New horror. Independent horror. These are not always
synonymous with good horror. In this age of cinema, we find filmmakers having
to constantly reinvent themselves and adapt to the climate of the business.
Unfortunately for them and the viewers, much of the time it stinks. I do not
enjoy ripping someone’s work but I cannot deny that much of the horror films in
the last 15 years have flat out stunk. Part of me wonders if this is because I
am getting older and a purist for my generation’s films? I sincerely do not think that is the case. I
think that a perfect storm has happened with film in the last decade and half of that is attributed to piracy, CG abuse, distribution and the lack of the communal
experience of film viewing. There just is no way around the simple fact that it
is difficult to make a good horror film anymore. Which is what brings me to my
point here: Let’s focus on and celebrate those who overcome those odds. In my opinion, we have two right here in this episode.
The last few years have given me hope for a genre that may
just be slowly climbing back to a better standard with inventive and effective
filmmaking. Last year felt like it had more films I was genuinely excited about than those in recent memory- Digging up the Marrow, The Final Girls, It Follows,
Green Inferno, The Babadook, Last Shift, etc. (not a definitive list).
I was excited to cover some of these on this most recent episode
and I am sure we will cover more in the near future. Let’s cross
our fingers that these films and their success inspire not only new filmmakers
but those financing them. We, the horror community, are not going
anywhere and that’s a certainty. I just hope that our hunger continues to be
fed! Until next time…..
Beware the moon,
The Professor
