Help - Wants/Expectations
 

Hello, I registered here in order to get your help with something...

I am currently writing an essay on horror conventions, and one part of this (the main part) is to research what audiences want/expect from horror movies.

Thus, I'm asking you guys to help me out if you would - just post here what you would want/expect in a horror film. Also, if you could separate your ideas into mainstream horror films and Indie horror films, that would be ace.

Hope you can help.

The Gate

It's all I want.

you would think it would be in your top 10


good acting
unpridictable
new ideas
great camera work

The obvious answer is that I want to be scared. I don't watch horror to be grossed out, repulsed, sickened, disturbed, etc. I watch it to be scared. A creepy atmosphere goes a long way, while pointless gore often ruins the mood. I guess this is why I've never cared for torture flicks - they aren't scary.

Besides the scare factor, the most important thing is that I want to care about the characters. The moment that this is no longer possible, the film falls apart.

Well said. Too many films have given up on doing any kind of character development. If you don't care about the characters, you don't care if they're in danger.