Intelligent Horror?

[PhilmPhanMan]

This is NOT one of those belittling threads denouncing gore or shock value Horror. I am just new here so I wanted to "test the waters" so to speak.

What are member's recommendations (and why) concerning intelligent (story line related, not just one shock after another) Horror?

Being up front with everyone, I watch a lot of movies. Most people would say "way too many"! So I am into discussion as much as I am new titles.

Thanks!

[Doc Faustus]

The Wicker Man, the Seventh Victim, Reanimator, Night of the Hunter

[PhilmPhanMan]

The Wicker Man, the Seventh Victim, Reanimator, Night of the Hunter


Thanks! I will warn you respectfully up front. I have some pretty weird views on "Horror Movies". I don't really consider 3 of the 4 of what you listed there as "Horror Movies" However, I KNOW that is just my opinion.

[neverending]

Most Asian horror to me seems to have a philosophical background to it- The Eye, Eye 2, Pulse, A Snake of June and that one I saw recently about the research team that has a ghost of a young boy trapped in a room- I can't remember the name right now.

[The STE]

Se7en. In a lot of horror where they reference literature, it seems like the writer did a brief google search and said "hey, that sounds neat, I'll write that into the movie" but did no further reading on the subject. But Se7en knows its shit.

[Doc Faustus]

Most Asian horror to me seems to have a philosophical background to it- The Eye, Eye 2, Pulse, A Snake of June and that one I saw recently about the research team that has a ghost of a young boy trapped in a room- I can't remember the name right now.
Silk. I liked that one a lot.

[Roderick Usher]

For starters, you should read te "top 100" threads atr the top of this page

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD - a breakthrough film, created a genre, it is loaded with socio-political commentary and has an amazing ending

DEEP RED - one of the greatest Gialli, stunning camera work an odd plot filled with psycho-sexual themes and an amazing score

VIDEODROME - revolutionary concept...the act of viewing will change you

JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING - Great story, it's essentially Twelve Angry Men trapped in the cold with a monster

MISERY - a suspense story that really delivers, stellar acting and directing

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS - either version, great Red Scare/loss of humanity film

PEEPING TOM - a disturbingly sympathetic take on the serial killer

FRAILTY - zealots will destroy us all! a well-told tale from a kid's perspective

FROM BEYOND - H.P. Lovecraft has never been filmed with such reckless, sexual abandon, great gore and a great story

SLEEPY HOLLOW - Tim Burton bring a literary classic to life with Bava-esque flair, sure the particulars get jumbled, but the heart is in the right place

BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON - fantasticly smart deconstruction of the slasher genre

THE MIST - great story, great ending

[wildfire]

I think the SAW movies are some of the best movies. Great story line, New and great ways to die. Also Great Gore.

[novakru]

Thanks! I will warn you respectfully up front. I have some pretty weird views on "Horror Movies". I don't really consider 3 of the 4 of what you listed there as "Horror Movies" However, I KNOW that is just my opinion.



Pretty weird views?
Then you have found a home, my friend:)

I recommend Ghoststory BTW:cool:

[Ferox13]

I always considered Cronenberg to be a pretty intelligent director. There's alot of dept ot his films and he tend to continue themes from film to film..

Most Asian horror to me seems to have a philosophical background to it

LOL you must of missed alot of the HK contibution to the genre - Mr Vampire/Return of the Demon/The Dead and the Deadly etc etc.

[The STE]

JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING - Great story, it's essentially Twelve Angry Men trapped in the cold with a monster

I think you're mixing up Twelve Angry Men with And Then There Were None.

[Papillon Noir]

I think the SAW movies are some of the best movies. Great story line, New and great ways to die. Also Great Gore.

How would you consider the Saw movies "intelligent horror"?

[Posher778]

Memento. Not directly horror per say... But the loss of memory and becoming paranoid because people abuse you is one of the most frightening concepts.

[Elvis_Christ]

BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON - fantasticly smart deconstruction of the slasher genre

This finally got a release over here. Very cool film had me laughing my ass off in a couple of bits.

A bunch of flicks I was gonna say have already been mentioned but I'd like to add Bug to the list.

Also you gotta check out Dead & Buried.

[The_Return]

Session 9

Natural Born Killers (though it's debatable to call this one "horror")

American Psycho

Angel Heart

Devil's Rejects

...and I have to echo the mentions of Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. Brilliant movie.

[crabapple]

Interview With The Vampire ...

I liked Anne Rice's screenplay, I thought it was very smart, crisp, thinky.

[PhilmPhanMan]

Great to know I am among some great horror and film fans in general!

Intelligent horror to me just means a great story. It's true that Romero is a GREAT director/writer. I remember being blown away seeing Dawn of The Dead when it first came out at the theater. You're never really "ready" for that shotgun blast or that tasty shoulder bite but there they are in your face nonetheless. Thing is, I am getting tired of directors relying on gore more than the story line. Romero never really did that at all, but I think a lot of the copy cats have.

I completely, totally and unequivocally agree about Cronenberg. That man is a genius and he is in a class by himself. Incidentally, I totally agree with all the recommendations here. Killer. I have seen them all including the obscuro titles. My brother is constantly pushing those &*$$#@@!!!! French & Italian films on me. I am big fan of some of the Spanish/Mexican/Russian/French efforts and directors. Mansion of Madness is such a masterpiece.

The Mist was amazing and almost deserves total merit based on the viewer's emotional manipulation that the director achieves in and of itself. Brilliant!

Another master of manipulation is Tashiki Miike. One will surely feel brutalized by this man's skillful viewer torture.

Tanks everyone for your responses. You rule!

[crabapple]

Thing is, I am getting tired of directors relying on gore more than the story line. Romero never really did that at all, but I think a lot of the copy cats have.


George Romero has always been unwavering in that regard. He's one of those guys who has brought real class to the genre, I feel.

[ChronoGrl]

You just said my favorite M-word...

I honestly believe that Miike is a master of "intelligent horror," though not necessarily in the realm of "story" or "plot," in fact he goes out of his way to deconstruct stereotypical concepts of story and plot and instead focuses on character. I think that Ichi: The Killer is an excellent example of this; Miike takes the popular Yakuzza construct but completely makes it his own and turns it into a deconstruction of the weaknesses and codependencies that are inherent in Man.

I started Miike thread in the JA horror section - You should check it out when you get a chance.

...

One genre that we haven't touched upon in this thread that I honestly consider "intelligent" horror is the homage/parody genre. I would name the following as examples:

Evil Dead II - Raimi creates this film as not only an homage to the slasher/haunted house genre but as a parody of his original film. What makes this movie intelligent is that it works well not only as homage to the haunted house (in the splatter punk genre), but it also works well as a haunted house film. There are some good creepy moments, when you're not grinning with Ash.
Shaun of the Dead - It's obvious that Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have done their zombie homework. You see homage in lines such as, "WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU, BARBARA!" (an obvious nod to Romero's Night of the Living Dead's, "They're coming to get you, Barbara!") as well as parody of the genre. But at the same time, this is a true zombie film with some fairly intense moments.
FEAST - An incredibly well-made, directed, acted, and written homage to monster siege films, this Project Greenlight winner was a pure gem. Strictly a nod to pulp splatter horror that stands up as a good horror film.


I consider this subgenre "intelligent" because it causes the viewer to reexamine the popular constructs of the horror genre and recreates them in another light.

[urgeok2]

anyone mention Session 9 yet ?

[Roderick Usher]

anyone mention Session 9 yet ?

a good one that I often forget about when recommending films. I should watch it again.

[ChronoGrl]

anyone mention Session 9 yet ?

Session 9

Natural Born Killers (though it's debatable to call this one "horror")

American Psycho

Angel Heart

Devil's Rejects

...and I have to echo the mentions of Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. Brilliant movie.

Way to pay attention. :p

[urgeok2]

Way to pay attention. :p

yeah - i admit it - if i'm late and a thread hits 3 pages - i often dont read back
anyways - i'll just re-recommend it :)

[urgeok2]

devil's backbone ?
chronos ?

[ChronoGrl]

yeah - i admit it - if i'm late and a thread hits 3 pages - i often dont read back
anyways - i'll just re-recommend it :)

I definitely agree. It's one of my all-time favorite horror movies.


Edit: If I'm going to go on a diatribe arguing for intelligent parodies/homages, then Fido definitely deserves a mention.

[PhilmPhanMan]

You just said my favorite M-word...

I honestly believe that Miike is a master of "intelligent horror," though not necessarily in the realm of "story" or "plot," in fact he goes out of his way to deconstruct stereotypical concepts of story and plot and instead focuses on character. I think that Ichi: The Killer is an excellent example of this; Miike takes the popular Yakuzza construct but completely makes it his own and turns it into a deconstruction of the weaknesses and codependencies that are inherent in Man.

I started Miike thread in the JA horror section - You should check it out when you get a chance.

...

One genre that we haven't touched upon in this thread that I honestly consider "intelligent" horror is the homage/parody genre. I would name the following as examples:

Evil Dead II - Raimi creates this film as not only an homage to the slasher/haunted house genre but as a parody of his original film. What makes this movie intelligent is that it works well not only as homage to the haunted house (in the splatter punk genre), but it also works well as a haunted house film. There are some good creepy moments, when you're not grinning with Ash.
Shaun of the Dead - It's obvious that Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have done their zombie homework. You see homage in lines such as, "WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU, BARBARA!" (an obvious nod to Romero's Night of the Living Dead's, "They're coming to get you, Barbara!") as well as parody of the genre. But at the same time, this is a true zombie film with some fairly intense moments.
FEAST - An incredibly well-made, directed, acted, and written homage to monster siege films, this Project Greenlight winner was a pure gem. Strictly a nod to pulp splatter horror that stands up as a good horror film.


I consider this subgenre "intelligent" because it causes the viewer to reexamine the popular constructs of the horror genre and recreates them in another light.

woh! Talk about an intense and intelligent whatever...

Those are very interesting perspectives CG. Sam Raimi is amazing. I have not seen too much that he did that I have not enjoyed. I also appreciate Bruce Campbell a great deal and am reading his autobiography currently. (and Marlon Brando's and Nikki Sixx's as well)

Bubba Ho-Tep is a monstrously cool and intelligent movie. (just had to throw that in)

I honestly can't give MR. Miike the Most Intelligent award because I feel he has much further to travel before that honor can be truly applied in his case. I do think he is the most up and coming potential director in the Horror genre. That's just it with Miike to me. Because his films are so completely original you get the feeling that he is some type of artistic prodigy that has only just scratched the surface of his capabilities. It's like the guy is just playing with your mind the way Hitchcock would when he refers to directing the audience's reactions. That don't don't mean squat though. It's just my opinion.

That's the thing about the arts. It's so subjective and universal in terms of true intelligent appreciation. Just when you have it dissected six ways from Sunday and think you've looked at all the angles, some new perspective opens up for you and your mind is more blown than ever.

some worthy directors IMO

Corrado Farina
Marc Caro
Jean-Pierre Jeunet
David Cronenberg
Mario Bava
David Lynch
Rob Zombie
George Romero
Lucio Fulci
Peter Jackson
Alejandro Jodorowsky
Juan López Moctezuma
Brad Anderson
Toby Hooper
Christophe Gans
Shusuke Kaneko
Avery Crounse
Werner Herzog

and about a 1000 more!

[neverending]

M


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[Doc Faustus]

M


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asters of the Universe? onster on campus?

[neverending]

asters of the Universe? onster on campus?

:rolleyes:

You know very well what I mean.

[Doc Faustus]

Hard to resist ellipses.

[crabapple]

Ah, Shusuke Kaneko...I worked with him briefly on "Necronomicon" and he was probably the best director on that movie. Fun to work with.