What are some major differences in classic horror films compared to todays horror films?
December 11, 2009 - 5:21 am
Such as plots, style, characters, from the 1800’s and early 1900’s to the 21st century.
today’s are about CGI and special effects like blood and such.
Older movies didn’t have this technology and solely used the story and acting to make it scary.
Or in some cases, silly costumes scary music and cheap tricks.
example 1 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171363/ 100% cgi remake bs
example 2 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057129/ 1963 movie no special effects but a score that’s almost double than the remake 
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December 11th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Older films are about suspense, modern horror is all about the gore factor.
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December 11th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I was going to say computer graphics and sound effects.
However, you do bring up an interesting point. I think over the years, theater has evolved and refined itself. Story lines and characters are more complex. Horror movies seem more gross and graphic, or have become such in recent years.
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December 11th, 2009 at 11:40 am
today’s are about CGI and special effects like blood and such.
Older movies didn’t have this technology and solely used the story and acting to make it scary.
Or in some cases, silly costumes scary music and cheap tricks.
example 1 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171363/ 100% cgi remake bs
example 2 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057129/ 1963 movie no special effects but a score that’s almost double than the remake
.
References :
December 11th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Several things. Culturalistic and the styles.
Today, the most common form of horror movie seems to be torture. Examples: Saw, Hostel, so on.
Other than that and the common ‘Ghost Story Spook’ such as Grudge, or the Ring, most of todays hit films are Remakes of old ones. Old horror movies usually had a Monster in them – today we seem to be more interested in what could Make a Monster. A common saying is that "Monsters are not Born, but Created" (dunno who said it but it wasnt me) Such as The Ring – what happened to the little girl. Hannable – What happened to the man. The Grudge – what made the spirit so angry?
Older films just seemed generally interested in THE MONSTER and what it did. Like in Jason or Nightmare on Elm Street, there was a breif moment of how they died and how sad it was and then BOOM, their off slaughtering people and lots of red corn-syrup and completely indestructible! Same as the original Michael Myers – But you’ll notice, one of the big things Rob Zombie did when he remade it – was put a lot of emphasis on what happened to MAKE him act like that – where as the original film did not.
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December 11th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Plot: Most old horor delt with science fiction (Aliens, robots, mad scientists) or traditional European Monster Lore (Werewolfs, Vampires, Frankentein’s monster….. etc). Today’s horror films are mostly slasher films that revolve around some deranged/psychotic individual or group brutally killing or torturing a group of young adults.
Style: Older films based their scare value on the atmosphere and building tension. Today the scare comes from excessive gore or something jumping out at the screen.
Characters: Horror movies have changed alot in the age of characters. Most classic horror movies involved characters in their 40’s or 30’s. They have been replaced with the often stupid teenagers or college kids in their early 20’s.
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