Is there such a thing as a scary movie?

[Keava]

The problem is that if you approach a horror movie waiting to be scared you start to anticipate those more intesive moments and take a lot of initial impression from them. There is also the fact that many of supposed horror movies are actually just gore movies made to pretend horror movies. Brains ont he walls, cut off limbs, or other mutilated human and non human parts are hardly scary when you are separated from them by TV

I much prefer schizop[hrenic psychological 'horrors' more in style with Kubrick's Shining, but are they scary? Dont think so, just much more interesting than random psycho or monster running around and chopping others.

 

[Simalacrum]

I don't watch horror films...

But apparently the Japanese version of The Ring will make even the bravest souls cower in terror

 

[TerribleAssassin]

Only proper horror I saw was the Ring, crapped me up.


Last "horror" I saw was Mirrors (Jack Bauer version.) Made me laugh if I'm honest.

 

[kalt_13]

Asian cinema seems to be rather good at the genre without stooping to cheap scares or gore.

I agree.

1408 is some awesome psychological horror. It won't be the cheap "AAAAAH BLOOD RUNS DOWN THE WAAAAAALLLLS" scary, it's pure concept horror. This does come with the caveat that it's at it's peak when you are really thinking the situations out and putting yourself in them. I love it, personally.

the 1st half of that movie was awesome unfortunatly it (at least in my opinion) dropped the ball in the 2nd half. definatly worth watching.



the most recent horror i saw was the reanimator. Not sure that anyone would find it scary anymore, but a few good laffs there.

 

[Outright Villainy]

The Orphanage is probably my favorite horror/psychological thriller film probably. If you get a chance, and don't mind subtitles, watch it and you're bound to enjoy it.

Really, a film can't really be scary unless its got a mind-fuck element to it. Its gotta be something that makes you think about what's going on, draw your own conclusions, and imagine what you'll actually do in that situation. And that's something The Orphanage does really well.

I'm agreeing with this guy, the orphanage is an excellent film, which just happens to be scary.
It doesn't resort to any cheap tricks to scare you, it's all in the subtle tells of not being quite alone. Well there's precisely one instance where the film goes "Boo!" but other than that it's a class act in mind fuckery. The ending is incredibly bitter sweet too, I was more sad than anything at the end.

 

[Kuhkren]

I think somethings are scary to a person because of an effect from an inherent connection they have (i.e. childhood or just a natural thing that freaks a person out). A lot of time with movies though I believe you have to let yourself be absorbed into the atmosphere. It won't be scary if you remove your mind from the material and appraise it objectively instead of subjectively participating.

Horror is one of my most favorite genres . Especially Asian horror, they have really good atmosphere and character development usually. Some European ones aren't bad but they really get into gore :/ and are not as supernatural/monster/thriller, in my experience.

 

[Tallim]

I don't watch horror films...

But apparently the Japanese version of The Ring will make even the bravest souls cower in terror

It is one of the best, Ring 2 and Ring 0 aren't quite as good.

The freakiest thing about Ring is that it's filmed at a quality that makes it look like an 80's film and there is only 1 special effect in it which is in the last scene.

 

[Tallim]

Horror is one of my most favorite genres . Especially Asian horror, they have really good atmosphere and character development usually. Some European ones aren't bad but they really get into gore :/ and are not as supernatural/monster/thriller, in my experience.

I'm with you there, exactly my thoughts. Asian horror tends to get under your skin more than just make you jump. Even the psychological thrillers are awesome.
The revenge trilogy (Old Boy, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, Lady Vengeance) are gripping movies.

 

[Kuhkren]

I'm with you there, exactly my thoughts. Asian horror tends to get under your skin more than just make you jump. Even the psychological thrillers are awesome.
The revenge trilogy (Old Boy, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, Lady Vengeance) are gripping movies.

Oldboy!!!!! so epic! I agree, much prefer that than the startling loud noises/flashing pictures of the recent American ones. Though there are a few gems .

 

[Jharry5]

The only truly scary film I've watched was the original Nightmare on Elm Street. It was genuinely creepy, with a villain to match (he's much better in this than in later ones where he developed a sense of humor). What makes it a scary film for me is how it blends reality with dreams, and how you're still vulnerable to Freddy in your dreams. I've seen quite a few horror films, but none of them had a premise as scary as that, in my opinion. Most 'horror' films seem to be gore films, at least nowadays...

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I was pretty freaked out but David Lynch's "Eraserhead"
almost all of the scenes in the movie come out of nowhere and the disoriented nature of the whole experience feels like a nightmare in which you have no control.

That movie will mess with the heads of even the insane. I want to live inside David Lynch's brain.

 

[Drakmeire]

I want to live inside David Lynch's brain.

Why on earth would anyone want to do such a horrible thing?!?
That's like saying I want to live in a version of Hell as directed by Tim Burton.