Halloween brings candy, costumes, and scary movies to watch with friends. However, Horror movies were not always as accepted as they are today. Whether that be for gore, violence, or profanity, most horror movies were rated severely and Rated R or NC-17, making them inaccessible to most young people. Horror as a genre has been given the reputation of being “cheap” or just made for the shock factor. However, that perspective ignores the hard work of many set designers, makeup, and prosthetics artists, and actors who worked to make a film. While the history of rating movies is rocky, I think it can be acknowledged that Horror movie ratings have always suffered from critics’ scores. It’s also notable that some of the best performances by actors in Horror are rarely recognized by the Academy at the Oscars or Emmys.Â
As someone who enjoys Horror movies, I recommend following the Dead Meat YouTube account and the Dead Meat Presents channel which goes into depth covering how Horror movies are made and fun facts that will get you excited about the genre. Hosts James A. Janisse and Chelsea Rebecca use these channels to recognize these underrated movies. They even have an annual Dead Meat Horror Awards to honor all the year’s horror releases. Special guests are included such as Howie Mandel, Matthew Lillard, and Robert Eggers to name a few. Channels such as this make a scary genre more fun and appealing.Â
While it’s understandable that parents would be concerned about what is appropriate for their child to be viewing, condemning a whole genre is not only punishment for the child but also for the people who worked to create it. Even if it’s not the personal preference for some, Horror serves as a way to push boundaries and make the scary seem, well, less frightening.