Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive are two of the best movies of the last 30 years - but you'd have to do A LOT of work to convince me that they're actually horror movies.
There are horror elements in them, as in all Lynch films, and they fit comfortably in the psychological weirdness category. I think they are closer to horror than Randy probably does, but they require an expansive view of the genre (MD more so than BV). I may be going out too far on a limb here, because it's been a long while since I've seen one and even longer since I've seen the other, but I don't think it would be wrong to put "Mulholland Dr." in the same category as Polanski's "Repulsion."
I could go either way on this, and I really enjoyed both. But the wink and nod to the audience does separate them from straight horror, and if pressed I'd say that, other than the opening sequence of Scream, both fall short as straight horror if you strip away the homage/deconstruction elements. So, as with Randy's comment below, it really depends on how broadly you define the genre.
The big omission, for me, is "Let The Right One In" - I see it made Edelstein's near miss list (and Ebiri went with the US remake, which I never saw): http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/10-movies-left-off-our-horror-list.html.
Miike has an almost hilarious breadth of different movie styles under his list. Straight, hideous horror, thrillers, family films, sometimes 15 different genres (The Happiness Of The Katakuris, for instance, is a weird piece of animation/horror/family musical).
Here's my question, though, on Audition, without spoiling it if possible: is it torture porn (which, as a subgenre, I typically find makes me way more queasy than entertained/scared -- one reason I've never seen Wolf Creek), or something different?
There is one grisly sequence, but it's one that is earned by what's going on in the rest of the movie. For the most part, Audition is not that sort of movie and it suggests a lot more than it shows. (And oh boy, are there a couple of suggestions in the movie....)
Other eligible films I was somewhat surprised not to see in the main or near-miss lists: Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Near Dark The Devil's Backbone The Mist
After taking another look thru the list, another couple of thoughts:
- Paranormal Activity > The Blair Witch Project. It's just such a much better made movie. - Saw > Seven. An unpopular opinion, for sure... but Seven left me cold. - Dead Ringers and Spider > The Fly. But I don't really quibble with them picking that for Cronenberg; this is just my own personal taste.
Also, if some of these movies are horror movies, then so is Aliens, and it should most definitely be on the list. It should be very high on the list.
The Descent, Ginger Snaps, Audition: YES. Donnie Darko: NO.
The lack of Cabin in the Woods and Scream gives me pause. (Both simultaneously pay tribute to and deconstruct the horror film.)
ReplyDeleteThis is a good enough list that I'm writing down titles I've never gotten around to. Also, extra points for including Ginger Snaps.
ReplyDeleteBlue Velvet and Mulholland Drive are two of the best movies of the last 30 years - but you'd have to do A LOT of work to convince me that they're actually horror movies.
ReplyDeleteThere are horror elements in them, as in all Lynch films, and they fit comfortably in the psychological weirdness category. I think they are closer to horror than Randy probably does, but they require an expansive view of the genre (MD more so than BV). I may be going out too far on a limb here, because it's been a long while since I've seen one and even longer since I've seen the other, but I don't think it would be wrong to put "Mulholland Dr." in the same category as Polanski's "Repulsion."
ReplyDeleteI could go either way on this, and I really enjoyed both. But the wink and nod to the audience does separate them from straight horror, and if pressed I'd say that, other than the opening sequence of Scream, both fall short as straight horror if you strip away the homage/deconstruction elements. So, as with Randy's comment below, it really depends on how broadly you define the genre.
ReplyDeleteThat's one to rewatch. I still need to see Audition (and really, any Miike), and was not aware of Cure, so those go on my watch list.
ReplyDeleteThe big omission, for me, is "Let The Right One In" - I see it made Edelstein's near miss list (and Ebiri went with the US remake, which I never saw): http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/10-movies-left-off-our-horror-list.html.
ReplyDeleteMiike has an almost hilarious breadth of different movie styles under his list. Straight, hideous horror, thrillers, family films, sometimes 15 different genres (The Happiness Of The Katakuris, for instance, is a weird piece of animation/horror/family musical).
ReplyDeleteThat said, I think "Shaun of the Dead" DOES transcend homage, and was surprised they didn't find room for it in the top 25.
ReplyDeleteHere's my question, though, on Audition, without spoiling it if possible: is it torture porn (which, as a subgenre, I typically find makes me way more queasy than entertained/scared -- one reason I've never seen Wolf Creek), or something different?
ReplyDeleteThere is one grisly sequence, but it's one that is earned by what's going on in the rest of the movie. For the most part, Audition is not that sort of movie and it suggests a lot more than it shows. (And oh boy, are there a couple of suggestions in the movie....)
ReplyDeleteLet Me In is REALLY good. I actually thought it was better than Let The Right One In. Definitely worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteOther eligible films I was somewhat surprised not to see in the main or near-miss lists:
ReplyDeleteHenry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Near Dark
The Devil's Backbone
The Mist
Some thoughts now that I've had more time to think:
ReplyDelete1. I'd drop Day of the Dead and put in Shaun. For me, the Romero zombie movies end with Dawn of the Dead.
2. Not one mention of Orphanage or Pan's Labyrinth but they had honorable mention room for the awful Body Double?
After taking another look thru the list, another couple of thoughts:
ReplyDelete- Paranormal Activity > The Blair Witch Project. It's just such a much better made movie.
- Saw > Seven. An unpopular opinion, for sure... but Seven left me cold.
- Dead Ringers and Spider > The Fly. But I don't really quibble with them picking that for Cronenberg; this is just my own personal taste.
Also, if some of these movies are horror movies, then so is Aliens, and it should most definitely be on the list. It should be very high on the list.
The Descent, Ginger Snaps, Audition: YES. Donnie Darko: NO.