Hello invaders. This is the third day in a row I've posted. Personal Best!! I’m gonna go for 4 by making this a 2 part post :D
I'm writing (ranting) about horror m
ovies and budgets. I'll let you know up front, my basic hypothesis for this little rant is that horror films with big budgets don't work. There are a few exceptions, but not many. I know it's not a new idea. In fact it's something I've believed for a while now, but over the last couple of days I started thinking about what it is that makes that so.
Before I go into my theory (which will happen tomorrow) lets take a loo
k at some figures. We’ll start with the man considered one of the most profitable directors in Hollywood, Eli Roth. Roth's first venture cost he and his private investors $1.5 million and Hostel cost $4.5 million. One of the most profitable horror films, Saw, was made for $1.2 million. In fact, the franchise (or 1-5 anyway) was made for $36 million. But by far the most impressive film is Paranormal Activity. It was made for $15000. So far it has made $19 million.
Now, I know $19 million isn’t much compared to the ridiculous amounts brought in by the blockbusters, bu
t think about it. This film has earned $19 million through word of mouth alone. The only reason for that happening is that the film scared a lot of people shitless. So what is it about the lower budget movies that makes them so much scarier?
Well, I have a theory. It’s backed up by Stephen King. Come back tomorrow to check it out.
I love love loved Saw. Then the 2nd one was OK. Then the 3rd one had potential but fell short. I gave up after that. I don't know if it is because the budgets kept growing for each installment or because the original filmmakers weren't involved after the original. But I tend to think that after a while, the shock and awe is no longer a surprise and it just becomes a gore fest - which anyone can do so it is no longer special.
ReplyDeleteNow Hostel - that was just plain gory. I didn't particularly care for it at all. Disturbed the crap out of my husband though so that was entertaining ;0)