From Fangoria.com: After watching hundreds (or thousands?) of horror movies over the course of decades, how many horror fans still get scared after watching a horror movie? I’m not talking about merely feeling tension because a character is in danger, but actually feeling frightened by a film.
All too often, it seems that people complain that a horror film was “bad” because it wasn’t “scary”. Without any context, this is essentially meaningless. For example, when was the last time a movie scared them, and what was it?
I feel that this “problem” has less to do with the quality of a film than it does with someone’s having built up a tolerance. Besides being a horror fan, I’m also a fan of very spicy food, and I have an assortment of hot sauces made from habanero and scotch bonnet peppers in my refrigerator at all times. My tolerance of spicy food is significantly higher than average, but my fiancee would argue that just because I don’t feel a dish is spicy, this doesn’t necessarily make it so.
Curiously, when horror films aren’t being accused of being bad because they’re not scary, it’s because they’re “not fun”. This seems to be a by-product of the ’80s, when so many horror films were glutting the market that the genre largely descended from “fright films” into horror-comedies – intentional or not.
I’m not talking about films that use comic relief to briefly release tension, I’m talking about films where you’re laughing at the film more than you’re laughing with the film – or are scared of the film.
With that, if a horror film isn’t “fun” is it a bad horror film? I don’t remember Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre being a particularly fun film, but does this make it a bad horror film?
I also find it puzzling when people suggest that I’m “immature” when I don’t find a film that emphasizes shadows, noises and even action from off-camera “scary”. It may simply be a by-product of getting older, but I stopped being afraid of the dark – and creaky houses – decades ago, though I hardly feel that this is a sign of my immaturity.
So have at it – are horror films supposed to be scary or fun? Both? Neither?
From Fear.net: Making a horror movie can be a surreal experience. You spend long hours performing terrifying atrocities in front of the camera. Then the director yells “Cut!” and suddenly you’re headed over to the snack table to have a cup of coffee with the person you just disemboweled.
But sometimes, the line between making a realistic horror film and finding yourself knee-deep inside one gets a little too blurry and bloody for comfort. Here are ten of our favorite examples:
PEEPING TOM (1960). Here’s the good news: you get to star in your own movie. Here’s the bad news: the director likes to film his stars as he kills them, so he can capture their true expressions of fear. Talk about method acting. But hey, a gig’s a gig
DEMONS (1985). This Lamberto Bava/Dario Argento production is an example of how even watching a horror movie can get you in trouble. A late night crowd enters a cavernous Berlin movie theater to enjoy a special midnight screening of a new horror film. However, thanks to the presence of a cursed mask from the set of the movie, the monsters of the film come alive inside the theater itself, where they bypass the popcorn and start gnawing their way through the audience.
WES CRAVEN’S NEW NIGHTMARE (1994). ”One, two, Freddy’s really coming for you!” While filming the next installment of the lucrative “Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise, the actual actors and crew members (Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, John Saxon, director Wes Craven, etc. all playing themselves) discover they’re being stalked and killed by what appears to be a real life Freddy Krueger in Craven’s mind-bending twist on the creative process.
The Mutantville Players converged upon the haunted opera house in Albemarle, North Carolina for another amazing night of filmmaking last night. We filmed another encounter with something from the other side last night! I can’t tell you what happened or to whom – but I will say that you will be scared out of your pants – so be sure to wear two pairs when you watch this.
I ran out of ways to describe the talent and enthusiasm we have for this project and find myself resorting to simply telling you that we are doing some of our best work ever. The cast and crew continue to impress with their dedication and professionalism. Please enjoy your rest for the day. We have one more major scene to shoot next week, then we break for Halloween in order to prep for the major finale at the first of November. I continue to feel blessed and honored to work with you all. You inspire me to keep pressing hard working day in and day out to make G.H.O.S.T. the best short horror film of the year. Thank you all.
Our intrepid heroes, Streebo & Brento, made a special trip across the skies of guerrrilla filmmaking to begin work on the editing of our latest short horror film – G.H.O.S.T.. Going into our first editing session – we had just under three hours of footage from the two weeks of shooting G.H.O.S.T.. We decided it would be a good idea to build the first assembly during production. This way we know if we need any additional shots or pick ups while we still have all of our cast available to us. It took us roughly five hours to pull the footage needed – but we’re all set and ready to go. We’ve already discussed editing possiblities and the angles we want to use. Next week – we’ll start building the first rough cut of the movie. Be sure to keep checking back for more documentary like updates as we continue the movie making process for G.H.O.S.T..
The Internet has democratized information and given us the ability to “poke” each other on Facebook. Now it has brought that same decisive dissemination to filmmaking, as the first feature film created entirely by an Internet community is set to debut in January.
The film, called Perkins’ 14, is a horror story about kidnapped children who are dehumanized for evil. Whether or not a horror flick is your cue to break out the popcorn, Perkins’ 14’s more interesting story lies in its creation. The film is the product of Massify, a film production community that provides tools for members to share ideas, collaborate on projects, post résumés and portfolios, secure funding through grants, and ultimately find an audience through distribution companies.
Massify gave its members control over Perkins’ 14 every step of the way, from voting on the initial concept pitches, to picking the cast, and even a contest for the poster. Pitches were solicited in February this year, and Massify members were allowed to vote on them through the middle of March. Once Perkins’ 14 was chosen by the community, casting auditions began in March, screen tests followed the next month, and pre-production began at the end of May.
Massify partnered with After Dark Films, the production company behind the yearly HorrorFest (warning: link resizes browser), to bring Perkins’ 14 to life. The film will debut in just a few weeks during HorrorFest III, which runs from January 9-15 ,2009.
Cofounder Brett Icahn (son of Yahoo’s outspoken investor-turned-board-member Carl Icahn) told the New York Times in March that Massify is “more a production network than a social network, because it’s driven by a creative purpose.” The company is making a name for itself in part for being a useful collaboration tool for film makers and various talent, but Kenneth Woo, Massify’s other founder, hopes to also make money from advertising by “building an audience before the film is made.”
Fangoria has a trailer for Perkins’ 14, and Massify features a number of behind-the-scenes clips and information about the film’s production and its actors. Even if only mildly successful, it is almost certain that more projects like this are on their way, harnessing democratic tools like Massify’s to produce major films.
Hop over to Youtube and take a look at Italian Maestro Mario Bava’s amazing science fiction effort that went on to inspire later works such as Ridley Scott’s Alien and The X-Men movie.
missclassics00 writes -
“Ok and now for My first film uploaded on this new channel I bring everyone a classic Italian Sci-Fi Horror film from 1965 intitled (Terrore nello spazio) or as it became known in America as (Planet of the Vampires).
This film is a true classic and aside from all the goofs and cheese of that era, one must respect it for it’s wonderfully creepy atmosphere and the great use of fog and camera work that makes the low budget effects seem not so horrible.
The plot I must say for 65 in a movie of this genre was pretty tightly contructed and is free of alot of the cliches common to that era of filmmaking.
So now please enjoy this Mario Bava directed classic and more info and facts to be included in later portions of this film.”
In anticipation of next months plans for shooting a new short horror film, “G.H.O.S.T.”, I’ve taken a little trip down memory lane, back to a time of friends pulling together to create something larger than themselves. A work of art that will stand the test of time and live a life all it’s own is something that, despite the sacrifices required is clearly worth doing. At least to this artist.
I stopped by TonyRogers.biz and browsed through his collection of snaps from the making of “C For Chaos”. When I see myself, Streebo, Geo and the rest of the MVP’rs staring back at me in not so clear 2 mega pixel clarity, I don’t remember any of the hardships, only that it was one hell of a lot of fun.
Streebo, Johnny Brento & Philsando
During the 4 years of shooting, “C for Chaos” we had so much fun. We ran haunts at 2 Shriners Haunted Trail Benefits shows (Some of the most fun I have personally ever had), kicked off the Mutantville Players YouTube Channel with celebrity interviews, developed no less than 3 versions of Mutantville.com, laid the foundation for the Mutantville Guerilla Film Makers Cookbook you’ll be hearing about soon, built the Mutantville theater aka Perfection Cinema, entertained about a million Youtube viewers and won several short film contests and forgotten more about indie film production than many will ever learn. It has truly been a blast.
For those of you lucky enough to be part of the cast and the crew of G.H.O.S.T., I hope you will all fully embrace and appreciate living in the artist moment. Being a part of it all. Accomplishing the creation of a film, short or otherwise is such a rare and wonderful thing. It’s something most people never even come to. So years from now after all the awards, contest wins and accolades are in the past you and look at the Mutantville archives on the DVD extras and see yourself, smiling back at you, happy to be a part of the golden time making true art. Can you EAR what I am saying here people?
Tony on the Set of Zombie Hunter
Posted 2 years, 5 months ago at 12:26 pm. Comments
Mutantville.com is proud to announce the signing of North Carolina’s own Todd A. Britt as the chief make-up FX designer for G.H.O.S.T.. Todd A. Britt provided memorable make-up FX for Mutantville’s Devil Comes Down – which went on to be a finalist in George A. Romero’s American Zombie Film Contest as well as the 1st place winner of the first ever IMDb Horror Board Short Film Contest 2008. Todd A. Britt has worked on past MVP projects such as Zombie Killers, Zombie Hunter, as well as the epic horror film C for Chaos. The Mutantville Players are proud to welcome Todd A. Britt aboard the Mutantville mothership.
Posted 2 years, 5 months ago at 12:19 am. Comments
ALL ABOARD THE MUTANTVILLE MOTHERSHIP!
Welcome to Mutantville Productions MVP Blog. Join Streebo, Brento, Geo & the rest of the Mutantville Players as they set sail on the high seas of guerrilla filmmaking in their ongoing quest to bring you the finest in genre entertainment.
The Mutantville Players converged upon the haunted opera house in Albemarle, North Carolina for another amazing night of filmmaking last night. We filmed another encounter with something from the other side last night! I can’t tell you what happened or to whom – but I will say that you will be scared out of your pants – so be sure to wear two pairs when you watch this.
Our intrepid heroes, Streebo & Brento, made a special trip across the skies of guerrrilla filmmaking to begin work on the editing of our latest short horror film – G.H.O.S.T.. Going into our first editing session – we had just under three hours of footage from the two weeks of shooting G.H.O.S.T.. We decided it would be a good idea to build the first assembly during production. This way we know if we need any additional shots or pick ups while we still have all of our cast available to us. It took us roughly five hours to pull the footage needed – but we’re all set and ready to go. We’ve already discussed editing possiblities and the angles we want to use. Next week – we’ll start building the first rough cut of the movie. Be sure to keep checking back for more documentary like updates as we continue the movie making process for G.H.O.S.T..
