Guns in horror
 

I wanted to ask people's opinions on whether guns really add to a horror movie? Are they that scary? Trying to think (other than grindhouse exceptions) where guns really add to the film? ::confused::

Reggie's quadruple barrel shotgun in Phantasm certainly adds something special.

Guns don't kill the killer. That I've learned.

Guns can kill but they're not scary like a hatchet or a butcher knife, etc. Its the expectation of the pain caused. Guns are more suited to gangster movies. Picture Michael Myers walking with a gun....

Seems like an odd question. Of course adding a gun to a situation changes things a lot. Speaking of horror in films, when a disturbed person pulls out a gun, it gets very scary. Things have just become deadly. When Im deeply involved with the characters and their safety, it's scares me plenty.

It's all in the context. If you're in the middle of an over-the-top zombie, vampire, werewolf action adventure, seeing a gun isn't likely to be scary.

Guns are not scary in horror films. Too fast & convenient for my taste. The psychopath holding the gun is whats really scary. I'd rather be shot than attacked with a chainsaw though. You saw what Mike did with Brady's shotgun in H4, like bitch I don't need this, as he casually tossed it aside. ::big grin:: He used his hands. That's scary.

They can be quick and shocking at times, but as for a longer lasting terror, they're not very effective.

I agree with Sculpt 100%. It's all about the context.

Do you feel a twinge of horror when you see someone carrying a gun around in public?

Basically no. In my state, the only people allowed to carry non-concealed guns in "public" are police. If I saw a plain-clothes person "out in public" with a gun out, I would immediately try to determine why. You might label that as a "twinge of horror", although I wouldn't describe it in those words -- more a concern for life. Concern isn't horror, but horror is concern.

So you would feel horror---or "concern"---to see an ordinary citizen with a firearm? Then I would think guns would add horror to the film IF they are used by the "non-villains."

Why do you note non-villains? What are you getting at? I sense you're trying to get at something, but you haven't revealed it yet. ::big grin::

I wouldn't necessarily have concern at seeing "an ordinary citizen" with a firearm. When I wrote "in public" I meant, let's say, in my state where it would be illegal, if I saw a stranger holding a pistol in Walmart in the frozen fish section, then yes, I would be immediately concerned -- which would trigger me to analyze the person and situation... at it's conclusion, I may very well no longer be concerned.

A non-villain in a horror film like The Thing 82, or a non-villain in Evil Dead, or a non-villain mentally disturbed person, in a flash could become either villainous or simply dangerous to the other non-villains. ::wink::

Just trying to gauge your view on guns. My difficulty is squaring two somewhat incompatible views: guns are not objectively horrifying, yet you would be horrified to see an ordinary citizen carrying one in public.

I would experience little horror seeing a holstered one in public, but if it were drawn and aimed would be quite frightened.

They do in some horror movies.

This is true. It depends on the setup. I saw a movie recently which I might review here, that when the character gets a gun it becomes even more scary because you know they are crazy and will use it. And not miss. They aren't the type to play around pointing a gun.

You can't see it in the gif but afterwards he creeps around the car scaring the crap of out that woman, before killing her.
I'd say that's an effective use of a gun in a horror movie.