Horror is Hot. Again

Fall is here at last and Halloween is around the corner. The best time of the year. And unlike many other years in memory, horror is big at the theaters.

Currently in wide distribution are a number of genre movies. Not all are ones I'd pay to see, but it is heartening to see so much fear at the multiplex. Looking at the listings, I see Let Me in, Hereafter, Case 39, Devil, Paranormal Activity 2, My Soul To Take, Resident Evil: Afterlife. That's a substantial percentage of current releases. We still have Saw 3D and Monsters on the way in October.

Many serious fans bemoan the tepid product that the studios are serving up. 3d gimmickry, sequels, and embarrassing examples of horror. We look to the past for our genre fixes. But I feel that it is a mistake to ignore the new stuff.

I can remember years when horror was out of fashion. It was hard to find anything to choose from. Horror is bigger than ever, and it's fun to get out and see the movies. Even if most will be disappointments. I can be as cranky as anyone, but I try to keep the critic hat off of my pointy head.

I go to a movie (or a book, or a song) with the intention of enjoying it. No longer do I relish the idea of hating Hollywood. In the 90's I was all about the world of independent film, but having been burned by so many productions since the digital revolution happened, I don't waste a lot of time and money on indie horror unless I hear that a particular movie is genuinely worthy.

I go to the movies. I always have a good time. Sometimes the features blow me away. Sometimes they are reasonably entertaining for a couple of hours. And, yes, sometimes I hate them. I still have a good time.

Remember being a kid? How exciting it was to get to go to the movies? How you wished the hours would fly by and it would be time to head to the theater? Remember the thrill, the rush, the glorious anticipation of seeing something scary on the big screen?

Why not celebrate the month of October by getting out and seeing some horror? Leave your cloak of cynicism at home, grab a date or a couple of your best buds and go get a ticket torn. Or maybe just go by yourself. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy yourself.