The Lost Horror Cinema

The genre of horror films is officially lost in today's mainstream society. The remakes have taken over any creative thought that exists in the field. Noting that I am excluding the indie market, for they do not have the monies and that will be covered in a separate article. I am also excluding both the franchises of Dracula, Frankenstein, Mummy, Godzilla and the Wolf man. Nevertheless, the genre is suffering and that is not good. Horror is and has been the staple of cinema ever since it was raised in 1896 with Le Manoir du diable.

The horror remakes on the big screen started primarily in the 1980s, even though there was Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1975), but this remake was a rare dot along the timeline of the genre. The remake engine was slow to start, John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) panned by critics, now has a cult following. The Fly (1986) a very good film in its own right and then The Blob (1988), failed to generate much in the industry. The 1990s began to have few more and such as Night of the Living Dead, however it received little pressed, except in the horror trade magazines. However, remakes launched a new assault with Psycho, in 1998 by Gus Van Sant; the first question should be how one remakes a movie by Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, whose acclaimed film set a new tone for horror and for the slasher genre in one instance. Now many state it is refreshing to see these films on the big screen and to give the newer and younger audience a chance to see these films with their own interpretation of concepts. In addition, it never hurts to pad the wallets with some extra dollars off the past glories. These remakes cannot be considered homage, there is a time a place for them - cameo appearances, a famous line or fan film made for a convention.

Many of the remakes are falling into one of two categories, they are remakes of United States films or they are Japanese horror films. However, today there is always news of a remake heading before the cameras. It is because Hollywood is out original stories, perhaps...

Although, Hollywood is all about the bottom line, the sleeper hits are rare, and both the theater chains and the studios do not allow the time to allow films to gain a word-of-mouth record of accomplishment. For example, if a film does not gain on its previous financial successes from the previous weekend then it is rushed to DVD and cable outlets to recoup the monies. Scream (1996) was to some a sleeper hit, the first weekend it earns approximately $6.3million, but by the second weekend the earnings had risen to $21million and finished its run over $100million.¹ However, it does not mean all horror films will strive for these numbers. Therefore, to minimize their costs why not made a film that has been done before with some minor script changes, the need for the writer becomes short-lived.

However, as an aspiring screenwriter of films, if I was offered the chance to work on a Hollywood film and it was a remake, I would have to sacrifice my thoughts on this topic, for the opportunity.

Fans - the solution is simple - STOP WATCHING - REVOLT! Though, remakes have totaled over $1.4billion since 1982, ² with still more to head our way, Friday the 13^th, Hellraiser, It's Alive, Piranha, The Last House on the Left, Motel Hell, Scanners, and they are not done on trying to improve upon the 4-star masterpieces of Hitchcock, namely his movie The Birds and in the latest news Dario Argento's Suspiria. The most shocking out of those upcoming films is both Last House on the Left and Suspiria, which both have their own respectful stamps upon the horror genre. Last House on the Left, which at one point was listed to be a PG-13 film! How insane, but of recent the rating was reinstated to an R though that is still rumored. In addition, speaking of rumors, I Spit on Your Grave and Rosemary's Baby are being considered for the status of remakes - could they top their originals.

Is it because, horror cinema is no longer truly a place where we as a society as a whole go to escape the real life doldrums to be scared for while. Conversely, everyday life is no longer filled with sweet smelling flowers and cutesy rabbits and politeness. It is brutal, hardcore and hard edge, murderous rampages at images that gloss over headlines and split-second images from the one-eye beast located in everyone homes. The internet by itself is numbing each of us every day. The shock and awe of disgust that was found in the gritty films of the 1970s, has vanished, the modern-day grindhouse will not be able to replace that shock value. Therefore, the remakes are harkening us back to gothic castles, grimy sicknesses, and darkened caves to conjure old memories into our fresh realities. On the other hand, perhaps the youth which is the true target audience, the remakes are direct at, and hence they would be able to relate to their elders, could really be that deep thought process and beliefs. Well?

With over easily 1000 horror films to choose and the creepy original films from Japan, the remake subgenre is not vanishing anytime soon. Eventually, Hollywood will venture to other countries for their horror films and remake them as well. A website is needed for the fans, to email the studios with petitions on the next film to be a remake.

The genre of Horror was changed many times, throughout the years and decades, the fans have experienced some truly remarkable storylines, such as TheSilence of the Lambs, (a sequel) but professionally done and a film that stands alone, and went on to win Oscars. The genre has many sub-genres such as, the slasher (dominated the 1980s) and horror-comedies, roaming zombies and rising demons and devils, but now there is Horror-Remakes to be debated. So go ahead and take out your machetes, and debate away.

¹ The Internet Movie Database, box office data for the movie Scream.
² Box Office Mojo, Horror Remake 1982 to Present Chart.