A Is for Atmosphere (Part One of “The ABC’s of Horror,” an intermittent 26-part series)
What’s the most important ingredient in a horror movie?
You got it. While some might want to argue that a horror movie should first and foremost be scary, the truth is that if it’s not atmospheric it doesn’t matter how many shocks it delivers; it still won’t stick in your head after the credits have rolled.
Want proof? Just think of the scariest horror film you ever saw. Not the most unpleasant; not the least tasteful; not the most violent... but the one that most got under your skin. The one you just couldn’t stop thinking about -- and which, after a while, you realized you didn’t want to stop thinking about even if you could. I suspect that whatever movie this happens to be, it sticks in your head not because of how much it frightened you when you first saw it, but because of a certain Something Else that hovered around the edges of the scary scenes. A certain Something Else that can’t really be described with words at all -- but for which "atmosphere" does as well as any.
One of the more interesting things about atmosphere in horror movies is that you can usually tell within a second or two after a film has started whether it’s going to have any. My own biggest complaint about 80’s horror films (see last week’s discussion) is that they’re very often short on atmosphere.
The most abrupt atmosphere drop-offs usually occur with sequels. When we go to see the sequel to a good horror film, it’s that first, atmosphere-free shot that most slaps us in the face. It’s usually nothing we can put our finger on that’s missing. But… something definitely is.
One reason 1964’s The Last Man on Earth (about which, as the Will Smith vehicle I Am Legend gets closer to theaters, we will no doubt be hearing more) interests me is because it is one of those strange films that, while not really all that good in many ways, is extremely atmospheric. Hence, even though it’s not a good movie, it is a good movie -- if you follow my drift.
What’s not atmospheric? CGI. Or at least, indiscriminately used CGI. Too much computer processing and effects is like a toxic spray that kills atmosphere dead on the vine. That’s why – or a big reason why – the original version of The Haunting was atmospheric and the remake wasn’t. (That list goes on and on...)
Of course, some CGI-heavy films manage -- just -- to be atmospheric all the same. One reason why I'm a fan of The Ring (the American version) is because it somehow manages to be an atmospheric film in spite of the fact that its big budget should have prevented it from being so.
Ooh...very well-said entry! I can think of lots of older horror films especially that were heavy on the atmosphere and big on scares, despite having small budgets and not-that-great special effects. Think about all the Hammer and Universal films--those had LOADS of atmosphere.
Can't wait to see the rest of this "series."
The movies you mention aren't the only thing with atmosphere. Your writing and this alphabet have intriguing cyclonic AURA. :)It's great how you pull readers in and allow them to be interactive because you provoke deeper/tangent thoughts. There's nothing lukewarm about this proposed series. Looking phonically and phantomly forward (& backward)to it. Applaud Vincent Price VIP RIP. Swamp Thing, Salem's Lot, Psycho & Amityville Horror definitely had atmosphere in my day. Think it's something about how the visual, music/audio tap into our gut--anticipatory/premonition states.Whether it be fog from Jack the Ripper/Phantom of the Opera or Gone With The Wind. There's that foreboding/forecasting of the unknown.We know we probably shouldn't watch, but just can't help it. I also love the unexpected/ false alarm scene setups that run the gamut from goosebumps to giggles. Hope your "I" might be for invisible. We'll see? Or maybe not.I never thought about it b4, but the alphabet is 13x2. Doubly spooky!
The ABC's of horror? Very cool. The Monsterfest blog gets better and better each week. Can't wait to see what you guys have in-store for the Halloween season.
I agree 100% with Court. Those old Universal and Hammer films were all about atmosphere. It's a shame that we'll probably never see those days again. The one guy that always stood out in these films that seemed to be filled with atmosphere was the legendary, Vincent Price. Good call with The Last Man on Earth, PT.
This is a great series, indeed.
very nicely done! erudite blogger meets king's danse macabre, kind of.
this seires sounds cool. i have to say the whole atmosphere thing is a good topic. espically good calls on the universal monsters, vincent price movies, and psycho. thats horror atmosphere we will never see again, from vincent price's chilling voice to the excessive use of fog machines in the wolfman to the creepy music and suspense of psycho, show all the gore you want its not scary without atmosphere.
p.s. good work on the new seires, monsterfest has really grown. first just a tv block now having its own shows, specials, and everything, cool!!!!!!
Thanks for all the interesting responses! It inspires me to get going on "B."