What do you like best about horror movies?

Hey all,
This is my first post, and I wish to know everybody on this forum soon. My first question(s) is a basic one indeed. What do you like best about your favorite horror movie? What made that particular horror movie your favorite? Was it the colorful characters? Perhaps the plot details, or realism in it? Do you prefer all out blood and gore, or perhaps using your imagination (as they did with the camera angles in Texas Chainsaw massacre). The reason that I am asking you horror fans these questions, is because I am trying to get a general idea of what people are looking for in a horror movie these days, and what they want out of it. To be truly feared, or just entertained? I personally believe that horror film these days have a touch of mystery and drama to it, which is okay...but sacrifices the fear factor a bit dont you think? WHatever these answers may be, I thank you for submitting them on this post. My name is Dexter by the way, and it is nice to join the community...thank you guys very much for your concern and help.
regards
Dexter

[Vodstok]

Hey there Dexter! Welcome.

I'm personally all about the atmosphere. The movies that really give me the willies are Alien, The Ring, The exorcist, Night Of The living Dead.. the one common thread between all of them is that they set you up in a world where the horror is omnipresent and inescapable. Youhave one chance to get out alive, but it is slim.

[bloodrayne]

I believe that most of us here have already been desensitized enough to miss out on the "scare" factor...So just load me up on the blood, guts and gore, thanks:)

[hellfire1]

Originally posted by bloodrayne
I believe that most of us here have already been desensitized enough to miss out on the "scare" factor...So just load me up on the blood, guts and gore, thanks:)

agreed !
oh but a good chase always gets me all riled up and rooting for the killer "get her, get her !! " :p

[Egekrusher]

The scare factor and, as Vodstok said, the atmosphere.

In order for me to truly like a horror movie, it must emanate darkness. No comedy, no bullshit. The Ring succeeded in this aspect. The entire movie was set up to give you an ominous feeling of dread. It was gray, even in the sunlight. Everything just felt grim, without being overly dramatic about it. Once you have this kind of atmosphere set up, the scare factor is very easy to achieve, though VERY few movies set up the atmosphere well enough to actually scare you. The Ring is a gem in my eyes. Most modern horror movies have comedy/drama/teenie bopper aspects that just don't cut it. They are out to make money, not necessarily to scare you. I refuse to see most of the new horror that comes out for this very reason.

Scare me, please, I'm waiting, GODDAMMIT.

[natas]

Exactly!! I haven't been scared by a horror movie since I was a kid. The Ring came close though because of the atmosphere. It means everything. You can have all the blood and gore you want but if the atmosphere isn't there....you have nothing. Just blood and gore...which, for me, isn't too scary. I like the unknown. It gives my brain a chance to try and scare me. I find my brain works against me at times and truly scares the crap out of me!!
Like when I'm walking home late at night. I try and keep my brain occupied with a song or what I have to do the next day. If I don't, my brain takes over and starts making me hear noises or footsteps behind me. My own mind can scare me much more than any horror movie!

Ya, I'm weird....but that's the way Satan made me...

[fluffho]

i like suspense and mystery type shit. solving crimes or whatever. i always try and find out who the killer is, well, if applicable like in scream or whatever

anyway, i love to critique and horror movies r some of the shittiest movies out there..

[orangestar]

I have to agree Vod on the atmosphere. The Ring is the best example I can think of. It's always dark and ominous and you just feel kind of helpless through the whole thing.

I like a bit of Drama in my horror, but not to sappy. I HATE most horror-comedy, only really great movies can pull it off. If I care about the characters, I'll probably like the movie more. Thats what ruined TCM for me, I didnt know the characters at all.

Of course, the more gore the better. If you dont have a great atmosphere, I can usually be appeased with lots and lots of the red stuff :)

[bloodrayne]

Originally posted by natas
You can have all the blood and gore you want but if the atmosphere isn't there....you have nothing. Just blood and gore...which, for me, isn't too scary.

What I was trying to say was...Once you get to the point where NOTHING in a horror movie scares you anymore (which I believe is where most of us are here)...You may as well have the blood, guts, and gore...So that you will at least have SOMETHING...And for those of you who CAN still be scared by a horror movie...I envy you

Excellent advices and opinions people! This is all one next progressive step to making a fantastic next-classic horror movie. I agree with you all and vodstok that the atmosphere should be the first priority of any horror movie out there, because as egekrusher said...the scare factor would be easier to achieve in that sort of "dark, dreaded" atmosphere.. The second most important is of course, the "scare-factor". Bloodrayne made a good point that most hardcore horror fans are allready desensitized enough to miss out on the "scare-factor". Because of that, we need to pump up the viewers with true, real life brutal terror at the beginning to get them into a state of shock and fear. As in the Texas Chainsaw massacre..in the beginning of the movie at the intro there were flashes..and everytime the screen flashed, there was quick view of a face of a dead body, or skulls or whatever. You guys remember that part? I believe that part really got the viewers' brain into preparing its natural instinct of fear. third of all I learned that....the character is the 3rd most important feature..I agree with orangestar that TCM could have been MUCH better if we knew the characters more better (like the quiet driver of the van). There needs to be some sort of character introduction before the action jumps in. Tobe Hoober, the director of TCM originally meant the beginning scene of the scene of the van driving on the road scene as an introduction of the characters, which was when the teens talked in the van. Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough to know them enough..therefore to care for them during the later brutal scenes. Do you guys have any idea how Tobe Hoober, the directer of TCM could have made us know the characters a little more better than just a short van scene? I personally think that the Movie should have been longer..fitting more time in the beginning for the introduction sequence of the characters which he failed to do so. Personally, I believe that the beginning is the most important scene because it introduces the characters, and gets you to "bond up" with them for the later scenes. Do you guys agree? Allright once again..you guys had great, fantastic answers, and I will make full USE of them for my scripts. For egekrusher, I know your waiting for brutal terror, and goddamnit it I am working on it :) For Natas....regarding your brain taking you over and making sounds and stuff for you....thats called an "acid trip" :D