The scariest thing about horror films has to be the nail-biting anticipation worked in to the plot, right? Well equally the most exciting time for a horror fan is that anticipatory period waiting for the release of new titles. 2018 has an absolute shed load of horror flicks in the making so let’s open that creaky door and take a peak….
OK, corny intro behind us, a very highly-anticipated movie out this month is The Strangers: Prey at Night. If you didn’t see The Strangers back in 2008 then you might want to catch up before you experience the sequel. This said, it’s not absolutely necessary as whatever happens you’ll be in for a chilling time. It might not be the most original premise (hapless family targeted by murderous wackos whilst enjoying a nice get-away somewhere rather quiet) but then that’s not always needed with the horror genre, is it? (Don’t believe us- check the trailer and tell us honestly that you’re not just a little unnerved.) Horror films are a bit like rollercoasters- it’s great if they break new ground, but it doesn’t matter if they don’t because ultimately you’re watching to be scared. If three masked figures start taunting and terrifying perfectly innocent and ordinary people when they’re in some secluded location, then it’s guaranteed to create goose bumps.
This why the Nightmare on Elm Street series works so well, another film of which is rumoured to be on its way this year. Freddy Krueger is pretty much always Freddy Krueger: iconic fedora, natty jumper and disfigured visage, but that doesn’t stop him being scary every single time. It’s that business of getting you in your dreams that’s the real hair-raising element isn’t it? The bed’s supposed to be a safe haven after all, it’s always sold by shops like Bedstar as a place to relax and rest up, somewhere to be protected from the monsters, not the place you get whacked!
Another cool title to look forward to is Slender Man. This one should be coming out around May and what makes it so intriguing is that the character comes not from a Victorian novel or a comic book or some old folk tale, not indeed from any of the usual places but rather from an internet craze. Now if it passed you by at the time then the whole thing is worth just googling quickly; but the essence is that what started out as a little fun with a creepy looking character with long arms and a blank face eventually took off before finally inspiring a real life assault by two children. Now a film has been made based on the character (not on the assault) and the father of the victim is outraged. Apart from the heavy moral debate going on though, will it even be a good movie? The trailer looks OK, but seems to consist mainly of generic horror tropes and gruesome imagery. Again, originality isn’t a must, but is this going too far…?
Either way, it’s one of just dozens of thrilling prospects for 2018, so if you haven’t done so already then we strongly advise you to start biting those nails right about… now.