The argument I have isn't with ghouls being replaced by ankle biters in Spongebob costumes. I get that. The gripe isn't even with trick or treaters flocking to the mall in droves, despite my assumption the candy bowl next to my front door will remain full Halloween night. Religion doesn't play a role; in fact Happy Samhain (New Years) to our Pagan friends. No, my beef is with Hollywood. More directly to the directors and producers churning out Halloween inspired “horror” movies.
Scary movies, once a staple of the season, have found themselves the real disappointment of Halloween. Every year what is dubbed as this years 'scariest movie' is nothing more than an over gratuitous blood festival with unrealistic violence. The art of direction, leading one to a suspenseful dramatic conclusion, is gone. No, horror movies aren't about scaring anymore; they are about grossing you out. Perhaps the narrative of arousing fear doesn't pay as well as producing a visual manual for future serial killers.
It's hard to believe the story tellers of Hollywood have gone missing in the foggy cemetery of corporate studios, but the plot of horror movies has. Movies such as the Saw franchise, while incredibly ingenious, do not scare you. Stephen King novels scare you. They raise your blood pressure, and leave an unnerving need to look over your shoulder. Even most of the movies inspired by King's prose have turned out lame, the Shining notwithstanding. Think if you will, a King novel, directed by Gus Van Sant, produced by Steven Spielberg; now that would scare you. Yet, we pay for substandard product, based on overly hyped marketing, directed towards a scare craved audience. Not this year though, not me.
Call it my Halloween stimulus package. When Hollywood decides to make Halloween movies again instead of Hollowmean shockers, then maybe I will return to the box office. Until then, my plan is to eat Spongebob's unclaimed candy, read a Stephen King book, and be far away from the mall.
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