The Decline of Original Ideas for Horror Films
Most purists, of course, have all seen the original incarnations and cry blasphemy at the thought of any remake, while others embrace them as new introductions to outdated films. Both arguments make sense, but it is unlikely that the debate will ever reach common ground, since for every remake that surpasses the original, there seem to be two that serve only to alienate audiences to both the current and the original, which is a grave injustice to some very good classic films.
The best example of a remake befitting the ‘Why?’ category would be Gus Van Sant’s Psycho. Reproduced almost frame by frame, word for word, why was this production even necessary?
Upon seeing it myself, I was dismayed to overhear how many teenagers of today did not even realize that this was in fact a remake of classic. The studios, of course know and predict that fans of the original will flock to the remake, despite any apprehension, as well as these ‘new’ audiences who believe they are simply going to see a promising new horror film.
Unfortunately, what worked for movies in the past does not fit future trends, as evidenced by reviews and box office results. So then we have truly ‘updated’ classics, such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Amityville Horror, and Dawn of the Dead. Some of it worked, some of it didn’t, some argue that the originals far outweigh the new; others claim the new as the definitive version for a new generation.
Regardless of what side of the argument you stand on, the fact remains that original horror, the inspiration for all these remakes and the current crop of horror movies, is sparse.
Studios and directors alike tend to borrow successful scenes or effects from one film, and repeat it consistently throughout every subsequent film, relying on those said scenes and effects to provide entertainment in lieu of any originality or plot. This is very evident in advertising previews, where a majority of current films boast a “twist ending”. When exactly did this become a requirement, and why are audiences flocking to see a film based solely on this premise?
We, the audience, unfortunately feed the never-ending cycle of regurgitated horror. A blockbuster film is not always necessarily a good one, but studios seem to watch the numbers more often than the movies they produce, and one blockbuster is apt to be followed by five others bearing extreme similarities. Of course, this results in numbers dropping as audiences tire of the same drivel, leading the studios to find the next big blockbuster to reproduce into oblivion.
Perhaps that is why there are so many remakes looming on the horizon. Have the studios averted their eyes to originality? Have audiences lost the desire to see a movie based solely on plot and story rather than special effects and cheap scares?
Of course, there is the occasional film to satisfy horror purists and gain new momentum as more followers are recruited to the cause of advancing horror to the forefront of studio production lists.
Thanks to the internet, we know have instant forums to praise something original, or spew venom at the thought of another classic butchered by incompetent producers. We can suggest, warn, inspire, create, and review, and the world is listening. At long last, it appears that the studios are listening as well. We can thank Anchor Bay for resurrecting lost classics on DVD, and Lions Gate Films for having the balls to produce quality horror. Hopefully, many others will follow, since the appetite for horror is indeed strong. Always has been always will be.
