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I need a good coherent story. Not just a monster chasing some kids. Why? How? Where? Good logic and a creative twist to keep it interesting. Good character development that doesn't drag on and take up half the movie. Just enough to let you know what kind of people they are and how they came into their situation. If it's gonna be a whodunnit like Scream then the story and action must be A+ or the movie isn't worth repeat viewings.
A good ensemble cast or good lead and co-leads. No UPN, WB stars or American Idol rejects please. And no Paris Hiltons or 50 Cents. Please use real actors who can ACT!! Use adults for a change.
Strong action that gets underway within the first 5 minutes of the movie. I hate movies that don't get started till half way through. That usually happens when the director spends too long developing characters and background. Action has to be interspersed along the way until the other elements are established then the mayhem can ensue.
Long shots and wide vistas. No MTV music video quick editting. Boring!! Good use of fog, shadows and light.
Music and sound effects. Must be well-placed to build tension. All orchestral or ambient noises for best use of dynamics for max effect. Save the rap and metal music for the disco club scenes or the end credits. Preferrably not at all.
Special FX and CGI are only good if they're used sparingly. These days they're over-used and not even hidden well (Van Helsing, The Matrix). These days every genre movie looks like a video game now. Good horror movies don't rely heavily on FX but on the viewers' imagination. A woman screaming can convey just as much if not more than showing what she's screaming at.
I like supernatural, mythical or other-dimensional antagonists. No UFOs or ETs. (Aliens are too easy cuz there's no real concrete mythology). Vampires are played out. Werewolves are making a comeback (finally!) but they tend to succumb to bad, campy make-up or CGI fatigue. I like zombies, mutations, demons, voodoo priests, ghosts. Things like Candyman, Ju-On, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Deathdream, Pet Cemetary, Tales from the Crypt (1972), Jeepers Creepers, Hellraiser I & II, Lord of Illusions. While Im not a big fan of serial killer/slasher flicks, I do like Halloween, Saw and Se7en.
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