Things you are tired of in the horror genre.

[Sicknero]

That's a really good point, and I guess it applies to a lot of things as well as location.

Perhaps the problem with unoriginal films these days is not so much the unoriginality itself but the tendency to rely on some plot component to be enough in itself to carry a film. Thus a film can still be great regardless of how unoriginal the story, if it's "done right".

[horrorwimp]

Originally Posted by Sicknero

That's a really good point, and I guess it applies to a lot of things as well as location.

Perhaps the problem with unoriginal films these days is not so much the unoriginality itself but the tendency to rely on some plot component to be enough in itself to carry a film. Thus a film can still be great regardless of how unoriginal the story, if it's "done right".

I agree, I feel like dismissing horror plot components simply because they've been overdone kind of disrespects the genre itself. Things like slashers, haunted houses, and fear have become horror mainstays for a reason. The only problem is how they're used... It would be great to have a cliché done right, but too many people use only the clichés.

Locations are usually exploited even more so, since their size and layout usually give filmmakers a lot more leg room to be narratively lazy.

[Kandarian Demon]

Originally Posted by TheFext

I'm tired of Haunted House movies in modern horror. It's been done waaaaay to many times since like 2005. Good slashers are basiclly gone by now. I can't name one slasher that I consider a modern day classic since like 2009.

Hmm, I think the haunted house genre is very neglected... but I do agree with you about slasher movies. I think maybe the torture porn genre is what really killed the slasher.

Imagine what Halloween would have been like if there had to be guts flying in every direction every minute, and they had to make space for long torture scenes. There would be no time left to tell the story, to get to know the characters or to build up the tension... you know, all the stuff that they don't give a damn about anymore when they make movies. I think it would be very difficult to do a modern slasher.

[ferretchucker]

This doesn't so much apply to horror as general supernatural themed things, but it's this need recently to make up new terms for monsters e.g. "lycans" in Underworld. If it's a werewolf, call it a werewolf. Same goes for The Walking Dead, which uses just about every term for zombies but zombies. I feel like it's a lazy attempt to try and carve their own notch in the mythos.

In fact, an extension of this is the lack of real zombies. Now they're always "infected" with something. This is one of the reasons I think Romero's films worked so well - they say who cares why they're zombies, just RUN FROM THE FUCKING ZOMBIES!

Then again...he calls them the living dead. Fuck.

[horrorwimp]

Originally Posted by ferretchucker

In fact, an extension of this is the lack of real zombies. Now they're always "infected" with something. This is one of the reasons I think Romero's films worked so well - they say who cares why they're zombies, just RUN FROM THE FUCKING ZOMBIES!

Then again...he calls them the living dead. Fuck.

Hahaha this is so true! However, I think the rise of "infected" zombies stems from the real world fears of chemical warfare/industrialization/climate/etc. and humans' tendency to fear and mythologize things they don't really understand. While chemical warfare and plague are still real threats, I think zombie films inspired by these fears are just an expression of society's overall hysteria. It's interesting, but it sucks because all the films start using the same generic theme and message. Zombies have become a metaphor for humanity over and over and over again... It's not bad, just most of the films haven't been very good :/

[Alucard the Risen]

Remakes and found-footage, give it a damned rest...

[Alucard the Risen]

Originally Posted by Regansvomit

Seeing beautiful people regardless of their age. I want to see normal looking people that I can relate to. I want them to come across as intelligent.

Films are too predictable and too filtered now. I want the religious and political world to be in an uproar when a new film is released.

We need less music. When there is silence aside from the ambience of the seen, the viewer can use their own imagination better.

I agree on the part about raising hell, all that bible-thumping rage makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, ;)

[Alucard the Risen]

Originally Posted by Berserker

Shakey camera movies. As mentioned already, stuff like found footage, and entire movies being filmed through someone's camera lens. It's not that it's entirely that bad; it has its charms. But there's just too much of it out there, and frankly, I don't find convulsing images you can't see and incessant screaming all that scary. It's just really annoying.
Worse part of those types of movies though, is that it's really limited when it comes to the realism factor. If I was being munched to death by a zombie, I probably would have stopped filming long ago.

Singing kids. A lot of horror movies often have some background music that has kids singing softly in a creepy, depressing manner. Again, nothing wrong with this, but it's been done to death. I suppose when it fits the bill, I can't complain, if kids, or childhood is a root theme...but eh. Shut up, you damn kids.

Blind death scenes. I hate it when a screen cuts off right as a death blow is about to land, and we're treated to a picture of the moon as the victim screams away in agony. Especially in slasher movies.

Rich people. Why is everyone in horror movies always so rich? Budding, struggling college students always have huge, fancy apartments with the latest technology. That's not how it works in real life.

As for shaking cameras, still haven't found one worse than The Amittyville Haunting...

[Sicknero]

Originally Posted by horrorwimp

Hahaha this is so true! However, I think the rise of "infected" zombies stems from the real world fears of chemical warfare/industrialization/climate/etc. and humans' tendency to fear and mythologize things they don't really understand. While chemical warfare and plague are still real threats, I think zombie films inspired by these fears are just an expression of society's overall hysteria. It's interesting, but it sucks because all the films start using the same generic theme and message. Zombies have become a metaphor for humanity over and over and over again... It's not bad, just most of the films haven't been very good :/

I think all cinema, in fact all fiction, is a metaphor for various aspects of the human experience. That's the whole point of it after all.

The other point ... personally I enjoy it when a story tries to go beyond "feck that's horrible let's run away" and comes up with theories about why zombies/werewolves/vampires/cannibals/assorted monsters/slashers etc etc exist. Obviously it isn't always done well, but I like a thinking movie myself.

I've been on a horror binge this month, and you know what I'm really glad to see the back of? That ridiculous metallic "Schhhhwing!" sound effect that seemed to be the stock sound effect for stabbing/slashing for years.

[Kandarian Demon]

Originally Posted by Sicknero

I've been on a horror binge this month, and you know what I'm really glad to see the back of? That ridiculous metallic "Schhhhwing!" sound effect that seemed to be the stock sound effect for stabbing/slashing for years.

Hahaha, I had forgotten about that, but it's true :D

Another thing I'm tired of: annoying, drunk, rude, dumb teenagers/young people in pretty much every horror movie. Yes, I know... it's a classic element of horror, but variety would be nice!