Need some ideas for my school paper on horror

[Doc Faustus]

Originally Posted by Elvis_Christ

Don't worry a lot of people on here like to get on their high horse over shit.

I need a special regulation horse ladder to get on mine. I recommend the Equimaster 6000.

[Staal]

Alright guys. Now, I know I keep bugging you guys, so feel free to not reply to this thread, if you have no intention of giving me valueable advice (Thanks to everyone that already helped me out.)

Now, having googled (yes, googled) the history of slashers, I found this a topic I might go for, as these are the kind of movies I think I could do a decent paper on.

I'm not sure how far I should go back. Halloween 1978 vs some modern one. (Switchblade Romance/All The Boys Love Mandy Lane or something to eloborate on the "the killer is herself" part?) [By the way, just outta curiousity - who introduced this plot twist?]
- Please give me your thoughts on this.

I also considered a suspense-movie like the birds vs some "gory" modern flick. (Hostel? Saw? maybe with references to Murder Set Pieces).
I know there's probably loads of gory pre 80's movies. But isn't it more typical for the modern horror movie?

[missmacabre]

I like the comparison of an old slasher to a newer movie. Only problem is that a lot of slashers stick to the same theme. A pshycho is on the loose killing all teenagers who drink etc etc. You mention All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, and I think that's a great modern(er) movie, because of the gender role reversal and atypical final girl ending. Perhaps if you based your essay on a comparison of what scares us in older movies, compared to the new ones.

I admit I haven't read a whole lot of this thread so I'm sorry if I am repeating things or missing something.

[Staal]

Well, that was my thought. But yes, it is hard to pin down the differences in movies that are all made from the same recipe.

Although, I have to be honest. Im not sure what scared people back then? I mean, being just a kid, I've always been watching the modern flicks. When I looked up Halloween, Friday the 13th etc., I found them not to be scary at all.
- Why they were back then is still a mystery to me.

Not sure what I need to google to figure this one out.

[Ferox13]

(Switchblade Romance/All The Boys Love Mandy Lane or something to eloborate on the "the killer is herself" part?) [By the way, just outta curiousity - who introduced this plot twist?]

I'm sure its been arounf since the start of cinema but I always think of William Castle when I see it...

even the original dracula..films back then had the audience in suspense and kept us glued to the screen because we were never sure how the story line was going to end.
Now they are mainly copycat storylines..especially the slasher movies..

Unless they read the book :-)

Seriously though i don't think you can generalise and say the ld stuff was more original. Look at Universal's Dracula/Frankenstein movies - they ran that series into the ground. As much as I love them House of Drac/Frank are complete trash - compare them to the original of each monster film if u think me wrong.

[neverending]

Yah but they're much more entertaining trash than modern trash.

[ChronoGrl]

Originally Posted by Staal

Alright guys. Now, I know I keep bugging you guys, so feel free to not reply to this thread, if you have no intention of giving me valueable advice (Thanks to everyone that already helped me out.)

Now, having googled (yes, googled) the history of slashers, I found this a topic I might go for, as these are the kind of movies I think I could do a decent paper on.

I'm not sure how far I should go back. Halloween 1978 vs some modern one. (Switchblade Romance/All The Boys Love Mandy Lane or something to eloborate on the "the killer is herself" part?) [By the way, just outta curiousity - who introduced this plot twist?]
- Please give me your thoughts on this.

I also considered a suspense-movie like the birds vs some "gory" modern flick. (Hostel? Saw? maybe with references to Murder Set Pieces).
I know there's probably loads of gory pre 80's movies. But isn't it more typical for the modern horror movie?

Googled "birth of slasher":

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/S...6/history.html

Psycho's contribution to the birth of the slasher movies lies in its death scenes. Prior to 1960, no major motion picture dared to depict murder in such a blatant fashion as Psycho did. Though there is hardly any blood in the film and no shots of the actual "slashing" (the blade piercing the skin), Psycho's use of sudden, high-pitched musical strokes and brutal murder scenes were the first bold step in the creation of what would become the slasher movie genre.

Start with Psycho and good GOD don't leave out Black Christmas. As groundbreaking as the original Halloween was, it owes all of its success to Black Christmas.

Also, the most recent slasher I've seen is My Bloody Valentine 3D. No joke. It actually was a perfect homage to the 80s slasher film while simultaneously creating one of its own.

For something more serious, the best modern slashers I've seen in recent history were Ils and Inside, both French films. I'd say that they are both essential to wrapping up the topic.

[Staal]

Thank you ChronoGrl.

I have actually never heard of Black Christmas, but I'll get hold of a copy as soon as possible. Regarding Ils and Ilside, I've never been able to track these down. I don't think there's any nordic releases for these. But I should have no problem finding it on a british site

I think i'll go with your idea. Start out with Psycho, try to check out Black Christmas as a "mid stop" before wrapping the paper up with a modern one. I've heard great things about both Ils and Inside, so these might be the way to go.

I just hope I'll be able to pinpoint the differences in these movies and explain the evolution of the genre.

Edit: Just to be sure, this is the Black Christmas you're talking about?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071222/

[newb]

Originally Posted by Staal

Thank you ChronoGrl.



Edit: Just to be sure, this is the Black Christmas you're talking about?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071222/

I'm sure it is........its the original.

[ChronoGrl]

Originally Posted by Staal

Edit: Just to be sure, this is the Black Christmas you're talking about?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071222/

Yeppers! That's the one!