Film popularity can be a strange thing. What’s beloved one day is at the bottom of the bargain bin the next. While a lot of this can be attributed to cultural shifts or market influence, sometimes the general public just grows tired of something due to overexposure or simply feels they’ve gotten their fill. Comedies, Superhero movies, dark reboots, and cinematic universes all have had their time in the spotlight as the big money makers and faded into smaller slots in the public consciousness. However, there’s one genre that I feel has overcome this issue time and time again, and that is horror.
Of any type of movie, horror has seemingly evolved and developed itself to avoid pitfalls and stay somewhat relevant throughout the years. In the early days of movies, the silent classics like Nosferatu or the Universal Monsters captivated audiences and were shocking for the time. By the 50s, the culture shifted to sci-fi horror and reflected both the continued investment in the space race as well as the Cold War paranoia of the invader or the other. By the 70s and 80s, there was a return to more classical monsters, and some horror films were seen as higher material and became influential and important works like Jaws or The Exorcist. But, alongside that, the rise of the slasher and exploitative grindhouse films focusing on excessive violence resulted in horror becoming more of a simple and basic commodity of film, but also viewed as low and cheap art. This element would continue to stay as cheaper horror has become a staple of the business. By the 90s and 2000s, however, horror became more stable. While there remained some formulaic elements, there was a push for more psychologically driven horror and elevated projects. This came to a head in the 2010s, when the general has basically entered a renaissance of creativity and acclaim. Films like Get Out and Hereditary focused on terrifying concepts, but also a more nuanced approach, either in the writing or filmmaking. In that decade and up until the present, it seems that we are getting a wide variety of horror films, and it seems that the genre has become more beloved and mainstream than ever.
What has remained consistent throughout all of this, however, is that horror has found some sort of consistency in terms of having an audience. Even with the changes in culture and tastes audiences had, a type of horror trend managed to grab hold and maintain itself. Horror isn’t tied down to a specific niche or formula, even when some exist, but can reflect multiple areas of storytelling or filmmaking. Trends come and go, but horror has always been able to change and adapt. Sure, it’s likely because horror encompasses so much, but given how comedy films or romantic ones have waned as of late in terms of exposure, it also speaks to a compelling element that horror films offer that no others do. Simply, people like being scared or exploring the forbidden and violent areas of humanity. There’s always a curiosity about those elements, and, more than any type of film, it can dive deep into the darkest parts of humanity or culture in general.
The aspect of horror and creepy things in general also has a large subculture supporting it, both from a general standpoint and on the fringes. Plenty speak of their love of these types of movies simply based on their chaotic violence or craftsmanship. With that said, I also feel that with horror becoming more accepted and beloved as a staple of film, people have gotten more accepting of traits that used to be derided. Both Saw and Final Destination were seen as lower films back in the 2000s, but not only have they gotten reappraisal due to reevaluation, but the most recent installments have gotten more genuine high acclaim. Heck, the fact that a gory body horror film like The Substance got a lot of awards attention says a lot about how different horror films are perceived, considering how the horror films that got nominated before were more drama-focused, like The Silence of the Lambs or The Sixth Sense. There will always be trashy horror movies made for a quick buck, and that is an expected part of the business, but I feel that the genre as a whole has gotten far more respect and appreciation for what it offers now than ever before, on top of its consistent support within certain subcultures.
It also helps that, unlike other genre films, horror tends not to overspend and usually produces films at a lower cost. Sure, that can result in a studio like Blumhouse pumping out dozens of uninspired films or the trend of cheap slashers in the 80s and 90s. However, it also means that there is more consistency and that there is no need to overcompensate for audience demands. Superhero films and other blockbusters tend to price themselves too high and are now seeing the drawbacks due to the decline in theater attendance. Meanwhile, films like Final Destination Bloodlines, and especially Sinners, have reaped in a lot of success and acclaim. Not to mention that sometimes, many films use their lower budgets to great effect by applying less with more to the execution of their horror. Something like Blair Witch was made for basically nothing and still managed to captivate audiences due to its effectiveness.
I feel that film in general is in a precarious situation now. The industry seems to be on fire due to a lot of factors, and audiences feel less invested than ever in going to the theater. Even with all that, there is comfort in the fact that horror has still maintained its form both as a genre and in terms of its performance. It’s the old reliable of the industry. Something that will always be there, even as times change and trends shift. I think it speaks to its broad strengths as well as its adaptability. Horror is both specific and huge in terms of its classification, which I feel will continue to be important to movies in the future, as it did in the past.
