PUMPKINROT.COM: The Blog: Why Horror?

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Why Horror?

https://youtu.be/XzEzcjETxws

19 comments:

Sara said...: Absolutely fascinating. It's probably the love of anthropology and human development rooted inside me that I really am just so curious what keeps horror fans coming back for more and what makes fans of the genre "obsessed". So interesting.

Did you see Green Inferno Rot? My brother watches that stuff now and spoils it for me so I don't have to. Haha! I'm a total wuss and I'm ok with that. I will say that I really didn't like Eli Roth before this film(so sue me, I know I'm like the only one who didn't I imagine) but after hearing him go on and on about why he made it I kinda dig him. *Kinda*. Still not sold. LOL.

Would you consider yourself and Bean "obsessed" with horror? Again, fascinating.; October 7, 2015 at 11:09 AM
Rot said...: I feel the same way about Roth... wasn't sure why he was considered one of the new generation's greats. I feel mean saying that and I only say it because his stuff doesn't appeal to me personally. But we haven't see green inferno and I've been SO curious about it.

I think we ARE obsessed since it's the first thing we check online or in stores or bookstores...but not in the sense that you could see us in a crowd and say "those folks are horror fans"... like I don't own horror tshirts or anything that might advertise it. But we do love going to horror conventions and being in all that coolness.; October 7, 2015 at 11:20 AM
Willow Cove said...: Sara, we saw Green Inferno last week. I am on the fence with Roth. While not a fan of the torture people/ gore movies like Hostel and G.I. They do their job. Shocking us. Gi has gore in it but a lot if it is quick flashes and cut aways. Roth builds suspense by showing the tribe sharping knives and prepping for feasting. The most disturbing is what I was thinking was going to happen next.; October 7, 2015 at 11:41 AM
Sara said...: WC, that's what my brother said. I mean I've seen clips of a few of the sequences and I actually feel like Hostel was worse , or even the remake of Texas Chainsaw with whatsherface. Lol I'm blanking but that scene where her bf is tortured and then he's still alive but he's packed like meat GAH, now that bothers me. It's worse when you're left alive. Anyways, thanks for your thoughts guys!; October 7, 2015 at 12:58 PM
The Creeping Cruds said...: Never was a fan of Cannibal Holocaust. Killing that giant tortoise just for the film was unacceptable. I am interested to see Green Inferno if anything just to see what the hype is about. I assume they have not killed animals in this film?
"Why Horror" looks pretty good. Though I've kinda lost interest in the zombie-walk culture. The vast majority of people that do it now are not real fans of Halloween, horror or the macabre. I think Romero would have a laugh at the irony that a lot of zombie walkers are just "mall shoppers" now..; October 7, 2015 at 1:28 PM
Anonymous said...: I love horror. You probably couldn't tell by just looking at me, for I don't own any horror film clothing or memorabilia either. I'm just a quiet, shy shell of a guy that has a psycho living inside I guess.

Never seen Green Inferno or Cannibal Holocaust, but when I run into it, I will definitely watch it. Not much into going to the movie theater, and the wife doesn't quite like those kind of films.

"Why horror?" Cause it just feels so good. :); October 7, 2015 at 4:12 PM
Steve Ring said...: Looks like fun. I have to admit that these days I enjoy watching horror documentaries slightly more than I enjoy watching actual horror movies. The docs encapsulate them and show genre authorities, along with everyday people, enthusiastically examining and discussing their every aspect. It's very validating to see how horror movies are celebrated and revered, now. Horror fans are no longer outcasts. Growing up, I never expected to see that happen. Think of all the big star blockbusters of past generations that have been completely forgotten, while old horror movies today have huge cult followings. It's just neat.; October 7, 2015 at 4:47 PM
Mason said...: For me, it's the monsters! Bugs, spiders, ghosts, zombies, space aliens, robots, skeletons, pumpkin-headed goblins, all those crazy freaks! I especially love when those that appear to be monsters on the outside end up being misunderstood heroes.; October 7, 2015 at 4:56 PM
Rot said...: great point, steve.
horror was risky in the past...acting in a horror film was risky.
it wasn't mainstream and everyone involved knew it.
neat to think of young actors hoping for better things took those jobs wondering if it would help them or ruin them.
it was gritty.; October 7, 2015 at 5:58 PM
Rot said...: great point, steve.
horror was risky in the past...acting in a horror film was risky.
it wasn't mainstream and everyone involved knew it.
neat to think of young actors hoping for better things took those jobs wondering if it would help them or ruin them.
it was gritty.; October 7, 2015 at 5:58 PM
Steve Ring said...: Yep, Bela Lugosi was the icon of the failed typecast horror actor. Horror was the genre stars went to die, like Lorre and Carradine and Rathbone and countless smaller stars and bit actors. Lon Chaney Sr. never suffered from his typecasting because he did his own make-up and horror movies gave him a chance to exhibit that genius. He wasn't the puppet of a studio or director. A mutant that's never really been duplicated. Then you look at his son...

There are other exceptions, of course. Jack Nicholson was doing nothing roles in shlock Corman horror movies before getting discovered. Jamie Lee Curtis doesn't seem to mind the fame that sprang from her scream queen beginnings. And nowadays stars can appear in horror movies and come out of it just fine.; October 7, 2015 at 6:29 PM
Justin D said...: Nice! That looks like a fun documentary. Hopefully Showtime will make it available online soon, for those of us that aren't subscribers.; October 7, 2015 at 6:30 PM
Ragged Grin said...: I don't know if it's become acceptable now or a guilty pleasure kept in the closet that more people are now copping to. Maybe Silence of the Lambs validated the genre to some extent, maybe we all just realized how freakin fun horror is and the generations that he up on them are older now and encourage it. Of course...I do wish they'd make more of the better ones.; October 7, 2015 at 8:46 PM
Colleen said...: I look forward to seeing this! Horror is definitely my go to genre. 9 times outta 10... It's what I'm watching. I think I can safely say, I've become addicted to it.... Even now, I'm watching John Carpenter's, The Ward. ;); October 8, 2015 at 12:47 AM
girl6 said...: because, i LOVE ALL the creativity: costumes, makeup, photography, MONSTERS, villains, HEROES, twists/turns, magic, the otherworldy, set dressings, the spooky, restless ghosts, the power of TRUE LOVE, terrible wrongs sometimes made right, the sadness that sometimes lingers in my soul, sittin on the edge of my seat rooting for my fave to kick ass, THE CLEVERNESS, the creation of other universes that somehow feel SO REAL & stay with me forever, the Music. i could go on/on.

horror conventions are Wonderful. i have had some of the best times of my life there, ultimate parties with other fans being on the SAME page, you can feel safe, allowing yourself to get really excited & not worry about being judged. my friend Devon, Carl & i were reminiscing about the crazy convention FUN we've had together. the Best was when we bugged George Romero to let us try on his glasses & he DID!! HAHAHAHA..SWEETEST Soul Ever.<3!!!

we saw Green Inferno, so much better than that i thought it was going to be. i am NOT a fan of the Hostels. i do sorta like Cabin Fever. Green Inferno ISN'T like those horrible Cannibal films of yesterday, VERY tastefully done, ladies bodies were treated with respect too. NO cheap violence/nudity. i don't understand where ALL this dislike comes from for Eli. he's SO warm, friendly & sharing, he's highly supportive of other directors (like Ty West) & creators in the horror biz. hey, he's just a guy who's been making movies since he was a little kid & now he's just a guy who's a bigger kid making movies. he started to think Green Inferno was NEVER going to be picked up by a distributor, it had been sitting in the can 4ever. YET..movies like Titanic & Avatar have NO problem being made. i heard Titanic (at the time) cost more to make than what the annual budget for the Endowment of the Arts was that year. WOW..Sad, that OTHER creativity had/has to suffer for the GREED of silliness. Avatar is a sad shadow of a great movie like District 9, which did the SAME thing WAY better. But of course, MORE people have seen Avatar & were brainwashed into thinking it's the best movie ever. both movies are kinda disgraceful & yet James Cameron will make how many more Avatar sequels???. while other original films will never ever see the light of day.

i always think of the horror community as a family. like we're all in this boat together. we're not the majority but we're the minority. it's nice to get excited for one another, to support the creativity that we love, whether it's actually creating or just enjoying. that's why i LOVE guys like, Edgar Wright, Eli Roth, Rob Zombie, James Wan, M. Night.they're my heroes man, they wake up everyday & push the impossible. it's not easy for those guys being in the (horror) biz they're in & then you got the haters. : (

i saw the Visit a few weeks back..& in the movie, one of kids is wearing a cap that says, "haters love me"..hmmm. wonder what that meant. congratulations everyday America for driving the point home to M. Night, that he's hated. like i said, just guys that love horror so much, they chose to make a career out of it, pretty brave if you ask me, puttin your $ where your mouth is. so yeah..sue me too & whatever. i'll continue to stick up for horror, cause it really NEEDS ALL the help it can get. one day Eli Roth will make a great movie. i feel the same about Rob Zombie too, saw such greatness/promise in Lords of Salem.

i'm not into Disney etc..but i'm not gonna pick on it. i'm a cardigan, engineer boot, blue jean wearin, cancer surviving girl, who's OVER THE MOON in love with Monsters, like the ones that live in Cabal, the ones are who actually THE TRUE Heroes..<3

ps..i think it's really mean when i hear such animosity expressed toward fans of horror conventions, etc. like calling them nerds, geeks, losers just for getting really excited & enjoying something. so mean. : (; October 8, 2015 at 1:22 PM
Sara said...: So here's the thing girl6, obviously I do not know Eli Roth personally. Never will. I am sure he's a good human being(I hope). For that, rock on. For me, all I see are his interviews and movies and I read others' opinions..... That's all I got. I don't like his movies. It's a personal opinion. I think it's OK to not like something or somebody's style. Hell, we all dislike SOMETHING. You've said Disney and Martha Stewart glitter. So why can't I dislike something? I'm not a hater I just don't like to listen to directors(horror or otherwise) who's attitude rubs me the wrong way. I don't feel sorry for M.Night ONE BIT. LOL. He'll be OK. I love some of his stuff to death but I think true fans can also love something and be critical of it.; October 8, 2015 at 5:11 PM
girl6 said...: of course Sara, everyone dislikes something. & of course you're allowed to dislike anything you choose, no explanations needed & so on. it has stuck me on several occasions tho, that you seem to take pleasure in other people's disappointments. like it's funny or something to see someone fail. like making fun of people who were attending a horror convention & paying big $ to have a photo session with Robert Englund. i mean hey, i thought the fee was outrageous too & not something i would want to do, but to be SO happy about making fun of people who are just enjoying something they wanna do, wow, like why. & your comments above feel very ? to me.

i don't dislike Martha Stewart, she's a very smart, talented & strong woman. that being said, her style is sorta on the fancy side for me. i can honestly say that i really dig her tho. someone gave me a giant glitter pumpkin last year as gift & i LOVE it because the little person who gave it to me is very sweet. it's one of the best things i own.

you know Sara, i'm not trying to mess with you, i get REALLY excited about creativity & i'm very passionate about my horror, that's all. i've told you on a few occasions that i dug what you said & really cracked up at funny remarks you've commented. hey, i thought Jeff Goldblum was our sexy fly dude. : D; October 8, 2015 at 9:58 PM
Sara said...: Girl6, I'm not going to beat a dead horse. However I will say that I disagree with you. I don't take pleasure in others' disappointments when they are serious. A photo shoot with Freddy is not serious enough for me. I fail all the time and look stupid plenty of times and I have to laugh. Failure is funny sometimes. I don't even remember what I said on that post but I wanted to address that.

There's a lot I could say and I won't. It's not important really. I do think though that you should be more direct when wanting to disagree with somebody. Passive aggression is not cool.; October 9, 2015 at 8:16 AM
girl6 said...: ohhh yeah...saying things like..sue me..i'm the only one..i don't know if i'm cool enough to have an opinion but..

yeah, none of that is passive aggressive. i guess bully's could say that too, "oh it's not important to me so it's fine to pick on someone & make jokes".

oh & i edited myself too on what i said. : )
you're right it's NOT important.; October 9, 2015 at 9:50 AM

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