critiqueing the critics

[neilold]

Being recently observing horror critics on many film sites and forums such as this. I have notice we are a bunch thast are very hard to please. Seems most horrors are criticised for bad story, or cliched acting or, especially, bad endings. Must admit the horror community is very harsh and difficult to please. This comes itself from a genre that is generally looked down upon, as a whole.

I do feel that sometimes a film is criticised merely for the sake of it. That's not to say all horrors are good just because they are horrors, or that they shouldn't be crticised, just that is seems we are a harsh bunch at times

opinions?

[MovieLover12]

People are an incredibly harsh bunch, nothing really pleases them. They moan for the sake of moaning because it makes them feel important. Well, here's something to moan about, my (very unpopular) opinion - the Wolfman is a much better movie then the Wolf Man.

[TheBossInTheWall]

You might also consider the amount of horror movies made each year compared to other genres. Also that smaller production(indie, non horror films), only a few end up with a large audience. At least as far as I can tell. If we were all watching lots of indie, non horror films I think there would be critiques of those as well. I've also noticed people who like horror films generally care a lot more about the genre than other fans. Which is why I still find it surprising this forum only has a few of us posting regularly.

[Baron Von Marlon]

I think it's because horror movies usually have a smaller budget and therefor less options.
So more often that not, we get another (worse) version of something we've seen before.

Also, the older I get the harder it gets for a movie to make a big impression.

[hammerfan]

Also, the older I get the harder it gets for a movie to make a big impression.

That right there.

[TheBossInTheWall]

I think it's because horror movies usually have a smaller budget and therefor less options.
So more often that not, we get another (worse) version of something we've seen before.

Also, the older I get the harder it gets for a movie to make a big impression.

That makes a lot of sense too.

[Roiffalo]

I think it's because horror movies usually have a smaller budget and therefor less options.
So more often that not, we get another (worse) version of something we've seen before.

Also, the older I get the harder it gets for a movie to make a big impression.
I don't think it's small budgets as much as piss poor writing (TMNT for example). Writers today don't have the creative spark like they used to, but you also make a point about budget. When CGI is cheaper than visual effects, they of course go that route to save money, which in the end creates an attempt at a visually appealing slide show instead of a story. And it goes not only for horror. (Course there are new movies that aren't complete shit, I'm just saying they're few and far between these days.)

The age thing may also be true. I don't get drawn into movies like I did as a kid. Probably because we loose that foggy vision of everything in a movie looking believable. I didn't think there was CGI in Jurassic Park when I saw it first several times, but now that I'm older I can spot it a mile away (but it's seldom, so it doesn't bother me).

Well, here's something to moan about, my (very unpopular) opinion - the Wolfman is a much better movie then the Wolf Man.
I guess I do need to make a topic about this sometime.

[TheBossInTheWall]

The age thing may also be true. I don't get drawn into movies like I did as a kid. Probably because we loose that foggy vision of everything in a movie looking believable. I didn't think there was CGI in Jurassic Park when I saw it first several times, but now that I'm older I can spot it a mile away (but it's seldom, so it doesn't bother me).

For me the age thing is simply horror, and everything in general, was new. As I've gotten older a lot of things have been done before. So something new that might be amazing to someone a lot younger, to me, is old and already done. A film can still be great if its an idea I've seen before, but its a lot less likely. Imagine what we'd like to enjoy if we were 1000 year old vampires? Not much. : )

[Baron Von Marlon]

For me the age thing is simply horror, and everything in general, was new. As I've gotten older a lot of things have been done before. So something new that might be amazing to someone a lot younger, to me, is old and already done. A film can still be great if its an idea I've seen before, but its a lot less likely. Imagine what we'd like to enjoy if we were 1000 year old vampires? Not much. : )

Another thing when it comes to ideas that have been done before, is that it's usually a bad rip-off.
I don't mind movies that are very similar as long as they're good.

And if I was a 1000 year old vampire I'd be rich and I'd make my own movies.

[abandonware]

I personally feel it's the other way. I feel that if anyone says anything thoughtfully critical about any film now, a chorus pops up saying "stop overthinking things", "it's just a movie stop thinking about it" "whiners can't enjoy anything" etc,...pretty much no one can have any slightly opposite or disagreeing opinion on a film without being hushed as hurting people's feelings by the "forced positivity" crowd.

And it does my head in how people zealously defending a film can use someone's fan status to invalidate their position either way ..for example if a non-horror fan hated the new Freddy film, they can say "well you don't like the series, of course you didn't get it" but when a fan didn't like it the same person will say "well, your a huge fan who went in with high expectations, of course you couldn't let yourself enjoy it".

I've been hanging around comic book stores for years and seen lots of real life Simpsons style store owners making fun of and bullying customers for their choices, so I know what these people are trying to fight against, but I think its gone to far. Hollywood directors aren't vulnerable children who need an esteem boost - and if we had always had that "just enjoy everything and don't whine" laid back attitude we'd still be watching films like Batman and Robin and Van Damme's Streetfighter.

[neilold]

some interesting points and thank you all for your contributions so far. I do agree with some of them. However if i do believe, as a whole, there are a lot more negative horror reviews than positive ones, so i would possibly argue against the 'enforced positivity' arguement. i also feel my particular favourite area of horror 'slashers and exploitation' comes under particularly harsh scrutiny just because the genre is cliched or the budget isn't as high as it should be. I've said it before there are no 'good/bad movies' there are only good or bad movies!

[MovieLover12]

Thanks for agreeing with my viewpoint. ::smile::

[Roiffalo]

For me the age thing is simply horror, and everything in general, was new. As I've gotten older a lot of things have been done before. So something new that might be amazing to someone a lot younger, to me, is old and already done. A film can still be great if its an idea I've seen before, but its a lot less likely. Imagine what we'd like to enjoy if we were 1000 year old vampires? Not much. : )

Oh hey that's an excellent point too! I've even considered that before when watching some movies. I have to defend movies with already done plots and what not because honestly, how original can one be anymore? With all the movies and books out there, it was easy coming up with something that at the time wasn't publicly already thought of, but these days everything has been done. So some people think they can take an idea that's already done and just make it better. It's when they fail that the critiquing gets bad.

Also, bish please, I wouldn't be no fang banger. There are only werewolves. ;]

[Baron Von Marlon]

However if i do believe, as a whole, there are a lot more negative horror reviews than positive ones, so i would possibly argue against the 'enforced positivity' arguement.

I think that's because some of the reviews come from people who don't like horror in general.

[neilold]

you've hit the old nail on the head there baron. I have come to particularly hate imdb, as they seem to condemn everthing that isn't fellini

[horcrux2007]

you've hit the old nail on the head there baron. I have come to particularly hate imdb, as they seem to condemn everthing that isn't fellini

I go on the Imdb message boards even though they're really terrible. It's like if you hold the majority opinion, then you're a sheep, but if you don't hold the majority opinion, then you're a stupid troll.

[MovieLover12]

Its things like this which make me sit on the fence and not get involved. I even refuse to vote in elections.

[Curmudgeon1951]

I haven't posted critiques much but every time I watch a movie I make my own critiques of it. I dislike stupidity in any movie and especially in horror movies. I know some of it is because it is needed to keep the movie going. I mean if the characters knocked the "killer" out and then didn't just run off, but stayed and stomped the head off the killer the movie would end rather suddenly. But it still drives me nuts that they do it. I also hate it when the "killer" acts in an illogical manner or doesn't do something he/she should have. But rather than write about it I just keep it to myself.