Have horror films always been like this?

The Ring (US)? It's much older than that.

I think when it really took off was "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Scream".

These films also include:

* An introduction at the start where they clearly show which stereotypes the characters are - the stoner, the jock, the slut (these ones always get killed), the nice guy (sometimes dies), the geek/goody two shoes girl (lives)

* At some point the girl will scream "just leave me alone", "what do you want from me?!" or "just f***ing die!"

* A party or social gathering where everyone is laughing and only the main character knows what terrors await them.

* Cheesy Nu-metal in the closing credits


For decent Horror films, have you seen "30 days of night?" I liked that, it was a bit less tacky than most. Also I like the suspense in "wrong turn".
 
70s ealy eighties were for me, horrors hey day

the excorcist- not a film, I would wish to watch again but very frightening

The Entity- like the exorcist, not a film, I wish to joyously revisit again and again but truly disturbing

The Changeling- the daddy of the classic, ghost story, in a big old house- absoloutely terrific film

to a lesser extent

the fog
halloween
 
Yes, but that's the beauty of the horror genre!

Try some of these...

The Mist
Switchblade Romance
Man Bites Dog
The Burning
[rec] (or Quarantine if you can't do subtitiles - same film)

They mainly follow the form but are slightly different.
 
I've also become bored of all the teen slasher / J-horror remakes that Hollywood has been churning out since Scream and The Ring, much prefer the classics like The Exorcist and Evil Dead Trilogy personally.

A couple of great horror movies I've seen this year that manage to be slightly different:

Let the Right One In
Drag Me to Hell
 
I loved the Skeleton Key, thought it was pretty scary.

The Strangers was scary I found aswell, although I don't think everyone thought so, I found it very tense throughout.

Last House on the Left remake I thought was also excellent.

House of Wax was another good one.
 
No I love the remake. I only watched it initially because I love Paris Hilton, but was surprised by it.

Wasn't just a run of the mill horror I thought, it has some nice different bits in it and had a really scary atmosphere. Love the ending scene aswell.

Plus if you really hate Paris, then this is definitely the film for you.
 
At the moment the spanish are doing well, as are the french, and the asians (japanese, korean and chinese) have been on top form for a good while now. It's generally just American horror that sucks, probably because it's not seen as a 'serious' genre over there.
 
Yes, yes and yes. Good examples of quality horror films that deviate from the stereotypical norm. Think I'll check out those two other films you listed since I haven't heard of those.

The Signal is a really good film too. A different take on the "zombie" outbreak scenario.
 
I'm quite the opposite! I've never been scared in a cinema. (except when i pay) Too many people chattering and munching and just generally not being silent! Plus there's normally a guy trying to be tough and pointing out how unscary each of the scary parts is.

To trully enjoy a horror film you need to be alone or with one or two others at the most.(unless the film is a teen horror which you plan to thoroughly take the piss out of) in the right frame of mind, and in the right conditions. Curtains shut or at night. No distractions (except scary visits to the loo;)) a little louder than you'd normally have it on, preferably knowing bugger all about the film. Rec was a perfect example of all these things coming together when i watched the film, and it will always be remembered as a film that scared the crap out of ME! The machinist was another. not strictly horror but dripping with atmosphere and a sense of foreboding leaving you unsettled whilst you watch it. I watched with the missus a couple of weeks later and enjoyed it even more than the first time. It's a very clever, beautifully written piece of cinema. For me anyway.:)

There are just many, many more crappy teen flicks made than others recently.
 
I thought Dead End was really good. I always like Ray Wise's performances (ever since Leyland Palmer in Twin Peaks). I'm going to assume the 'Bollywood' comment is sarcasm :o
 
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