The Children of the Horror Drought
06.18.09 By: Scott Weinberg
This rather amusing video blog from Day of the Woman got me thinking. No, not about the sparkly "vampires" of Twilight or the questionable *ahem* merits of Megan Fox ... but of something a lot larger. Most horror geeks, you see, would agree that much of the 1990s were a freakin' wasteland where horror is concnerned. Our astute rantress points out that her generation's "classics" are Scream, Urban Legend, Final Destination, and (ugh) I Know What You Did Last Summer ... whereas MY generation got to grow up knee-deep in the icky exploits of Jason, Michael, Freddy, Chucky, Leprechaun, Pinhead, Wishmaster, Ghoulies, Gremlins, Ghosties and Goo-monsters ... a lot more options, basically. And fun ones, too.But now that those who were born in 1990 are old enough to form an intelligent thought (and run their own great horror blog), it raises an interesting question: If you grew up in the 1990s, how the HELL did you turn into a horror geek in the first place? I'm actually impressed! (I'm even more impressed by a 19-year-old who knows that an alternate title for the sleazoid classic I Spit On Your Grave ... is Day of the Woman.) So to my most youthful of readers, I say this: Listen to this girl. She is your leader.
Filed under: Discussion Posts
Reader Comments (1 of 1)
iamkevinsorboat 6-18-2009
Am I the only child of the '90s that absolutely loves IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS? How come it always gets passed over? And personally I'll take a LORD OF ILLUSIONS over URBAN LEGEND. Also, let's not forget ARMY OF DARKNESS, DELLAMORTE, DELLAMORE, or DEAD ALIVE.
Anyways, all those passable flicks of the '90s make for fine nostalgia on my end. Jennifer Love Hewitt's screaming cleavage in the rain? Special place in my heart. If you don't know any better, you don't know any better.
As for Day of the Woman's vlog, it's silly to think that our generation is giving the horror world TWILIGHT. It's not like Stephenie Meyer is a child of the '90s nor is anyone involved with the creative production of the film except for the stars. TWILIGHT has, without question, a young adult target audience, an audience that by definition of being young adult wasn't even conceived until the middle of the '90s.
Shit's got nothing to do with our generation.
mercenarytoastat 6-18-2009
I got into horror by browsing the horror section in Video Library when I was a wee lad. I remember seeing A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 when I was, like, eight and being terrified of it. Then came Sleepaway Camp, which scarred me for life. The advent of teen slasher flicks in the mid-to-late nineties has everything to do with Wes Craven and Scream, and remains just one of a myriad of reasons I despise that man.
Brianat 6-18-2009
I've worked with BJ-C since Day of the Woman first launched, and I can testify that this chick is the real deal, and a credit to her horror-deprived generation! Her horror chops never cease to amaze.
To the first commenter, I think the point is that even if the young generation of fans isn't responsible for Twilight, they are responsible for embracing it, and sending the message that this is good horror for the teen demographic.
B-Sol
The Vault of Horror
iamkevinsorboat 6-18-2009
I still disagree with her argument, Brian. She's laying claim that it's children of the '90s, but I still stand that children of the '90s are not the ones embracing Twilight. Your generalization of the young generation is far more accurate.
I am through and through child of the '90s, but I'm also married and own a house, so while I may be young to others, I hardly feel like the young generation being thrashed about in the vlog.
I don't think anyone thinks TWILIGHT is horror yet alone good horror. Who exactly does think it's horror, anyway?
[This is Peter (of Horror's Not Dead) by the way, Horror Squad will only let me use my AIM name to comment (fix it, Scott!). Also, since #2 on here is Brad of I Love Horror, way to monopolize the comment section, LOTTD! :P]
Brianat 6-18-2009
If children of the '90s are not the ones embracing Twilight, then I'm not really sure who is. Because it sure isn't people older than that (other than my Mom), and it can't be people younger than that, because they're watching The Backyardigans.
iamkevinsorboat 6-19-2009
Ah, but there is a big difference between growing up in the '90s and being born in the '90s. Those who grew up in the '90s, BJ-C being on the very tail end of that, are not the throngs supporting TWILIGHT.
divineparasiteat 6-18-2009
Alright Twilight is not horrer. Its not even PG-13 horrer the way "Drag Me To Hell" is. "Twilight" is a teen soap opera. It cares less about trying to frighten anyone and simply out there to play on teenage girls' heartstrings. To each thier own, but its not part of the genre.
noahphexat 6-19-2009
Twilight has nothing to do with horror. Having vampires and werewolves in your movie doesn't automatically make it a horror flick. At best its a fantastic teen romance film.
castrnsmat 7-15-2009
EXACTLY!! I couldnt have said it any better. "Twilight" is NO horror movie, at ALL. Its a teenage girl romance. And they all go see it becaise of the "hot" lead guy. Thats IT. To even talk about this teeny bopper movie as a horror movie is absurd.
Brittney Jadeat 7-05-2009
I just realized I never commented on this.
You're amazing :D
castrnsmat 7-15-2009
EXACTLY!! I couldnt have said it any better. "Twilight" is NO horror movie, at ALL. Its a teenage girl romance. And they all go see it becaise of the "hot" lead guy. Thats IT. To even talk about this teeny bopper movie as a horror movie is absurd.
Serkan Colakat 7-17-2009
i love this site..