Op-Ed: The downfall of modern horror films
By Reagan Rozzi
Picture of Owasso AMC Movie Theater taken by Reagan Rozzi
With the recent release of Damien Leone’s “Terrifier 3” (of the “Terrifier” franchise) the lack of originality in the modern film industry is now more apparent than ever. The two-hour gore fest, in addition to being a waste of money and time, served as a thought-provoking experience for cinema connoisseurs to truly question the future of the horror genre.
The “Terrifier” trilogy follows the gruesome crimes of a homicidal clown who terrorizes men and women of all ages. A plot is attempted in each script, but the execution of the films shows the clear intention of the scriptwriters and directors: a tangible demonstration of horrific fantasies made only to fulfill their dreams and outrage audiences. Unnecessarily graphic depictions replace what could be verbal cues, and awkward symbolism is mixed into the screenplay as a distraction from its absurdity. The original “Terrifier” should have never been conceived, much less a second and third movie.
The only compliment the franchise should receive is its top-notch graphics. Each film, as disgusting as they may be, includes such realistic special effects that it is difficult to believe I am not a witness to a real-life crime. However, I still doubt the necessity of such excessive violence as opposed to letting the imagination wander based off of naturally frightening dialogue and camerawork. After all, nothing is scarier than our own mind.
In the modern film industry, theaters are filled to the brim with remakes, sequels and spin-offs for the sake of making a profit off of vulnerable nostalgia. Audiences want to feel the same sensations that washed over them the first time they experienced the film, even though they know they will never get the feeling back. A trip to the movies is now a transactional experience as opposed to a full-body immersion into a cinematic world. To put it simply: it’s all a money grab.
As of Nov. 1, 2024, “Terrifier 3” is ranked at 40 out of the 200 highest grossing movies of 2024. Worldwide. This is a common trend for each movie of the franchise, with box office sales exceeding the original movie budget each time. The first “Terrifier,” which held a budget of $35,000, grossed $342,000. “Terrifier 2” grossed $15.6 million, despite its $250,000 budget. The third, most recent movie of the trilogy has grossed $50 million as of Oct. 1, 2024. All this to say, the reason for its financial success is the franchise’s signature bloody brutality which audiences have come to expect.
But the question is: why is the harm of our peers a topic that millions willingly choose to watch in their free time?
My answer: the rapid growth in social media use and complete exploitation of special effects has desensitized the upcoming generation to excessive violence.
Platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook have allowed us to essentially have the world at our fingertips. We can share our fondest memory with our friends or we can ruin our enemy’s reputation in only a second by tapping a button. It is now a habit for us to turn to our virtual audience and rant our pent-up emotions as opposed to taking a therapeutic stroll or an unwinding bath. Explicit images, vulgar language and harmful content finds its way into our endless scrolling, but because it has become a part of our routine, we don’t bat an eye to the horrors we consume.
So, as computer-generated imagery continues to rise in popularity and the use in social media increases for us and our future generations, the film industry as well as our basic human empathy is destined for its downfall. And, as the homicidal clown in the “Terrifier” trilogy does, we too will come to lack any reaction toward the abuse of our peers.
Resources
Terrifier Franchise Budget v. Gross
2024 Worldwide Box Office