Why we love Horror & why you should too
Why we love Horror & why you should too
Hide behind that pillow if you need to.
Last October, we (Ellis & Gareth) recorded a podcast, discussing Horror and why we love it so much. Every year we get excited at the prospect of a new scary cinema trip, enjoy hiding behind cushions as we shut the curtains and cosy up in the comfort of our home, safe from the grasp of a Michael Myers or Freddie Krueger. But we’re well aware that not everybody loves a horror, and we tried to understand why, and maybe help people to understand that there’s a horror out there for everyone. Below are transcribed snippets from the episode, which we hope will bring some guidance for the more trepidatious movie lovers out there.
Ellis is represented by E, Gareth by G
Listen to the full discussion here:
Why Do People Avoid Horror?
G: I think it’s a stress thing. People don’t like being stressed and stress is everywhere these days. But I don’t find them stressful. The last horror I got a bit stressed at was Evil Dead Rise.
E: Really?
G: Yeah, stress but in a fun way. I still had a great time!
E: I found Bodies Bodies Bodies a real stress. It made my heart beat very fast.
G: But I like it, there’s something quite addictive about it.
E: Yeah!
G: I think that’s what it is. I’m addicted to going to watch horrors.
Going Against Cliché
E: When a new good horror is coming out, I get so excited.
G: You never used to like horror though..?
E: Well, I always thought they were quite predictable but that’s the fun of it.
G: It wasn’t the scariness it was the cliché…ness.
E: And now horrors are so interesting because people are going against clichés. Candyman was so good at that; almost doing the clichés, like the basement “nope” moment, and then subverting expectations.
Laugh-Out-Loud Horror
E: Going to watch horrors with you at the cinema has made me enjoy older horrors even more.
G: What is it about me? I like an ego boost.
E: I remember years ago watching Saw traps as a teenager with friends. Everyone else was disgusted, I was laughing through it.
G: Yep!
E: Everyone else was like what’s wrong with you? Why are you laughing? And then we went to watch a horror together, and you were laughing as well.
G: It’s okay to laugh.
E: It’s an uncomfortable thing; you’re laughing because it’s so weird and grotesque and over the top.
G: The thing I like about horrors is that 99.9% of the horrors released know what the genre does with murders, with jump scares, with all that. It’s like you’re going to ask “what’s your take on these tropes?”, “how are you going to make me jump?”.
‘Tis the Season
E: I also like horrors because it’s this time of year, my favourite time of year. It’s cold, the leaves are turning and falling, jumpers are on, I love it. Often horror films are set around Halloween/October time. An American Werewolf in London for example…
G: …so good.
E: ….such a great Autumnal horror film. The Conjuring had that Autumnal vibe; obviously the Halloween films. Even though the things are scaring me, there’s something about watching these scary things from the comfort of your home that feels comforting. I definitely get more scared at the cinema.
G: You can’t go! You can’t look at your phone!
E: Exactly!
Even We Get Scared Sometimes
G: Are there any kind of horrors that you don’t like or you’d steer away from?
E: I’d never rush back to watch The Exorcist because I thought that was just vile.
G: I used to not like stuff like The Ring, where it was just jump scares. Be more inventive! I’m not that bothered about Saw, or The Human Centipede or stuff where it’s just trying to shock you. Grotesque!
E: There’s a film called Creep which is a found footage film which I wouldn’t rush back to watch. Very low budget. When you know the concept of a film, an image can be terrifying.
Keep Secrets
G: The things that get me scared are things I can’t see.
E: You’ve said before as a critique of horrors we’ve seen: ‘they showed the thing too early’.
G: Yeah. Because once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s fine. Well I say it’s fine it’s going to kill you. That’s why I like ghost stories, it could come from anywhere.
E: It was the problem with the second Woman in Black film, they showed too much.
G: That’s why The Conjuring was good. Signs is great until they show more of the alien. As soon as you see it I’m not as interested.
Midsommar & the A24 Movement
E: I’ll tell you a horror film that I never want to revisit or rewatch, and I think you’ll agree with me: Midsommar.
G: I was going to bring this up, because its A24 isn’t it!
E: Yeah!
G: It was more about the welfare of the actors in the last scene. That last scene is really weird.
E: It’s horrible. But the whole film feels so tense and there’s no letup for the audience.
G: But A24 are interesting because they are trying different things. They’re being a bit more artsy with their horrors, taking it to a different level and scaring us without the genre tropes. But they make me uneasy now after Midsommar.
E: Yeah, I don’t want that feeling again.
G: A similar thing with Hereditary. It’s playing with anxiety which I’m not a big fan of.
E: It’s too real.
There’s a Horror for Everyone
G: For people who say they don’t like Horrors, there is going to be a horror for you, but it’s a bit of a minefield.
E: You’ve just got to find which type. The anxiety-inducing horrors aren’t for us.
G: And the overly grotesque ones. I’m a fan of ghost stories, zombies and slashers.
E: Yeah I’d agree. I love a comedy horror as well.
G: And old horrors.
Gateway Horrors
E: If you had to name a Horror film that people should watch this Halloween night, what would you pick?
G: An accessible one?
E: Yes, for someone who hasn’t watched a lot of horror but wants to.
G: I think a really good starter horror is Scream.
E: I agree.
G: It’s really scary. That opening scene with Drew Barrymore is creepy.
E: But it’s funny as well.
G: It introduces you to a world where horrors don’t have to be an absolute nightmare from start to finish.
E: Alien is always a good bet. Sci-Fi horror, it’s a good gateway horror. American Werewolf…
G: …Sixth Sense…
E: …It.
G: No that’s creepy; people don’t like clowns.
So why do we like Horror so much?
E: It’s that feeling. It’s like being on a roller coaster. You like the twists and turns and uneasiness, it’s an emotion you don’t get anywhere else.
G: You just gotta ride it. All night long!
Listen to the full discussion here: The Focus Film Podcast