The next top 100 - Your help is requested
 

Its been awhile since the last top 100 was compiled. The Oscars and the Vintage 101 were done by a selected panel of judges and members, so I would love all of HDC to be involved in another community project again.

Now, looking at the stickys and casting my mind back to all the discussions in threads throughout 2007...one thought stayed and nagged in my head. If some of you recall, in the Modern Horror section, there was a thread asking for the sub-genres of horror. Some of us tried to give a detailed list to the best of our knowledge, but somehow it remained incomplete. For an idea about the discussion, here it is :-

http://horror.com/forum/showthread.p...ighlight=genre

Taking all of that and my research into the topic, lets compile a top 100 of the various sub-genres of Horror. It will be divided into 20 sub-genres (or categories), with Top 5s in each of em. This will be a nice test of our knowledge in the genre, and also allow us to make a comprehensive list for curious and puzzled fans of the horror genre.

The sub-genres I have deduced are :-

• Ghosts/ Haunted Houses
• Vampires
• Werewolves/Shape-shifters
• Golems/Mummies
• Zombies/Re-animations
• Mythological Creatures
• Traditional Pagan Ritualistic
• Human Monsters
• Creature Monsters
• Occult/ Demonic Possession
• Telekinesis/ Mind Control
• English Gothic
• American Gothic
• Psychological
• Splatterpunk
• Slasher
• Comic Dark Humor Cheesy
• Sci-Fi Horror
• Weird Pulp
• Redneck

Please bear in mind that the sub-genres listed above are NOT final. Its open for discussion amongst you, folks of HDC. If I have overlooked any, kindly point it out and lets see if it can have its own sub-genre or can it be merged into an existing one. Once the sub-genres are finalised, you may send me your recommendations in each sub-genre...out of which the final 100 (5 in each sub-genre) will be finalised.

Are you ready then, HDC? Let the project begin...bring forth your suggestions and lets do this!:cool:

Great idea - I think this is the most ambitious Top 100 yet.

Looking at the categories - I was wondering where a few types of film would fit

- Cannibal films
- Films about violence from people towards others eg I Spit on your Grave, August Underground, serial killer films, etc. Is this what you mean by "human monsters" or is that title referring to Frankenstein-type films?


Just some initial thoughts.

Very valid point.

1) I think the Redneck sub-genre can be broadened to Redneck/ Cannibal.

2) Human Monsters was supposed to cover Frankenstein-type films. I think I Spit On Your Grave and the August Underground series can be classified under Splatterpunk, given their overall feel is that of shocking and gruesome cinema. Either that, or we may have to enter a new sub-genre "Human Atrocity", or merge Splatterpunk with that.

Great idea, V. Let's do this!

how about "was it all a dream" subgenre - Haute Tension, Jacob's Ladder, Invaders from Mars

Yes, I think so as well.
I don't have any more suggestions for sub-genres, though I do think Human Atrocity should be its own.
This will be great fun, but not easy. I guess that would be the point. ;)

so are those sub genres set in stone or do you want feed back on which 20 sub genres to do first?

Hmm...surreality. I think we can combine that with American Gothic.

A point open for debate, certainly. I think one of the listed such as Weird/Pulp can be replaced by that. What say, folks?

Nothing is set in stone as of yet. Its all open for discussion right now. Once the sub-genres are finalised, we will proceed to the recommendations stage.

Thanks, Kev. I knew you would love it!:)

Just to broaden the view, Sean...this is how American Gothic is defined :-

"Almost as old as Traditional horror is Gothic Horror. Sometimes, the term “gothic” is used to define any horror story, but not every horror tale is gothic in nature. This type of horror is characterized by gloomy settings and sinister events (Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, The Dark Country by Dennis Etchison, Edgar Allen Poe). Another characteristic is the character being trapped in some way, be it location, family destiny, etc.

There are two types of gothic story: English and American.

English Gothic has the basic theme of a dark past shadowing the present. These stories are abundant in enclosed or haunted settings, such as castles, crypts, dungeons, and mansions. There are also gloomy images of ruin, decay, imprisonment, cruelty, and persecution.

American gothic takes a more psychological setting. It focuses more on psychological breakdown than gloomy setting. Charles Brockden Brown is credited for starting this trend."


This is the source material link...I would suggest everyone to read it...

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/view...e.asp?id=27376

On a side note, folks...you are free to discuss with each other too. This can result in some really healthy discussion and possibly innovative ideas to come up with.

I hope we can finalise the sub-genres by tomorrow or at best the day after. Then we can move on to the recommendations. You can either :

A) PM me

or

B) email me at [email protected], with subject - HDC Top 100, mentioning your nickname from here. (so that it doesnt get misdirected into the Spam folder)