Over the last decade, horror has reinvented itself, evolving from cheap, predictable tropes to unconventional storytelling, fueled by a newfound massive cultural appreciation for the genre. The seismic surge in popularity has led to a new golden age, cemented by a solid string of classics like “Get Out,” “Midsommar” and “Hereditary,” among others. These films showcase fresh artistry with the creative risk often found in independent cinema.
Horror, at its core, thrives on the unknown. Mainstream horror of the past followed a recipe similar to a roller coaster: introduce something exciting, scary in the moment, but ultimately proven to be forgettable. Modern horror, on the other hand, challenges this comfortable formula by delving into unseen parts of the human experience, making them more intellectually and emotionally disturbing than their predecessors.
Horror clichés like repetitive jumpscares and predictable character archetypes drove the need for a new artistic direction, with audiences pushing studios to create films with niche plotlines – ones that aren’t all jumpscares, demonic possession and other played-out conventions.
In 2017, “Get Out” came out, exploring hidden racist tendencies in a supposedly post-racial America. Mirroring the underlying anxieties of its time, the movie portrays ignorance and prejudice with unsettling realism. The unpredictable twists and turns, as well as the satirical take on racial issues that other films often prefer to avoid, made the movie both thrilling and thought-provoking. “Get Out” quickly became one of the most influential horror films of the modern era, giving rise to a wave of fresh ideas from studios eager to fund the next horror hit.
“Hereditary” (2018) is another work that invites audiences to immerse themselves in horror, not as passengers on a thrill ride, but as critical thinkers. The film’s terrifying exploration of grief made it an instant classic for many viewers. Blending the supernatural with the psychological, the deliberate ambiguity of “Hereditary” forces audiences to come to their own conclusions.
Besides “Get Out” and “Hereditary,” the success of blockbuster franchises such as “The Conjuring” and “Insidious” has made it clear to studios that audiences have enough patience for more slow-burning, psychological films as an alternative to the cheap thrills of old horror. It is for this reason that many movies of the modern era defy both genre and interpretation.
Some horror flicks have even managed to outperform blockbuster franchises, despite often having lower budgets and less advertising. Less than a month after its release in 2024, indie film “Terrifier 3” unexpectedly surpassed “Joker 2,” shattering box-office records and becoming the top-grossing unrated film of all time.
An important factor behind horror films’ boom is their sheer strength in numbers. Today, audiences are able to access a wide spectrum of horror content across an equally wide range of platforms. The number of horror films released is at an all-time high, with over 1,500 movies being made each year, roughly five times the number from twenty years prior.
The “real” golden age of horror is generally pinpointed as the 1920s and ‘30s, with classics like “Dracula” (1931) and “Frankenstein” (1931) becoming the bedrock of the genre’s early identity. However, like old horror, modern films are redefining the game, albeit with different techniques. Now, horror has become one of the few genres to routinely make money in theaters, and in 2023 made up over 10% of box-office revenue alone, effectively doubling its share in the span of a single decade.
Filmmakers in our current era are pushing the boundaries of mainstream horror, producing bold and visionary films, while simultaneously finding a growing audience that resonates with the genre. In times of social and political uncertainty, many have sought horror as an outlet to express deep anxieties that they may not feel free to show in everyday life. Horror has evolved beyond a scary story into a medium actively shaping the future of cinema by daring to confront the fears that define our age. And our fascination with the unknown won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
