Campus Voice: Is horror having a revival?
Flynn Ledoux | Illustration Editor
Horror films filled theater screens this summer including hit movies like “A Quiet Place: Day One,” and “Longlegs.” However, with various sequels and trilogies missing the mark, The Daily Orange is curious about the genre’s future.
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While horror movies reach their peak popularity every October, this summer saw countless slashers and thrillers flash across theater screens with varying success. Casual moviegoers and horror fanatics alike may be wondering if the genre is experiencing a revival, or if its resurgence in the mainstream will be short-lived.
The horror genre started summer off with a bang when “A Quiet Place: Day One” released on June 28 and exceeded box office expectations. As the third installment in the franchise, the film amassed $261 million at box offices worldwide, nearly quadrupling its budget of $67 million.
“Longlegs,” starring Nicholas Cage and Maika Monroe, furthered the genre’s success after its viral marketing campaign. When the horror flick released on July 12, fans flocked to theaters, leading to a revenue of $73 million at North American box offices. “Longlegs” also became Neon‘s highest grossing film, surpassing the production company’s Oscar-winning “Parasite.”
But the summer of horror films wasn’t without its flops. Although M. Night Shyamalan’s “Trap” was highly anticipated, it disappointed viewers with just a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film also failed to compete with “Deadpool & Wolverine” in the box office. A24’s “MaXXXine,” the third installment in the X trilogy, also missed the mark, with its Rotten Tomatoes score dropping 20% from those of its prequels.
Highly-anticipated films, such as Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Damien Leone’s “Terrifier 3” and Parker Finn’s “Smile 2,” are set to be released in theaters throughout September and October.
From cult classics like “The Shining” and “The Exorcist” to the often parodied “Scream” and “Chucky” franchises, horror has a long history of hits and misses. While 2024 horror movie releases could bring new life, they could only further contribute to the patchwork quality of the genre.
The Daily Orange wants to know where our readers stand. Will horror continue to surge in popularity past Halloween night, or will it be forgotten like Milk Duds at the bottom of a trick-or-treat bucket?
Published on September 2, 2024 at 8:39 pm
Contact: Jepryor@syr.edu
