Horror Films Are Good for Body and Mind
Andy Marken October 30, 2024
0 Comments
We're a statistical improbability. And now they want to see who will be the luckiest among the lucky. - Zoey Davis, Escape Room, Columbia Pictures, 2019
With so many elections going on around the world this year - 97 countries - including the ugly one here in the US, we needed some solid/safe escape from the creepiness and grossness of the real world.
We did what any normal/smart person would do we dug into the whole idea of horror films. That included watching a couple of the new ones and revisiting some classics.
Of course, that meant we had the family room and big screen to ourselves because the wife won't have anything to do with blood, guts or gore.
Don't get us wrong, we're not really into violence, religious stuff or messy gore for the sake of gore.
But
Source - 20th Century Fox
Still, the little chestbuster in the first Alien was a helluva' shock to the system but Sigourney Weaver (Ripley) didn't back down from the challenge.
The biggest problem for us is how to categorize a film as a horror movie.
Sure, if Stephen King is listed in the credits, you're pretty sure of what you're watching because he's widely regarded as the master of horror.
Of course, if you bring up Alfred Hitchcock, it's a little tougher because most think of him as a master of suspense, not horror.
Source - Shamley Productions
But we feel classics like Psycho, Frenzy and The Birds are solid horror films because they showed us the dark side of people and showed us threats that people couldn't control. Hitchcock's use of shadows and audio signs and music put you on the edge of your seat because you knew bad stuff was going to happen.
One way to identify a movie as a horror film is that it will have sequels or even become its own sub-genre.
Source - Continental Distributing
For example, directors, actors, writers and crews can thank George Romero for releasing zombies on us again and again and again when The night of the Living Dead was released back in 1968.
We've enjoyed it every time we've watched it, even though we were really p***ed at the end. Ben (Duane Jones) did a fantastic job of trying to protect folks from the zombies only to walk out into the morning light and have some idiot kill him just to be on the safe side.
Really ticked us off!
We're not into much of the franchise stuff but we all know that when one project earns money, more will follow.
Having a creepy villain like Freddy Kruger or Jason is a place to start but what they really need is a damsel in distress or scream queen to put the film over the top.
Source - Compass International Pictures
Jamie Lee Curtis (who probably got her scream from her mother in Psycho) is our favorite, and the one who took the fight to Michael Myers from 1978 - 2022.
Being tough, attractive and driven made for a suspenseful, terror-driven and interesting story that gives people someone to cheer for when they show you that you can stand up to and take fear head-on.
There are a lot more good/great horror filmmakers and, thanks to global streaming media services, we're able to share/experience projects from around the globe.
The films have always been produced and available, said Allan McLennan, CEO of 2GDigital. However, the low-budget projects were often given limited distribution because of their being produced in a specific language.
But with today's advanced AI-enabled localization services, he continued, studios and streamers can quickly, accurately and economically make them available in any language so people everywhere can enjoy/experience them as though they were produced in their home country.
Consistent - Streaming has opened up new opportunities for folks who like to experience feature films so they can be surprised and shocked in whole new ways beyond projects being simply brutal and gruesome.
Sometimes (often) it's difficult for industry executives and experts to accurately define when a film fits in the horror genre.
But with the movie magic, advanced technology and the global reach/exposure we have with a broader spectrum of horror film types, they're becoming more important release valves for folks in every walk of life and every corner of the globe.
Whether it's filled with ghosts, monsters, masked stalkers or deep-down personal fear, filmmakers often find it difficult to pinpoint what terrifies the audience. That's rather important because it helps determine if the film gets greenlighted or not and whether the project will be profitable or another studio/streamer write-down.
The major components of horror films are spine-chilling music, precise tension and suspense and shops like A24, Blumhouse and others have gotten very good at getting the mix right.
To understand the genre better, we turned to film data research expert Stephen Follows.
It turns out he is putting the final touches on his Fellows Horror Report 2 , the most comprehensive study of the genre around.
While he's a nice normal guy, he has spent a lot of time gathering and analyzing data on every horror film ever made. The report, which we aren't promoting, covers everything from development, production and distribution as well as profitability. Fellows noted that horror films are perennial favorites with filmmakers because they are fun to make, can be developed/delivered more quickly on a lower budget and can make money.
Yes, But - Okay, so not everyone likes/appreciates a really good horror film the same way; but streaming services are able to adjust their library offerings for people in countries where interest/demand is highest so they can capture/retain larger audiences.
The final point is obviously most important and that's because folks young/old
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
18/08/2026
Riedel Communications has announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, ...
Horror Films Are Good for Body and Mind 
