What makes a good horror film?

  • An imaginative or at least non-cliche ridden premise (and twists) helps a great deal.
  • A genuinely scary villain or ant-hero.
  • Suspense is often a key factor.That would go hand-in-hand with jumpy moments,if pulled off correctly.
  • A fear inducing and well filmed setting.That could be anything from a tower block (Candyman) to a wide open area (Hills Have Eyes) to the sea (Jaws).
  • Lead characters that are likable enough.Good acting is often a necessity,but not always (e.g Saw).
  • Intensity and something that makes you become engrossed even if the scenerio is widely improbable,or impossible even.
  • Filmed in a way that doesn't scream bland.Yet,not too crisp,snazzy and photogenic that it can distract from the horror.If the the story is unoriginal or plodding,then stylish could be helpful!
  • Gore can be fantasitcally disgusting.It can also be very boring!
 
Perverting the norm to something sinister or evil. Dont shove horror down peoples throats. Just suggest something bad and let there imagination fill in the blanks.


Those two usually work for me.
 
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