Tis the season for Halloween! Whether you are trick-or-treating with the young ones, barhopping, or contemplating the reasonable amount of money to spend on a costume, the holiday calls for some festivity.
Like myself, we might be reminded of the time that kid in our third-grade class wore a Jason mask to the Halloween parade and scared the whole class.
Looking back, that kid had quite an early appreciation for the horror film genre.
Classic horror films such as Halloween and Scream have stood the test of time, having remakes made over the years along with modern adaptations.
Cult classics such as The Shining and Children of the Corn approach horror from a different perspective, with less of a focus on blatant murder and more on the psychological fears of abandonment or being lost in a foreign environment.
Even the theater genre has dabbled in the art of ghoulish and uncanny themes, with films such as Rocky Horror Picture Show or Little Shop of Horrors, including guest appearances by large piranhas and crossdressers.
A handful of horror films have had multiple remakes or sequels such as Carrie and the newly released Halloween.
There are eleven Halloween flicks, with the first one premiering in 1978, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle.
The films around Michael Myers, a disturbed man who is out to murder the majority of his bloodline every Halloween.
Settings and themes of the original include psychiatric centers, the ambiguous mask of Myers, and murder-victims in an array of scenarios filled with suspense.
Combine these themes with a terrifying musical score and dark shadows, and the classic horror film is born.
Of course, many more elements make a great horror film. Professor of Journalism John Morano mentioned his personal elements for a good horror film.
“I like horror films that are plausible [and] look fairly realistic. I need a well told story. I prefer suspense and tension to flat-out shock, but recognize the need for all three,” Morano said.
“Strong production values, coupled with adroit direction and good acting usually are part of a winning formula. I think the best horror films are made to be outstanding films, as opposed to just a scream fest,” he concluded.
If a horror film can stand on its own and still scare an audience regardless of release date, it should be considered a classic. A possible flaw in current horror film production could be the concept of shock-value.
With all of the technological advancements and lack of concepts today, it is often found that films are recreated or plots are recycled.
If anything, it should not just be a great scary film, but a great film in general.
A flick that brings a new element to the table or offers a fresh twist on something done before.
Nowadays there are many teen horror films that you would take someone on a date for and probably laugh, not replay in your room during the fall season.
Although this calls for great debate depending on the viewer, Jaws can be considered a classic horror film.
Since its release in 1975, Jaws has been a staple for many moviegoers, with a daunting instrumental that has left its bite mark on western culture
Chad Dell, Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of communication, considers Jaws a favorite of his.
“A good horror film will keep the villain or threat off screen as much as possible. One of my favorite classics is Jaws, and the shark was a threat through much of the film, but was only seen fleetingly, which made it all the more frightening.”
Dell continued with, “We have to use our imagination, which is usually much worse than the real thing.”
Whether you look at the film with an expression of disinterest or genuine fear, it is difficult to deny its legacy.
Shortly after the film premiered in theaters, people were afraid of swimming in the ocean on hot summer days.
To instill that kind of fear with a fictitious storyline? That is what I call an impact!
Therefore, whether you are belting out “Suddenly Seymour” in the privacy of your own home or peeking through your fingers as you watch The Grudge for the twentieth time, horror films are unavoidable this time of year.
Moreover, if modern horror productions want to make another classic, they better hide their captivating villain and make us avoid simple pleasures such as swimming in the ocean at all costs.
PHOTO TAKEN from Dazed
