Who out there is doing a happy dance now that Prom Night—a prim and plodding excuse for a horror film— took the No. 1 spot at the box-office with $22.7 million for the weekend? It's the best debut yet in 2008 for a scare flick, as long as you're not counting the sci-fi-ish Cloverfield (which had $41 million at hello). Other fright flicks that opened this year include—please stop me at any time if you hear the title of a decent one— One Missed Call, The Eye, Shutter, Funny Games, and The Ruins, which tumbled nearly sixty percent in its second week. If these duds strike you as sweet news for scares, gag me now.
Another box-office wake-up call is the distant second place finish at $12 million for Street Kings, with Keanu Reeves futilely trying to channel Russell Crowe as a bad cop approaching meltdown. Want more?
Despite the presence of Juno It girl Ellen Page, Smart People barely scraped up $4 million. With the box-office off nearly twenty percent from the same period last year, panic is building in Hollywood's executive suites. As a critic, I get satisfaction from seeing The Visitor, one of the best movies so far this year, open well in limited release. But an $88,383 take in four locations is chump change to studio chiefs looking for the big score. Resut? Terror!
Which brings us to the question of the day: What happened to scary movies? Good ones, I mean. Back in the Stone age—read 1980—Prom Night starred scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis and generated a few R-rated jolts. The tame 2008 remake is rated PG-13, letting Brittany Snow (see photo) run from former teacher turned psycho Jonathan Schaech with nowhere near the threat posed to Jamie Lee. And yet the new Prom Night scored the biggest debut for a fright flick since Saw IV, which opened to $31.7 million in October. What's up with that is a major shift. Prom Night 2008 is less like the harcore gore of the Saw series and more like 27 Dresses with red syrup on the hemlines. The soft rating appeals to teen girls, during prom season yet, and promises a hunk bogeyman and nothing too yuccky. And the success of Prom Night proves the formula is working. Is PG-13 the future of horror? Has Saw-Hostel shock cinema worn out it's welcome? What was the last scary movie you saw that actually curdled your blood?
[ Photo: Sony Pictures ]
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peter travers | April 26, 2008 9:49 PM
to respond to cruise i think keanu reason for passing on heat was that the character was to much like his own father
Horror Cinema in the mainstream. | April 16, 2008 11:08 PM
Peter thanks for your great support to genre cinema, i remember back in the 80's that you were the only national critic (in a BIG publication) exposing Robert Englund talents as an actor in the Freddy movies, you were the only one defending Ken Rusell's misunderstood masterpieces (Gothic, Lair Of The White Worm), you were the one who really suport that lost jewel The Reflecting Skin and you were the first mainstream critic to put Blair Witch on the spotlight.
For that (and more) Peter, thank you.
Aarón.
A loyal reader.
(from People to RS to this blog)
tom cruise | April 16, 2008 7:43 PM
Keanu reeves, How does one pass up on the chance to work with Robert Deniro ,Al Pacino and michael mann in "Heat" but he say's yes to the watcher , replacements , sweet november.
no to speed 2 yes to bogus journey .i know his been afraide of being type cast to the point of using shakespere as PR move to take him serious as an actor but his already considerd an action star anyway, bone head move . he should of said yes to superman that would have put him back at top now he is fading to black
Locust | April 16, 2008 1:30 AM
from the ghostly imagery alone, ju-on creeped me out for a month. i liked the concept that no one is safe, not even if u haven't done anything "bad" in the context of the film. as far as originality or, dare i say CLASS goes, american horror has become a joke category designed to steal disposable income from knuckle-head teenagers who will flock to see 20-year-old high schoolers running around in their undies with a contemporary soundtrack, all leading to a predictable and boring ending. and then the audience applauses, of course.
EvilMulder666 | April 15, 2008 1:00 PM
Pete, come on - "30 Days of Night" was so damn disturbing that i could only bring myself to watch it once. And I enjoy horror movies a lot, including 60s and 70s schlock classics like Carnivl of Souls and The Severed Arm. "30 Days" actually had me looking away and feeling shameful for even watching it. And that's not to detract from the film - it was well-made and had a great script - but it was as close to blood-curdling as you're likely to get in teh watered-down celluloid nightmare happenng in Holy Wood.
Aaron | April 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Totally agree, "INSIDE" (AL'interieur) is the best horror movie in years.
You guys should check out the Rod Gudino short films, he's the future of horror.
John | April 15, 2008 9:37 AM
Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving" scared the shit out of me. It came and went pretty quickly in February, but if you can find it, it's well worth your time.
Patrick Naugle | April 15, 2008 1:46 AM
I guess I'm nostalgic for good old 80s horror. I'm a horror movie junkie, so I see it all. But that doesn't mean I enjoy it all. I've complained that what's lacking in the SAW and HOSTEL movies is an element of fun that was in such classics like RE-ANIMATOR, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD and even A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
And I cannot stand this PG-13 craze going on. Horror movies aren't made for kids - they are made for adults. Now, I understand kids sneaking and seeing horror movies (that was the bread and butter of my youth). But really - why are execs catering to the youth market? I guess hardcore horror and PG-13 horror could co-exist, but it seems like good horror has gone out the window.
The spattering of remakes have been a mixed bag. A few have been good (DAWN OF THE DEAD, THE HILLS HAVE EYES), a few have been so-so (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE) and the rest are pretty much crap (HALLOWEEN was just a pure and simple insult to Carpenter's original).
I long for the days of find unseen gems in the video store. The last great buried treasure I found was years ago with DOG SOLDIERS.
Oh, the horror...
Right here. | April 14, 2008 11:23 PM
The Orphanage flipped me out...but I don't think that qualifies as a horror flick? More like psychological thriller? Whatever you want to name it, it gave me the shivers.
The Best horror film it's on DVD right now!! | April 14, 2008 11:09 PM
Peter please go to your favorite video store and get the "INSIDE" (L'interieur) DVD, probably the best piece of horror cinema from the last 10 years.
Directed by France's Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, the two amazing directors recently fired from the new "Hellraiser" project.
"INSIDE" brings back the hardcore to horror!!!
Nicky Nu | April 14, 2008 7:46 PM
I can't wait till Trick or Treat,Midnight Meat Train and The Strangers cinema release. I hope they don't go straight to DVD. Rob Zombies Halloween was good. Rob Zombie is a fan of the orignal series he brought new life to an established horror franchise. Hollywood needs to employ some fresh new blood and streamline some some new projects. Might be risky but give it a go. Has any seen The Deaths of Ian Stone it was pretty good.
Peter Travers I hope you read your comments I think you need to start campagning for better horror movies. Give the fans something to look foward too.
Hollywood stop doing re-makes and leave Asain horror alone it dosent translate to Americanstaion.
Were is the next generation of Wes Craven, Tobe Hooper, James Capertner, Geogre Romero. Some needsto give the fans some hope!!!
Phil | April 14, 2008 5:27 PM
Absolutely, categorically, The Descent. American horror doesn't seem to be where it's at these days, which sure is a shame, but then again... these things tend to run in cycles (like everything else).
Disappointed | April 14, 2008 3:31 PM
I agree with Mr. Travers on this one. Horror cinema has gone either completely tame (ie., Prom Night), or has missed the mark completely (ie., torture porn films like Saw & Hostel).
What was the last GOOD horror flick made? Though I didn't see it, I heard George A. Romero's latest zombie flick was pretty good. But how about before that? Grindhouse? Even though those technically weren't horror flicks, they were more SciFi/Action flicks. Even M. Night Shymalan gave up making good suspenseful films a long time ago. The Lady in The Water? Atrociously lame. And how about Wes Craven's last "horror" film. Red Eye? EXTREMELY TAME compared to Nightmare on Elm Street, Last House on the Left and most everything else he has done.
I remember reading the last horror blog on here where Mr. Travers talked specifically about horror remakes and how awful a lot of those were. Especially that remake of Halloween...Rob Zombie completely removed the original of all of its suspenseful glory and just put in a few more naked chicks and a lot more blood and called it a remake.
I feel completely let down by today's American horror films. Is there no one MAN enough to step it up and bring back glory of suspense in what used to make horror films so scary?
I'll believe it when I see it...until then, I'm extremely disappointed.
JasonTHX | April 14, 2008 2:32 PM
2006's "The Descent" gave me the heeby-jeebies. A true-to-the-core straight up creature fright flick that didn't skimp on blood, fright or cleverness.
Props for also casting the pic with some actually talented Eye-candy (most notably Natalie Mendoza.)
Worst excuse for a so called Horrow movie: "Hatchet". A stupid, dull, idiotic, amaturish, cheap "Old School" rehash that doesn't contain a single original thought or a second of hardcore giddy horror joy.
Joe | April 14, 2008 1:14 PM
The original "Eye" was a very good ghost story that had the chills that the remake wished it could have. Please, Hollywood, leave the foreign ghost stories alone and come up with something original.