latest phenomenon horror movie not yet released. It’s become a trend on TikTok with a trailer of just two and a half minutes, and it’s assumed it will lead to a sequel and possibly a franchise. about “M3gan”new production james wan (“Saw”, “Sneaky”, “The Warren File”) killer robot dollThe spasmodic dances in the aforementioned trailer unleashed a wave of madness. TikTok In the form of parodies and memes with over 65 million views under the hashtag #m3gandance. The movie will hit theaters this Wednesday and is expected to break box office records like other new horror movies.
Horror movies have fascinated the public since the dawn of time, but their popularity in recent years is as undeniable as it is surprising. Beyond crazy things like “Avatar: The Sense of Water” or superhero “blockbuster movies”, it was predestined from their creation to bring the public into theaters en masse, Box office freaks or surprises, as a rule, are scary movies.. Just like a roller coaster ride horror movies shake us upIt amuses and frightens us, and that’s probably why it’s attractive. For example, in the last period of 2022, ‘Smile’ attracted great attention from the public with its worldwide collection of close to 190 million dollars. As in the United States, the ‘terrible’ ‘low-cost’ cassette ‘Terrifier 2’, cult phenomenon Thanks by word of mouth As for Spain, the fact that ’13 exorcisms’ has remained in the ‘top ten’ at the box office for several weeks since its premiere proves the unyielding power of the genre’s appeal.
And this golden age is not the legacy of movie theaters, because Terror on streaming platforms also sets the trend: From movies like ‘Barbarian’ on Disney+ to series like ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities’ or ‘Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’, both on Netflix. Why are we attracted to horror movies even though we suffer? Or maybe we love precisely because it makes us suffer? Five experts in the field help us resolve our doubts by: five keys:
non stop fashion
Journalist and writer Fez Desire interest in horror movies “bigger than usual”. For the reference writer ‘Queens of Scream’, “this can be seen in the success of films like ‘Smile’ or ‘Barbarian’ that would not otherwise have worked the same way”. In every situation, Horror movies have always existed., throughout history: in the 30s, 50s, 80s… “It is an area where things that violate tradition are suggested. Therefore, it had a great impact on the public. moments of great social turmoilas it is now Javier RuedaDirector of the Terror Molins festival.
Like this, Jordi Sanchez NavarroHe believes people watch horror movies at a time when society is “troubled” on various issues, says director of communications studies at UOC. And these turbulent times we live in do not relieve our pain: “There are two possibilities in this situation: escape from reality prefer cultural or recreational experiences that are more radical or that somehow glorify that suffering”.
Terrorism as a political act
Horror and fantasy cinema has always been political. “The Invasion of the Corpse Thieves” It was a metaphor for anti-communist phobia in the ’50s. Godzilla The Japanese expression for the atomic bomb was: ‘Tarantula’ He was in the Hollywood B series. “Night of the Living Dead” He had a history of racism and the Vietnam War. For Pilar PedrazaA novelist and essayist who specializes in horror literature and cinema, “it is one of the purest cinematographic genres as it expresses hidden content and unconscious fears through images with great impact.” Sánchez Navarro believes that “the validity of terror rests fundamentally on the species’ ability to adapt. Horror movie adapted fears of the time it was made and transforms them into relevant ideas for the public”.
By from fez“One of the things that makes the genre so compelling is that in recent years we have seen many films in which contemporary issues are discussed metaphorically.” “Of course there are reactionary films, but most of the names are against the system. We are the sons of George A. Romero, who makes highly political genres and films,” says Terror Molins director. and for Charlotte Peredadirector of the award-winning ‘Cerdita’, “horror films allow us to take themes further, both formally and thematically. As a writer, that’s very exciting.”
the pleasure of fear
We accept that horror movies are reflective, but at the same time unique experience, experience of passing through fear. “If people need to seek entertainment that lets you release tensions or be more epidermal or see their fears reflected or post-incarceration, you can almost look for psychosociological theories. But I think in general it’s a a very attractive breed with a lot of potentialsays De Fez.
“Theres no better witch train As a collective laxative experience,” says Carlota Pereda. This is probably why horror movies never go out of style. “It will always be on top, because in addition to entertain the young, who usually perceives it as a joke and consumes it in groups to cool off. Horror cinema, come on,” adds Pedraza
In any case, and according to Sánchez Navarro, “we must not forget that Most of the public rejects horror movies.. Popular horror movies are an exception throughout history. Why are there some that work particularly well? Unknown. It has nothing to do with its quality or production values, but with the mysterious springs it touches.” So the genre is exciting and will continue to be.
power of flow
“It makes sense that ‘flow’ somehow brings lots of horror movies, because the proliferation of platforms has created a new ecosystem for movie content”, explains Sánchez Navarro. “Domestic movie consumption has actually been brought down to platforms,” he continues, “and The domestic space has always been a good place for terror.as can already be appreciated during the maximum expansion of videosclubs”.
Speaking of both ‘broadcast’ and cinemas, Pereda is clear: “Most of the best-performing movies are very good. original and creativesomething that is not in ‘mainstream’ cinema in general”. Rueda adds: “The genre is so urgent, it shouldn’t have big budgets to be successful with audiences. In general movies belong to young people who capture contemporary things., requiring more time than other types. Young people feel very close to it, and older people can continue to be fascinated by the freshness it brings.”
Is everything fair in terrorism?
‘Grandma’, ‘No’, ‘Black phone’, ‘X’… The year 2022 has been a wasteful year in acclaimed horror movie premieres, but its massive volume and always impetuous and fiery activity on social networks has meant that many films quickly earned the status of “best movie of the year”. This may indicate that the litter box is plentiful and this terror is the new ‘mainstream’ where (almost) everything is going. “The current success and massive production mass for ‘streaming’ platforms may create a comfortable situation, but right now it is not,” says Javier Rueda. “Terror in a brutal moment. And actually, I get the feeling that it’s ‘mainstream’ horror at its best, that is, horror made with a bigger budget and the desire to reach a larger audience,” adds Desirée de Fez.
Cerdita’s manager admits that 2022 is behind us. “an amazing year” and now he thinks it’s a dual proposition in terms of genre cinema: “One part is actually the new ‘mainstream’ and the other is the new auteur cinema, original and very risky, similar to the 70s auteur cinema”. Pilar Pedraza net: “There is good and bad terrorismAs always, it depends on the audience, the investment of the production companies and above all the solvency of the creators”.