HORROR MOVIES 101

FilmCouch #105: My Bloody Valentine 3D, why 3D sucks, and how horror movies can be good...

Anyone check out this week's FilmCouch podcast?  Kevin and Adam talk about My Bloody Valentine 3D, which leads into what I thought was a great discussion about what truly makes a horror film great, and how gimmicks don't necessarily equal great filmmaking (though directors often seem to think they do--see our other discussion here). Bonus: they give a great quick history of 3D film--including the highest grossing 3D film ever, a crappy 70's soft-core porn.

Kevin and Adam brought up The Descent and The Orphanage as great examples of what a horror film *can* be.  I really liked their perspective on horror films and the horror genre, and the direction filmmaking seems to have taken towards gimmicks.

"How do you get through to somebody who's seen a hundred horror movies?  And yours has nothing to offer them." -FilmCouch #105

What do you guys think?

Re:FilmCouch #105: My Bloody Valentine 3D, why 3D sucks, and how horror movies can be good...

Good topic Seely.  I have to say that the only reason I liked this last My Bloody Valentine was because it was in 3D, I just thought it was fun.  BUT actually the story was kind of boring and the characters just weren't as rich as the original.  In other words, if it wasn't for the "gimmick" it would have been so/so. 

That is so true, for people like most of us on here, we have seen thousands of horror movies, it really takes a LOT to impress me.  Of course I love to watch all horror, even the bad movies, but as for being impressed...NOW The Orphanage and The Descent were excellent movies.  They are up on the top of my favorites now.  The Descent scared me to death, also I'm a little claustrophobic so it really got to me.  I think what made them so great were the story lines, the darkness, the suspense, the surprise factor, the creepiness, the intensity...whew.

seely:

Anyone check out this week's FilmCouch podcast?  Kevin and Adam talk about My Bloody Valentine 3D, which leads into what I thought was a great discussion about what truly makes a horror film great, and how gimmicks don't necessarily equal great filmmaking (though directors often seem to think they do--see our other discussion here). Bonus: they give a great quick history of 3D film--including the highest grossing 3D film ever, a crappy 70's soft-core porn.

Kevin and Adam brought up The Descent and The Orphanage as great examples of what a horror film *can* be.  I really liked their perspective on horror films and the horror genre, and the direction filmmaking seems to have taken towards gimmicks.

"How do you get through to somebody who's seen a hundred horror movies?  And yours has nothing to offer them." -FilmCouch #105

What do you guys think?

Re:FilmCouch #105: My Bloody Valentine 3D, why 3D sucks, and how horror movies can be good...

I read some decent reviews of The Descent,and queued it up for my spouse and myself. She seemed to enjoy it - the women in distress, the claustrophobic situation, the injuries - until the creatures showed up. The viewing ended there, labelled "stupid."

Re:FilmCouch #105: My Bloody Valentine 3D, why 3D sucks, and how horror movies can be good...

joem18b:

I read some decent reviews of The Descent,and queued it up for my spouse and myself. She seemed to enjoy it - the women in distress, the claustrophobic situation, the injuries - until the creatures showed up. The viewing ended there, labelled "stupid."

Your review is a lot like others I've read, and echoes what Kevin and Adam said in their podcast.  They had an excellent point that The Descent was a great film with a great story before the creatures even showed up to provide the "horror".  Take away the horror of the film, and you'd still be left with a decent script, good plot and great acting.  I haven't seen it yet either, but its going on ye olde Netflix que post-haste!

Re:FilmCouch #105: My Bloody Valentine 3D, why 3D sucks, and how horror movies can be good...

Chris Campbell wrote a less than favorable review of the "3D" Superbowl commercial that aired on Sunday... along with a bunch of other reviews from around the internet... its a good read on how 3D is creating a bit of a backlash against film studios as a gimmicky ploy to lure consumers back to the theatres.

http://blog.spout.com/2009/02/02/super-bowl-ad-is-massive-misstep-for-3d-today-in-film-bloggery-020209/

Re:FilmCouch #105: My Bloody Valentine 3D, why 3D sucks, and how horror movies can be good...

You know, it's so funny because I had forgotten a lot of the parts about the creatures but the scariest for me was the claustrophobia and falling off the cliff, not finding a way out.  I did like the idea that there was something down there with them that was tracking them, I also liked the ending.  I always like the "fool you" ending.  But I agree those creatures were a little "over the top" - I did find myself holding my breath through a lot of the movie.

I enjoy 3D movies just for the FUN effect but it ticks me off because sometimes they take a perfectly good movie (although there really haven't been any good 3D movies) but they throw so many stupid things at the camera, it's ridiculous, from pitch forks thrust to the audience, to eyeballs popping out, to sharks swimming out to get you and biting you.  It's very cheesy - but it's also a lot of fun with friends and a few drinks.  Good for laughs.

seely:

joem18b:

I read some decent reviews of The Descent,and queued it up for my spouse and myself. She seemed to enjoy it - the women in distress, the claustrophobic situation, the injuries - until the creatures showed up. The viewing ended there, labelled "stupid."

Your review is a lot like others I've read, and echoes what Kevin and Adam said in their podcast.  They had an excellent point that The Descent was a great film with a great story before the creatures even showed up to provide the "horror".  Take away the horror of the film, and you'd still be left with a decent script, good plot and great acting.  I haven't seen it yet either, but its going on ye olde Netflix que post-haste!