A LOOK AT HORROR IN 2013

As a horror fan I watch a plethora of films both big and small whether a suspense thriller or a gore-love-fest, whether domestic or foreign, whether an Indie or big budget Hollywood.  Every horror film has its good merits but more often than not most people only see the bad; then of course there are some that are truly bad and those that are so bad they become “good” or the more appropriate “guilty pleasure.”  With the exception of CABIN IN THE WOODS (and maybe THE WOMAN IN BLACK) there were few breakout films of 2012 and fewer more that were indeed “good.”  The few Indie films to make a difference (i.e. V/H/S, THE BAY, THE AWAKENING) have only been seen by a small audience and there have been more mediocre films than expected (i.e. UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4, THE RAVEN, DARK SHADOWS, THE THEATRE BIZARRE, [REC] 3, CHERNOBYL DIARIES, THE POSSESSION, THE DEVIL INSIDE, MOTHER’S DAY, THE WICKER TREE, PROMETHEUS, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL, SILENT HILL; REVELATION, SINISTER, and many more).  2012 has been a lackluster year and there’s hope that next year will be much better.

Next year – sadly, brings very little to look forward to other than more remakes and more sequels but maybe there will be a few diamonds in the rough.

REMAKES
I’d like to first take a look at the remakes on the horizon starting with the most high profile of the bunch which is another version of Stephen King’s CARRIE.  You’d think that two remakes, a sequel, and two attempts at a musical were enough to keep anyone away but not Hollywood.  There looks to be a lot of money behind this film but the same could’ve been said for this year’s ill advised TOTAL RECALL and we know how that ended up.  The remakes for THE EVIL DEAD and MANIAC look to be more interesting.  The original THE EVIL DEAD has its admirers but truth be told more people enjoy the sequel than the original so a remake of the original film with a bigger budget and better SFX actually sounds good.  The same goes for the remake of MANIAC, which looks remarkable like one of the best remakes to look forward to from the trailer.  Another interesting remake on the horizon is that of the infamous SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT which is simply called SILENT NIGHT.  This is also a film whose trailer makes it look on par with the MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D remake.  Other notable remakes on the horizon include OLD BOY (from director Spike Lee???) and ROBOCOP (whose early pix don’t put me on ease) and POLTERGEIST (yes, I said POLTERGEIST – WTF?).

     

SEQUELS

There are way too many sequels scheduled for release in 2013 to mention but I’ll try to pick on a few of the highlights.  The most predictable of which is PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 5.  Despite the lackluster response to the 4^th film a new film for release in October 2013 is already confirmed.  Also on the horizon and more surprising is THE LAST EXORCISIM 2 and THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH.  Not sure that either of these films needs a sequel since they were both so self contained but I’m at least curious as to where they decide to take their films.  In terms of franchise favorites first up is TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3D, which given that its suppose to be a sequel to the Tobe Hooper classic it might actually be an interesting film but the trailer lacks anything new that hasn’t already been done in other films in the franchise and being released in January, the dumping ground for studio films that the studio has little to no faith in.  Next up is the equally questionable CURSE OF CHUCKY and HATCHET III both of which have a huge fan base and whose fans like that the filmmakers have a little fun with the material.  Also in a surprise move is the TOOLBOX MURDERS 2 (now called COFFIN BABY) and a FRIGHT NIGHT 2.  The remake for THE TOOLBOX MURDERS was a highlight and there has been rumors of a sequel since the original was a moderate success.  I’m completely surprised by the news of a FRIGHT NIGHT 2 considering how poorly the first one did at the Box Office.  Those few fans of the originals don’t have much to rejoice in as this is meant to be a straight to DVD sequel with none of the original actors returning.  Another surprise is V/H/S/ 2, which will hit film festivals early next year and if it is anything like its predecessor it will be one to look out for.

   

This is just a sampling of the remakes and sequels on the horizon for release in 2013.  There will be many more added to the release schedule and those that are dropped and pushed back.  I’ve not even mentioned the sequels and remakes without release dates (i.e. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR: THE LOST TAPES, DRACULA 3D, HALLOWEEN 3D, or another GODZILLA) nor original (i.e. non-sequels and non-remakes) such as PACIFIC RIM, JOHN DIES AT THE END, HERE COMES THE DEVIL, and Rob Zombie’s LORDS OF SALEM.  I guess I’ll have to save all those titles for another time.