha, I shall get on the case with that one right now! Thanks so much for these speedy replies guys, you don't understand how much this is helping! :)

[Angra]

Not all Asian horror is gory. Some has none at all.

As far as good psychological films, it doesn't get much better than 'The Other' in my opinion. Not to be confused with 'The Others' with Nicole Kidman, The Other is a brilliant 1970's PG horror film that was out of print for a long time. As luck would have it for you (and a lot of horror fans) it recently got a DVD release.


Oh yes, and the old horror classic "The innocents" based on Henry James novel "Turn of the screw".

[The Flayed One]

You probably ought to give The Blair Witch Project a go as well.

[Elvis_Christ]

Black Christmas unless the word "cunt" constitutes gore.

and if you're looking for the goreless flicks you've prolly been bludgeoned with with "Men, Women and Chainsaws" and should try and slip some shit past the "intellectuals".

Psychological Horrors? You can't go past Maniac, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Deranged or Crazed (<----- the most tastefull of the bunch). Total descents into madness with out some slithering porno shakesphere tongue fucking bullshit.

But from what you're talking about you wanna check out Manhunter or Dressed To Kill.

How about Raising Cain? Easily the most overlooked flick for this kinda shit.

http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/large/Raising_cain.jpg

Body Parts
The Hitcher
Near Dark
(...... fuck check out Eric Red in general I haven't for awhile there's bound to be a bunch of dope shit with his name attached).

and if you're from NZ you might be able to grab a copy of Bad Blood (not a horror flick but definatley fits in with these kinda flicks).

But whatever. Most of the goreless/less exploitative shit is a thriller or drama flick that the horror kids sit in front off (and enjoy 9/10 times).

[newb]

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/images/DanielStephens/changeling


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080516/

[scaredykitten]

Black Christmas unless the word "cunt" constitutes gore.

and if you're looking for the goreless flicks you've prolly been bludgeoned with with "Men, Women and Chainsaws" and should try and slip some shit past the "intellectuals".

Psychological Horrors? You can't go past Maniac, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Deranged or Crazed (<----- the most tastefull of the bunch). Total descents into madness with out some slithering porno shakesphere tongue fucking bullshit.

But from what you're talking about you wanna check out Manhunter or Dressed To Kill.

How about Raising Cain? Easily the most overlooked flick for this kinda shit.

http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/large/Raising_cain.jpg

Body Parts
The Hitcher
Near Dark
(...... fuck check out Eric Red in general I haven't for awhile there's bound to be a bunch of dope shit with his name attached).

and if you're from NZ you might be able to grab a copy of Bad Blood (not a horror flick but definatley fits in with these kinda flicks).

But whatever. Most of the goreless/less exploitative shit is a thriller or drama flick that the horror kids sit in front off (and enjoy 9/10 times).
Wow! That is a pretty in-depth response, thanks!

Yeah that's what I really want to know, what proper horror film fans consider as non-gory psychological stuff...and what gets the biggest 'respect' on the the scene. Do you think a film festival which caters only for good, non-gory films would be successful?

Oh and if anyone wants to enlighten me on the whole 'psychological horror film' genre, it'd be much appreciated. As in, is there actually a sub-genre of horror that covers non-gory films??

Thanks!

[newb]

"Psychological horror" is a subgenre of horror fiction that relies on character fears, guilt, beliefs, and emotional instability to build tension and further the plot. Psychological horror is different from the type of horror found in "splatter films," which derive their effects from gore and violence, and from the sub-genre of horror-of-personality, in which the object of horror does not look like a monstrous other, but rather a normal human being, whose horrific identity is often not revealed until the end of the work. Well-known examples of psychological fiction include The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project. The Others is a more recent example of a psychological horror film.

Psychological horror tends to be subtle compared to traditional horror; typically it plays on archetypal shadow characteristics embodied by the Other. In other words, it creates discomfort in the viewer by exposing common or universal psychological vulnerabilities and fears, most notably the shadowy parts of the self most people repress or deny.

Psychological horror comes from within--it exposes the evil that hides behind normalcy, while splatter fiction focuses on bizarre, alien evil to which the average viewer can't easily relate. Though Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho shocked many people with its blatant gore, much of what made the main character so frightening was how normal he seemed on the outside. Likewise, Hannibal of Silence of the Lambs fame captured moviegoers' fascination because he could disguise his often-blatant evil behind the veneer of gentility.

Carl Jung has argued that our attraction to the uneasiness caused by the Other is an attempt to integrate the "otherness" of the shadow while others believe horror serves only to repress it.

Occasionally - such as in the film Blair Witch Project - the antagonist is never revealed. With no explicitly defined threat presented on screen, the "fear of the unknown" theme becomes central and can be explored fully.




cut & paste stikes again:D

[Burning in Hell]

I don't think there's a specific "non-gory" genre, but there are scores of horror movies that are not gory at all. The Changeling, as newb suggested is an awesome Haunted House movie without a single trace of gore.

If you want a more recent movie that is extremely psychological, I suggest you try Frailty, directed by Bill Paxton and staring Paxton and Matthew McConaughey.

[scaredykitten]

"Psychological horror" is a subgenre of horror fiction that relies on character fears, guilt, beliefs, and emotional instability to build tension and further the plot. Psychological horror is different from the type of horror found in "splatter films," which derive their effects from gore and violence, and from the sub-genre of horror-of-personality, in which the object of horror does not look like a monstrous other, but rather a normal human being, whose horrific identity is often not revealed until the end of the work. Well-known examples of psychological fiction include The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project. The Others is a more recent example of a psychological horror film.

Psychological horror tends to be subtle compared to traditional horror; typically it plays on archetypal shadow characteristics embodied by the Other. In other words, it creates discomfort in the viewer by exposing common or universal psychological vulnerabilities and fears, most notably the shadowy parts of the self most people repress or deny.

Psychological horror comes from within--it exposes the evil that hides behind normalcy, while splatter fiction focuses on bizarre, alien evil to which the average viewer can't easily relate. Though Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho shocked many people with its blatant gore, much of what made the main character so frightening was how normal he seemed on the outside. Likewise, Hannibal of Silence of the Lambs fame captured moviegoers' fascination because he could disguise his often-blatant evil behind the veneer of gentility.

Carl Jung has argued that our attraction to the uneasiness caused by the Other is an attempt to integrate the "otherness" of the shadow while others believe horror serves only to repress it.

Occasionally - such as in the film Blair Witch Project - the antagonist is never revealed. With no explicitly defined threat presented on screen, the "fear of the unknown" theme becomes central and can be explored fully.




cut & paste stikes again:D

Thanks! I got that all from Wikipedia aswell though ;) :D

I want to know what YOU guys think of Psychological Horror as a genre too...no cheating allowed! ;)

[bwind22]

I'll let these guys help ya with this one... I like the gory shit.

[Angra]

Thanks! I got that all from Wikipedia aswell though ;) :D

I want to know what YOU guys think of Psychological Horror as a genre too...no cheating allowed! ;)


It´s my favorite horror genre. I can always live without the blood and gore.

It´s ghosts and creepy atmosphere that gives me the kicks in horror movies.

[Elvis_Christ]

Do you think a film festival which caters only for good, non-gory films would be successful?

No.
I'd go for the complete opposite with some interesting flicks like Calvaire and Edmond thrown in.
Splatter/gore/extremities get filed under trash for 90% of movie goers. Show them something different that kicks their ass and changes their perception.

The "Psychological" crap gets shoved down everyone's throat 24/7. Everyone's seen it and after all the shitty CSI TV shows who cares?
Festivials are about showing something more offbeat and challenging on the big screen not the "let's join the FBI" flicks are so fucking overdone these days.
Thru the eyes of a pyshco is more effective but that always frowned upon as exploitative (Ted Bundy and The Hillside Strangler were buried but who cares... the true movie lovers find it and make dipshit critics eat their words, I shit you not these two flicks are amazing).

...but whatever there's always room for inovation and motherfuckers are doing it.

[scaredykitten]

Perfect! I may have to quote you guys in all this work! And if I win the award out of it, I'll do the whole crying thing at the podium too! I'm so glad I came on here and did this!

Keep the opinions coming! :)

[scaredykitten]

No.
I'd go for the complete opposite with some interesting flicks like Calvaire and Edmond thrown in.
Splatter/gore/extremities get filed under trash for 90% of movie goers. Show them something different that kicks their ass and changes their perception.

The "Psychological" crap gets shoved down everyone's throat 24/7. Everyone's seen it and after all the shitty CSI TV shows who cares?
Festivials are about showing something more offbeat and challenging on the big screen not the "let's join the FBI" flicks are so fucking overdone these days.
Thru the eyes of a pyshco is more effective but that always frowned upon as exploitative (Ted Bundy and The Hillside Strangler were buried but who cares... the true movie lovers find it and make dipshit critics eat their words, I shit you not these two flicks are amazing).

...but whatever there's always room for inovation and motherfuckers are doing it.

So if you guys could come up with a specific theme for a new festival, what would it be? What part of horror would it focus upon?

I was thinking of doing it also on Asian horror...but I'd really like to do something quirkier and as you say, more innovative stuff. Something out of the ordinary, but not overly twisted and controversial.

[Angra]

So if you guys could come up with a specific theme for a new festival, what would it be? What part of horror would it focus upon?

I was thinking of doing it also on Asian horror...but I'd really like to do something quirkier and as you say, more innovative stuff. Something out of the ordinary, but not overly twisted and controversial.


If you´re living in the states, my safest bet would be a blood and gore film-festival. That´s what seems to be IN in your screwy country. Psh! :rolleyes:

[Elvis_Christ]

I'll tell you after you write the cheque.

[Elvis_Christ]

If you´re living in the states, my safest bet would be a blood and gore film-festival. That´s what seems to be IN in your screwy country. Psh! :rolleyes:

Comedy splatter is fully overdone/overblown.... i really hate it these days but I come from Braindead/Bad Taste land.
*going from your hail to the king sig*

[scaredykitten]

If you´re living in the states, my safest bet would be a blood and gore film-festival. That´s what seems to be IN in your screwy country. Psh! :rolleyes:
I'm in the UK actually. :)

[scaredykitten]

I'll tell you after you write the cheque.
How much do you want!!!

You brought up a brilliant point, one which nails what I'm trying to get at...changing perceptions.

Hmm, now how that could be turned into a film festival...the 'Horror is actually quite interesting Festival'?

[The Flayed One]

I love psychological horror as well. A lot of the great ones have been overlooked, and the majority of the reason is it's NOT in your face. I had the pleasure of working at a movie theater for 3.5 years and got to gauge a lot of peoples reactions. I'm of the opinion that the general public, as movie goers, really don't want to think that much when they rent/go out to a movie. A wonderful specific example is the contrast between 'The Ninth Gate' & 'End of Days.' Both have big name leading men (Ninth Gate - Johnny Depp, End of Days - Arnie) and both dealt with demons/devils/satan/what have you on different levels. The majority of movie goers did not enjoy Ninth Gate. It's very subtle, with hardly any gore and a wonderful ending that most just didn't get. End of Days is very in your face, lots of action, plenty of CGI wickedness (including a large CGI devil) and not a lot of thinking involved. The mainstream crowds ate it up.

As far as a psychological horror fest, I think trying to eliminate gore alienates enough of your target crowd that you're going to be less successful than you could be. There are great overlooked psychological masterpieces that use gore descretely when needed and it doesn't take away from the film at all. Take, for example, my favorite movie: Exorcist III. It's not near as in your face as the first Exorcist, and I think that's what makes it all the more frightening. It builds you up with great dialogue, especially between George C. Scott & Ed Flanders. The beauty of it is that it makes you let down your gaurd, and at precise moments slaps you so hard that you almost have to see it again to believe how brilliant it is.

There are also movies that aren't subtle but don't use gore. Take the film Funny Games, an overlooked highly disturbing German film. Although all of the violence takes place off screen, it makes a lot harder of a watch than many films that show close up knife cuts.

The majority of non-gore psychological horror you're going to find, as I'm sure you're realizing, are ghost stories. It's the easiest sub genre to make attractively scary without the use of gore. You could always compare and contrast gory to non-gory ghost films and compare their success, which I think would be mighty interesting. As to why most other sub-genres using gore; who wants to watch a vampire flick where all of the biting takes place off screen;)

[scaredykitten]

I love psychological horror as well. A lot of the great ones have been overlooked, and the majority of the reason is it's NOT in your face. I had the pleasure of working at a movie theater for 3.5 years and got to gauge a lot of peoples reactions. I'm of the opinion that the general public, as movie goers, really don't want to think that much when they rent/go out to a movie. A wonderful specific example is the contrast between 'The Ninth Gate' & 'End of Days.' Both have big name leading men (Ninth Gate - Johnny Depp, End of Days - Arnie) and both dealt with demons/devils/satan/what have you on different levels. The majority of movie goers did not enjoy Ninth Gate. It's very subtle, with hardly any gore and a wonderful ending that most just didn't get. End of Days is very in your face, lots of action, plenty of CGI wickedness (including a large CGI devil) and not a lot of thinking involved. The mainstream crowds ate it up.

As far as a psychological horror fest, I think trying to eliminate gore alienates enough of your target crowd that you're going to be less successful than you could be. There are great overlooked psychological masterpieces that use gore descretely when needed and it doesn't take away from the film at all. Take, for example, my favorite movie: Exorcist III. It's not near as in your face as the first Exorcist, and I think that's what makes it all the more frightening. It builds you up with great dialogue, especially between George C. Scott & Ed Flanders. The beauty of it is that it makes you let down your gaurd, and at precise moments slaps you so hard that you almost have to see it again to believe how brilliant it is.

There are also movies that aren't subtle but don't use gore. Take the film Funny Games, an overlooked highly disturbing German film. Although all of the violence takes place off screen, it makes a lot harder of a watch than many films that show close up knife cuts.

The majority of non-gore psychological horror you're going to find, as I'm sure you're realizing, are ghost stories. It's the easiest sub genre to make attractively scary without the use of gore. You could always compare and contrast gory to non-gory ghost films and compare their success, which I think would be mighty interesting. As to why most other sub-genres using gore; who wants to watch a vampire flick where all of the biting takes place off screen;)
Wow, thanks for that! Very very helpful. I can see what you mean, and it all makes a lot of sense to me. I think as someone who has hardly watched any proper horror films, this is a pretty difficult thing to do...but I am interested in trying to show a different side to the genre, in changing the perceptions the general public may have.

Much food for thought I think!

[Elvis_Christ]

Haha the UK :) .....banned everthing and brought out cookie cutter splatter like Shaun Of The Dead! Bored a lot of motherfuckers to death with the Hammer shit too. Buy a data projector and screen all the uncut Vipco releases.

Call the festival Butchered Misconceptions: The Missing Years.

[Angra]

I'm in the UK actually. :)

Then i would think it´s a genre in the line of movies such as "Creep", "The Descent", "Dog Soldiers", "Evil dead"....

Suspenceful horror movies with some amount of blood.

[scaredykitten]

Call the festival Butchered Misconceptions: The Missing Years.

Haha, brilliant! :D I'll send you a cut of the prize money if I win :)

[scaredykitten]

It doesn't have to be a festival which is set in the UK. It's more about 'the idea' behind the festival, and I think I'm going to go with the whole 'changing perceptions' thing....all I need to to do now is figure out how I'm going to do that exactly....

[Elvis_Christ]

Clue your self up on the genre and take a standpoint/direction from there. Blow people out with the shit you discover that kicks your ass.

[scaredykitten]

Clue your self up on the genre and take a standpoint/direction from there. Blow people out with the shit you discover that kicks your ass.

Which is exactly what I'm going to do now.

Any more recommendations as to what films I should watch? Ones which would fit with the 'changing perceptions/ not what you think' thing? :confused:

[Angra]

Ones which would fit with the 'changing perceptions/ not what you think' thing? :confused:


What exactly is that???

Haute tension?

[scaredykitten]

What exactly is that???

Haute tension?

Erm, I guess so?!

Films that weren't what people expected them to be...or exposing the underlying themes in films....or 'definining' films.

[Angra]

problem with pschological horror is that it works in the brain .. not as much in the body ... 2, 3 or 4 of those in a row and you might have folks falling asleep.. (if it were to actually happen)



So true....................

[Elvis_Christ]

Which is exactly what I'm going to do now.

Any more recommendations as to what films I should watch? Ones which would fit with the 'changing perceptions/ not what you think' thing? :confused:

PM your email and I'll throw some ideas/flicks your way because I'm looking at doing the same thing to fund the printing of my shitty fanzine.

Or don't.

But yo.... I'm going to bed cuz I'm drunk and can't think.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Demonique]

I think a more recent example of straight forward psychological non-gore horror would be Fallen. It is about an evil that can pass from person to person through touch. It is not very challenging to more advanced horror fan but does give the idea of not being able to trust anyone. It might be worth a shot.

[newb]

The older I get the more i'm getting away from gore. Give me a well done mystery or pschological horror. A mixture of both would be ideal. The Eye is a good example.



of course there are still times when I just want to shut the mind down and get into a "Dead Alive" or "Story of Ricky"

[Angra]

The older I get the more i'm getting away from gore. Give me a well done mystery or pschological horror. A mixture of both would be ideal. The Eye is a good example.



of course there are still times when I just want to shut the mind down and get into a "Dead Alive" or "Story of Ricky"



Great...

Now you killed all forum activity on the entire site. :rolleyes:

Pad yourself on the back, ol buddy.

[newb]

Great...

Now you killed all forum activity on the entire site. :rolleyes:

Pad yourself on the back, ol buddy.


lol...I noticed that. I showered this morning.



call me OMCNEWB

[newb]

Opps.......i Did It Again

[Angra]

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Kasper_76/tumbleweedkj3.jpg

[scaredykitten]

Haha.

Thanks (again) to all of you for your help. It's now time for me to just get on with the work. If you have any more info that you think would be helpful, private message me and I'll give you my email address. :)

[The Mothman]

psychological?

Jacobs Ladder.