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Eddy Sanchez
Oct 133 min read

The 5 Best Horror Films of the 1990's | E-Writes Podcast

The 5 Best Horror Films of the 1990's | E-Writes Podcast



Welcome back to the E-Writes Podcast! Today, we’re delving into ’90s horror, when the scary movies were ingenious and impressive, leaving impressions that still linger upon us today.


1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)


Directed by Jonathan Demme, "The Silence of the Lambs" is a psychological horror thriller that redefined the genre. Following FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she seeks the help of the brilliant yet sinister Dr. Hannibal Lecter to catch a serial killer, the film masterfully blends suspense with complex character studies. Iconic moments, such as Lecter’s chilling interactions with Starling and the infamous “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti,” have made this film a timeless classic, earning it multiple Academy Awards.


The Silence of the Lambs, Jonathan Demme, psychological horror, Hannibal Lecter


2. Scream (1996)


Wes Craven followed up his hugely successful A Nightmare on Elm Street with another slasher, this time one that was hyper-aware of the slasher genre itself. Released in 1996, Scream revived the horror genre in the late 1990s, earning enormous commercial success and spawning three sequels. A masked killer called Ghostface terrorizes a group of friends in a small town. One of the killer’s hallmarks was calling the kids on their landlines and quizzing them on their knowledge of horror films, while taunting them and executing various action sequences that included shapes, stabbings and surprises. Despite being clever and funny, it was also terrifying at times. While remaining a great slasher itself, it managed to satirize the slasher genre.


Scream, Wes Craven, slasher film, Ghostface


3. The Sixth Sense (1999)


In "The Sixth Sense," M. Night Shyamalan captured audiences with a compelling narrative and a twist that was unforgettable. Throughout the story, Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, attempts to help Cole, a young boy who claims to see dead people. In this psychological thriller, viewers are left breathless by its emotional depth and shocking conclusion. Among the best horror films of all time, "The Sixth Sense" is still regarded as one of the best.


The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan, psychological thriller, twist ending


4. Candyman (1992)


The film "Candyman" is directed by Bernard Rose and explores urban legends and the power of belief. Adapted from Clive Barker's short story, Candyman follows a graduate student who accidentally summons the hook-handed killer's vengeful spirit. This film stands out for its chilling atmosphere and rich themes of racial and societal fear, as well as its haunting score.


Candyman, Bernard Rose, urban legend, horror film


5. The Blair Witch Project (1999)


This breakthrough low-budget found-footage horror, which launched a thousand knock-offs, tapped into the independent filmmaking zeitgeist by following a trio of documentary movie makers into the Maryland woods to investigate the tale of the Blair Witch, who reportedly abducted children in centuries past. It pitches the audience into a series of unnerving scenarios, using psychological tension and minimal pure storytelling to drive its slow-burn dread—a technique that was pioneered in 1999. With a novel marketing campaign and its documentary-within-a-documentary horror concept, it was a perfect cultural appropriation of the late ’90s.


The Blair Witch Project, found footage, independent horror, psychological tension


Conclusion


In the 1990s, the horror genre transformed itself in ways both familiar and unexpected. Some of the ensuing movies produced considerable fright for their audiences. More than that, however, the crop of chillers that graced the decade not only demonstrated their familiarity with what made previous horror craze-inducers effective; they defied the very boundaries of horror itself. The top five of those films contain within them the seeds of a new cinema. They reveal that the ‘90s gave birth to a spirit of horror that still thrives today. Honorable mention: Leprechaun (1993)... and it seemed to come from nowhere.


We’d love to hear from you! Which '90s horror film is your favorite?


Thank you for tuning into the E-Writes Podcast! If you enjoyed this exploration of the haunting world of 1990s horror, be sure to subscribe for more spine-tingling content and discussions about the films that shaped our fears. Until next time, keep the lights on!


Links to the movie trailers below:


- The Silence of the Lambs  

- Scream  


- The Sixth Sense  


- Candyman  


- The Blair Witch Project  


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Eddy Sanchez
Oct 134 min read

The State of Horror Films: A Decade of Evolution | E-Writes Podcast

The State of Horror Films: A Decade of Evolution | E-Writes Podcast



Welcome to the E-Writes Podcast! Today, we’re exploring the current state of horror films, a genre that has seen remarkable transformations and innovations over the years. As we dive into the films of this decade, we’ll examine whether the horror genre is thriving or struggling to find its footing. Horror films have a long history of spine-chilling narratives, but are there great horror films in the 2020s? Here are the arguments for and against this claim.



Evidence for Great Horror Films in the 2020s


1. Innovative Storytelling


What then for the horror genre? Does its most recent output reveal a robust innovation that’s capable of continuing to offer viewers new and exciting ways with which they can experience their worst nightmares? Or will future generations scoff at Hereditary much as some in my parents’ generation scoffed at Psycho – and will they be right to do so? Quite the reverse, I feel. There has seldom been a better time to be an aficionado of horror movies. Just as the genre was growing tired, it was reinvigorated by The Blair Witch Project (1999). Even now, more than two decades later, it feels like the game is still being reinvented. For example, the recent remake The Invisible Man (2020) recast the otherwise similar Universal Studios classic from the 1930s so that it chimed productively with recent thinking about domestic violence. And, as with marvelous examples such as Scream (1996), it demonstrated that horror could also embrace social issues in provocative and convincing new ways.


2. Diverse Voices  


More and more people with a vast range of voices are being given the opportunity to make horror films, with recent releases like Nia DaCosta’s Candyman (2021) and Axelle Carolyn’s The Night House (2020) coming from the directing minds of black and female directors, whose films address issues of race and identity, as well as mental health.


3. Successful Franchises and Unique Concepts  


Franchise sequels such as A Quiet Place Part II (2021) can both live up to the promise of their predecessors and move forward into new characters and worlds. Stand-alone movies like Malignant (2021), by James Wan, allow the genre to experiment with jolting audiences out of their complacency with surprises and innovative plots, even if those movies themselves might often fail to adhere to classic horror tropes.


Evidence Against Great Horror Films in the 2020s


Perhaps the biggest critique of the contemporary horror landscape is the prevalence of the reboot. As long as people have fond memories of a prior film, studios know it will draw in audiences by default. At the same time, nostalgia alone doesn’t always make for captivating filmmaking. Look at reboots and remakes of famous films that range from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) to The Grudge (2020) and Halloween Kills (2021): often they repeat rather than innovate, and fans wind up dissatisfied because it feels like a copy that’s inferior to the original. Filling out the yearly slots for horror films compels studios to rely heavily on restarted franchise models. This not only risks stereotyping what audiences expect of ‘horror’, but it can also stifle creativity by overshadowing original, new horror films.


2. Mixed Reception  


Not all horror films released in this decade have received favorable reviews. While some films have been praised, others, like "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" (2021) and "Fear Street Trilogy" (2021), have garnered mixed to negative responses, suggesting that not all entries are hitting the mark with audiences and critics alike.


3. Market Saturation 


Streaming platforms have proliferated horror, which, in turn, leads to an oversaturation of the market with complete and dissimilar projects being greenlit left and right. With the sheer amount of (subpar) movies unleashed to the world in a short amount of time, the fear of a saturation effect raises its ugly head. During the last several years, enough uninspired content has flooded the genre to make it questionable whether the modern viewer, in spite of his or her hunger for inspiration, is still able to be creeped out effectively.


Conclusion


Where does the horror film genre go from here? It enters the 2020s facing both those challenges and innovations. On the one hand, we can see a horror genre that is exploring a wider variety of narratives, and with each passing year, those narratives are expanding. Horror is poised on the edge of startling technical innovations and the continued relevance of films made half a century ago, and the tale it tells will be a long one. In many ways, the genre is in great shape: it remains as vital as ever. Horror films continue to explore and comment on modern society and culture, and each year they strive to set new standards for what works and what doesn’t. Even now, with its ever-expanding ranks of fans and participators, it occasionally strikes the perfect balance between pagan grandeur and over-the-top excess that it has always striven to attain.


We’d love to hear from you! What are your thoughts on the current state of horror films? Are there any recent favorites that stand out to you?


Thank you for tuning into the E-Writes Podcast! If you enjoyed this exploration of the state of horror films, be sure to subscribe for more spine-tingling content and discussions about the films that shape our cinematic experiences. Until next time, keep the lights on!


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Eddy Sanchez
Oct 133 min read

Podcast: E-Writes' Top 5 Horror Films of the 2010s

Podcast: E-Writes' Top 5 Horror Films of the 2010s



Welcome to the E-Writes Podcast! Today, we’re diving into the chilling world of 2010s horror films, a decade that brought a fresh wave of creativity and innovation to the genre. From psychological terror to supernatural thrills, the '10s delivered a diverse array of films that have left audiences captivated and horrified. As a fan of both psychological and supernatural horror, I thought all these films were great!


1. Get Out (2017)


A psychological thriller blending social commentary and psychological thrills, "Get Out" redefines modern horror. In the story, Chris, a young African American man, visits the family estate of his white girlfriend, only to discover a disturbing secret. A cultural phenomenon, "Get Out" earned multiple awards and critical acclaim for its masterful suspense and sharp critique of racism.


 Get Out, Jordan Peele, psychological horror, social commentary


2. Hereditary (2018)


"Hereditary" is a haunting exploration of grief and trauma wrapped in a chilling narrative from Ari Aster. Upon the death of their matriarch, the Graham family uncovers dark secrets with terrifying consequences. Hereditary is a modern horror masterpiece that has left audiences questioning their perceptions of reality due to its unsettling atmosphere, powerful performances, and shocking moments.


Hereditary, Ari Aster, supernatural horror, family trauma


3. A Quiet Place (2018)


The movie "A Quiet Place," directed by John Krasinski, emphasizes the importance of sound in a unique blend of horror and suspense. The film follows a family as they navigate their lives in silence in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by blind monsters that hunt through sound. As a result of its innovative premise and heart-pounding tension, "A Quiet Place" received widespread acclaim and showcased the power of silence in horror.


A Quiet Place, John Krasinski, post-apocalyptic, suspense


4. The Babadook (2014)


Jennifer Kent's psychological horror film "The Babadook" explores themes of grief and motherhood. A single mother tries to cope with the loss of her husband while caring for her troubled son who becomes obsessed with a sinister storybook character. This modern classic, which blends psychological depth with supernatural elements, has resonated deeply with both audiences and critics.


The Babadook, Jennifer Kent, psychological horror, grief


5. It Follows (2014)


With its unique premise, David Robert Mitchell's "It Follows" offers a fresh take on the horror genre. The film follows Jay, a young woman who becomes the target of a supernatural entity after a sexual encounter. Throughout, the entity takes on various forms and relentlessly pursues her, creating a sense of dread. Critics have praised the unsettling atmosphere and retro aesthetic of "It Follows" for its originality.


It Follows, David Robert Mitchell, supernatural horror, originality


Conclusion


A groundbreaking decade for horror in the 2010’s gave rise to films that not only terrified, but also challenged storytelling and societal expectations. From psychological thrillers to innovative supernatural tales, these top five horror movies have left a lasting impression on horror cinema. It is clear that the legacy of 2010’s horror will reverberate for years to come, reminding us that fear can take many forms.


We’d love to hear from you! Which '10s horror film is your favorite?


Thank you for tuning into the E-Writes Podcast! If you enjoyed this exploration of the haunting world of 2010s horror, be sure to subscribe for more spine-tingling content and discussions about the films that shaped our fears. Until next time, keep the lights on!


Links to the movie trailers below:


- Get Out  


- Hereditary  



- A Quiet Place  


- The Babadook  

- It Follows  



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