Reality over fantasy when it comes to horror?

[Pól Rua]

I think what the discussion about Michael Myers highlights is one of the strengths of the characters. His ambiguity. Is he a supernatural agent of evil or is he just a monstrously strong human being whose capacity for evil and violence is so powerful that he can keep coming after you despite seemingly crippling injuries?
Both work. And I think that's neat.

[Monty_Cristo]

Not two characters as much as two designs.
For me, the Chimaera wasn't AS potent an image as the Coat and Hat-Wearing Man. The design wasn't bad, but I thought he was more interesting when you couldn't quite see what he was.
That said, I did like the way they held off on the flying and I liked that they didn't reveal the monster all at once, but more as a slow reveal.
Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a great fun horror movie.
I also loved the two leads. Very sympathatic and excellent performances on both their parts.

understood. not very far off from my own opinion. i thought the first half of Jeepers Creepers was stronger than the second half. it went downhill once they arrived at the sherriff's station, imo. but i did like the use of the wings (like when he was pretending to be the scarecrow before darting off).

John Carpenter has made it plain from day one that he intended Michael Meyers o be an intangible embodiment of evil, more than a person or a character. That's why he's called 'The Shape.'

It's not so much about him being supernatural as it is him being more metaphor than character. Later movies trying to literalize that have exaggerated the concept but that's more a result of people trying to make continuity out of something that was supposed to be self-contained. The first 'Halloween' makes the point perfectly, in trying to expand the story it's been lost.

yeah, he's "the boogeyman."

[Tazirai]

I prefer some fantasy in my horror, we know people can mess with other people and do very horrid things to each other. But I can just watch the news for that, I want escapism. I want the ghost, or monster that feels so real that it makes me look behind my shoulder when I hear a noise, just in case.

Basically. I love the fantasy aspects of the horror genre. I mean to this day. Jason Vorhees on screen is truly fear some. He doesnt scare me like he used to. But I mean Jason JUST WOULD NOT STOP. Until you were dead or he was incapacitated in some way. Real life villains in horror die easily once the hero gets close enough.

I liek movies that seem like horror but really arent. Movies like both the Descent and 28 weeks later. Both grounded in reality, but fantastic enough to be fantasy.

28 weeks, they arent zombies.. they are infected. In my opinion worse. The hope to save them is there, and if you could, they would be back to normal.
Diseases that ravage the body so fast.. scary.

Descent.. Women find an underground civilization. One that wants to eat them... There are cultures in real life that are hidden in the woods, and jungles of the worlds, we have no clue about. Cannibals do exist.
But to make them monstrous.. there.. thats the key.

SO they turn reality to fantasy.

[hoffmandu]

remember in Con Air when Nicholas Cage got shot in the shoulder area and just kept on walking towards the bad guy? it doesn't have anything to do with this conversation but i just wanted people to remember it.

I believe that falls into the Quality Horror Genre.

Myers: Yeah, I suppose you're right, he did take a few good shots. I'm more of the opinion that he's riding the thin line between supernatural and "just so damn crazy..". That mystery is indeed what him so 'effing cool. Great villian, though, one of my favs.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

you know i think a bi-product of this cynicism is the fact everything has to have a scientific explanation now in order for people to digest it. no longer are werewolves and vampires brought about through curses,the occult,and the paranormal/supernatural. we now have werewolves and vampires made through "viruses",and or "mutations". :rolleyes:

[Neal R]

you know i think a bi-product of this cynicism is the fact everything has to have a scientific explanation now in order for people to digest it. no longer are werewolves and vampires brought about through curses,the occult,and the paranormal/supernatural. we now have werewolves and vampires made through "viruses",and or "mutations". :rolleyes:

It's a shame things are this way these days. I'd like to think that you can leave enough ambiguity in horror films (that use both realistic treatments of monsters and scientific explanations). Audiences are smart enough to not have everything spoon fed to them. For example, there's earlier debate about the merits of "The Descent" and whether or not the realistic scenes in the beginning clash well with the monsters who show up later. There's a theory with this film that there NEVER WERE ANY CREATURES inside those caves. There's also room for the most literal interpretation of what we see. The film's done so well that I think either explanation can hold up just fine and an audience will take away whatever they'd like from the experience.

[the goddamn batman]

I like whatever makes the most interesting film... and that's obviously going to vary from film to film.

I like Alien because while the Alien is pure fantasy (well, I suppose it's possible... anything is possible.) the rest of the film is very grounded in reality(albeit a future where deep space travel is possible reality.)... or an extention of reality.

I don't mind the 'infected' in 28 Days Later... in fact, I rather enjoyed the concept, but I like regular zombies too.

@ OP: I don't see why we're asked to pick one over the other. Isn't there room for both?

[Captain_Video]

Depends entirely on the film as to which I prefer.

Horror is a great genre in that both approaches can work equally well, you can go surreal and subversive with something like Nightmare on Elm Street or Dracula or you can go realistic with a Hostel or a Psycho.

I also think horror is the last genre left in which its audience actually cares anymore, because it is a cult thing or at least, not too socially acceptable compared to other genres, the people who love it tend to be passionate and loving.

You appear in or make a horror movie and they like it, the fans will love you forever.

You can also speak about uncomfortable themes and ideas, even if it is in a hokey and silly way horror enables people to deal with the harsher sides of life, the despair and the terror.

Tangental...

[the goddamn batman]

not too socially acceptable compared to other genres,

What's not socially acceptable about horror movies?

[Captain_Video]

What's not socially acceptable about horror movies?

It has a negative stigma attached to it, if you talk to the people who don't like horror you always get the "really ? ...wierd" sort of reaction, because of its often dark subject matter horror is viewed as slightly misanthropic.

I do not mean "Not socially acceptable" as if it is some sort of ostracisation, not that extreme, but a lot of people do not like or "get" the genre.

[the goddamn batman]

Oh ok, I got ya.

Granted, the only people I know who don't like horror are girls... and it's because it freaks them out. They've got nothing against it, they just don't like to be scared/grossed out. Which is fair. I don't watch romantic comedies because I don't want to be scared/grossed out.

[Captain_Video]

Oh ok, I got ya.

Granted, the only people I know who don't like horror are girls... and it's because it freaks them out. They've got nothing against it, they just don't like to be scared/grossed out. Which is fair. I don't watch romantic comedies because I don't want to be scared/grossed out.

Wierd because a lot of the horror fans I know are girls, I actually find the genre seems to appeal to a lot of women, I figure it is one of the only places they can go in which Women have convincing lead characters and actually get to do something other than pine over some guy.

[the goddamn batman]

I didn't say all the girls I know, just a few...

[Apex Tech]

I prefer what Lovecraft does. Fantasy dipped in reality.

[Captain_Video]

I didn't say all the girls I know, just a few...

I wasn't suggesting that, the wierd was because my experience has been different and because I could see where you where coming from, sort of acknowledging that my experience is probably not the norm.

Bringing it back on topic, I would actually like to see some more fantastical horror movies as realism has been kind of en vogue since all the torture porn stuff dominated the genre...some more Pans Labyrinth style horror I think.