AS HALLOWEEN approaches, high school students often revisit horror cinema, from foundational classics like “Friday the 13th,” “Scream,” and “It” to modern theatrical releases. At Granger High School, students remain divided over whether classic horror or contemporary releases offer a superior viewing experience.
For some underclassmen, classic films excel because of their creative storytelling constraints.
“I like old scary movies more,” Liliana Laloulu (9) said. “I like how interesting they can be and the surprising plot twists. I really like paranormal movies, and I feel like old horror movies are really scary.”
Other students prefer modern productions, citing upgraded visual effects and heightened realism.
“I feel like the paranormal movies are really scary, but I mostly prefer new scary movies because they seem more real and more realistic and are more interesting to watch in my opinion,” Christian Colinet (9) said.
Subgenre preferences also shape how students evaluate cinematic tension and fear.
“Old movies are good, but not as good as the newer ones,” Anor Alekambi (10) said. “New scary slasher films like ‘Terrifier’ are scary, unlike some old movies that aren’t as scary. I do like paranormal movies, but they are too scary for me. I like thriller films. They may not be as scary, but they are interesting in plot and in suspense. I think what old scary movies should have is more dramatic suspense.”
While modern films benefit from advanced visual effects technology, vintage releases often relied on atmospheric tension rather than explicit graphic content, and the monster reveal might not happen until the end of the movie.
“I prefer the old movies,” Leland Ramey (9) said. “The new ones aren’t bad, but I prefer old ones because they are scarier and funny and do not have as much blood as the new ones. I think thriller films are great, especially in newer films, but I think what would make an old scary movie great is suspense, more dramatic scenes, and more realism.”
Building suspense remains a central requirement for student viewers evaluating both eras.
“I mostly enjoy new scary movies for the suspense because old scary movies don’t have as much suspense as the ones now,” Yonic Cruz (10) said. “I feel like old scary movies should be more suspenseful. If they did, they could have more potential. I personally think thriller movies are good for suspense and fear.”
However, repeated sequels and extended franchises can kill the vibe in modern horror releases — the freshest stories thrill the most.
“I think new ones are mid because they drag on horror movie series for too long,” Trace Ernst (10) said. “Like, for example, from the movie ‘Halloween’ from 1978, the Michael Myers movie series ended on October 14, 2022, when ‘Halloween Ends’ came out. They dragged the franchise too long. My favorite type of scary movies is slasher because you feel the suspense of someone chasing you.”
Ultimately, the wide variety of horror subgenres like paranormal, slasher, and thriller films continue to attract viewers through distinct styles of suspense. There’s a match for every horror fan, and this is the best time of year to share a jump scare with a theater full of fans.
