What makes a perfect horror movie? Is it the gore? The ideas behind the kills? The social commentaries? Maybe the creativity. Or it's all of the above
One thing's for certain, people love horror movies. From their Friday The 13ths to their Purges, people cant get enough. The history of horror movies is an interesting one but thats not what we're here to talk about. The question is, what makes a perfect horror movie, and I think I have the answer. To help demonstrate my thoughts, I'll be taking examples from my favorite horror movie, Alien.
Starting off, a horror movie needs a good concept. A half-baked idea doesn't sell tickets. It makes a B rated film. Alien has a solid foundation, Scientists in the future are being hunted down in their space shuttle by an unknown entity that is extremely efficient at killing. This alien, known as the Xenomorph, is the next important aspect, a good antagonist. Without an impactful antagonist, a horror movie has no drive. The Xenomorph is a very good motivator, as it's main objective is to kill the entire crew, and it is great at what it does. Using a full arsenal from pharengyneal jaws, claws, a spiked tail, acidic blood, and most any other advantage you can give it, it will hunt you down and kill you. Thats why you have to be smart and not brute force it, like the cast. The scientists are all pretty disposable except one, Ripley played by Sygourney Weaver, who decides to use her brain rather than her muscles. Realizing the overwhelming presence of the Xenomorph, she utilizen machines and airlocks to delay it. Oh, were you expecting it to die so easily? No no no, this thing is hardy. So hardy, in fact, it can survive the vaccum of space. So how do you win? You don't. Also, I've failed to mention the kills in this movie, which are all pretty good. Mind you the first kill of a Xenomorph is during birth, bursting out of a host's chest, which creates the most iconic piece of cinematic history. Afterwards, the Xenmorph kills a tech by using it's SECOND MOUTH to pierce hs skull and then drag the body away. This is a great time to mention that special effects are everything to a horror movie. Many movies use CGI now, but if something looks really good, then you can almost garuntee that it was practical effects. Puppets, actual pig's blood, prosthetics, all good aspects of practical effects. SFX are what make or break a movie. Some of the best practical effects in all of horror movie history are the Xenomorph itself. A multi piece prosthetic suit that encompases all that is terrifying about the concept of the Xenomorph. An eyeless, unstoppable monster that wants nothing more than your death, and is perfectly built to bring it about. Anyways, after the tech dies a whole bunch of people die yadda yadda. Lots of good looking gore for '79. At the end of the movie, Ripley escapes the ship and the alien with the ship's cat.
There are many more minor things that make the perfect horror movie, but these should be all the major ones. Now, what do you think makes the horror movie. Do you agree or disagree with some of the points I listed? Anything you might add or take out? And what is your favorite horror movie?
Replies
Glad you got this posted Domonic!
I have not seen a lot of horror movies but i think i should have a good backstory. Also having a good bad guy is like someone that can give a shiver down your spine when you look at them. Also I think movies like Kojo are not a good example of a good horror movie unless you are terrified of dogs.
I think that Alien is actually one of the Perfect horror movies. Like you said it displays someone using their smarts instead of trying to be a meathead against someone (or something) that is stronger than themselves. Other horror movies just displays meatheads trying to brute force their way or go into the basement where they will be trapped.
Well in m opinion you pretty much did list all of the basics to a good horror movie, I think the suspense and fear and maybe even mystery are a great mix to a good horror movie. I don't really have a favorite horror movie but I definitely lean more towards the classics.
I think that to make a good horror movie, you have to build up a ton of suspense and create a sense of empathy/relatability with the characters. It also has to have a story line that's not only scary but just unsettling and a really good narrative. It has to be freaky.