Does Horror Satisfy

[iamragmar]

Horror has been where my heart truly lies my whole life. When I was a young boy I guessed that since lots of things I had seen scared me senseless, horror films must all be terrifying. Every time I see a horror film, my expectations are lowered almost each time. Every single horror film I have saw has disappointed me, however close they come to being perfect, I suppose since love and fear are supposed to be the most heightened emotions, they are difficult to fulfil.
_I imagined horror films to be following the monster for the whole film and watching it kill lots of people and the film being scary from start to finish, when I started watching them I thought it just didn’t feel right seeing the good, normal people for most of the film and the monster always losing at the end. But I realise now that it would be extremely hard to make a good film if attempted to be scary the whole time(they should still try).
_What I look for in horror is really beautiful visuals(Faust (1926), Sleepy Hollow and some of the Universal films) or even the grainy, harsh look(Evil Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre). An extremely strong atmosphere and moods. Strong expressionistic qualities. Gore does almost nothing for me unless it is to humorous effect(Braindead/Dead Alive, I can take it or leave it.
_I think comics, videogames, books and maybe even radio all have huge advantages over horror films because there is often very few people doing them and have complete control. Edgar Allen Poe’s “Black Cat” and “Tell-Tale Heart” gave me 100% satisfaction and I’m sure I’ll encounter many more perfect horror stories in books. Comics is something I am very into and horror comics have probably a bigger percentage of quality than any other type of comic(especially for art). Stephen King, George Romero and just about every notable director in horror has praised EC comics, Warren and Skywald for producing comics that inspired their approach to horror. In my opinion EC artist Graham Ingels has done more great work for horror than any writer, director or actor. Every panel he drew was pure 100% horror, Bernie Wrightson has done astounding work and is working on George Romero’s Land of the Dead. There are so many horror stories in comics which are absolutely perfect. Of course comics have the advantage of an artists vision and ability and can make it look as good as he likes.
_I’m sure most of you know the achievements of videogames like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, for probably being the actual best medium to scare you since you are playing as someone who could be eaten or brutally killed in the game, they also look superb (Resident Evil 1 for the Gamecube was beautiful.)
_But although I think horror films have such a small likelihood of being good, when they do get it right, they are more pleasurable than any other medium’s horror. I’d go as far to say that they have been some of the biggest highlights in my life. Mostly have been not so much great horror films but horror films with great things in them, like Count Orlock in Nosferatu, Lon Chaney in London After Midnight and Phantom of the Opera, each scene or picture with those characters is worth 10 films like Night of the Living Dead or any other great horror film. And Vincent Price is ecstacy to watch and listen to.
_One of the biggest problems is that “hidden gems” are mostly gory films that were banned but have little else to offer. Whenever I see a list of horror fans favourite films I am continually disappointed that they are always the same films that the average person who knows anything about horror films would know, and most of them don’t really satisfy me in the ways I want to be even if they are great films.
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_Is anyone else constantly disappointed by horror films? Are we all looking for different things in horror?

[Sedated_replica]

Well... Today I woke up and I couldn't decide. "should I make a sandwich or eat yesterdays pizza" as I sit there wasting time. I realized I could have ate both! Bingo, I found a solution. I would eat some pizza and than make a sandwich later. After I finished my amazing pizza. I took a shower. It was a nice warm shower, I couldn't wait too turn on the TV and find out more horrible events the media was trying to scare me with today. After scaring me with attacks against us and unsolved murders. I decided to play some videogames! but what videogames. It was a hard choice. Mario or Splinter Cell.... I couldn't make up mind. what too do.

That is the true but fake story of my life

[ShankS]

it'd be easier to read if you used some paragraphing.

[tachii]

it seems the older one becomes the more dissapointing everything/one becomes

[urgeok]

hey tachii, where do you keep disappearing to !

[filmmaker2]

Good horror, when you can get it, still seems to work. I always liked "Night of the Demon," and someone gave me a copy of it not too long ago, hadn't seen it in quite some time. And it still worked marvelously. Yes, it was satisfying.

[iamragmar]

I have not saw Night of the Demon, I'll look.

[tachii]

Originally posted by urgeok
hey tachii, where do you keep disappearing to !

moo

[urgeok]

Originally posted by tachii
moo

that's a long time to get a glass of milk..

[DraculaInDallas]

If horror looks like this it would definitely satisfy me :D