Slashers and found-footage dominated the last 40 years… What is the horror genre of the 2020s?

The Horror The film genre has been revitalized in the last few years, and some of ​​the highest quality and scary movies of all time were released in the 2020s, specifically. Where previous decades were marked by slasher franchises and the found footage genre was started by The Blair Witch ProjectThe horror genre has moved away from many of the traditional horror subgenres in favor of exploring new ground. High-profile actors and actresses have embraced horror, and advances in CGI and experimental camera techniques have unlocked new nightmares in many horror subgenres.

Gone are the days of sixth and seventh sequels to well-worn slasher villain franchises; They have been replaced by unique, high-concept stories that now prioritize quality and originality over familiar tropes. However, it is difficult to say which subgenre has taken over as the most popular. All of the most historically popular subgenres are still represented with new entries each year, but one subgenre has risen to the forefront when it comes to anticipation, box office impact and rewatchability.

Psychological thriller is currently the most popular horror subgenre

High-concept psychological horror is currently the biggest draw

Advances in camera work and truly brilliant original stories have made these Psychological thriller The premier horror subgenre of the 2020s. Psychological thrillers are nothing new, but they were truly revolutionized in the 2020s with the emergence of high-concept psychological horror. These movies have remarkably simple premises, but the devil is in the details. Revolutionary camera work and manipulation of elements such as time, light and perspective helped create completely original character and audience viewpoints. The horror does not come from scary monsters or killers, but from the perversion of the human experience.

Good psychological thrillers are often heavily metaphoricalAnd their stories act as exaggerated stand-ins for everyday human experiences. For example, 2022’s smash hit Talk to me May involve the dead haunting and possessing teenagers trying to play a party game, but it’s a clear and obvious metaphor for how we process grief. Rose glass Love reads bleeding is a violent and ultimately fantastic story about addiction, and how hard it is to break whether you’re addicted to real drugs or something pure like love.

Psychological thrillers are almost always more than they appear, which speaks to how the modern horror audience has evolved to expect more from the genre. One of the benefits of this shift in demand is the The opportunity for a new and diverse generation of filmmakers to create exciting horror movies for a relatively low budget. With a lower budget, there is much less risk involved for any production company, which has allowed entities like A24, Neon and IFC Films to produce and promote movie ideas that might never be given the green light at a major studio.

Why slasher movies are still popular

Creators explore new territory in the subgenre

To be clear, the traditional horror subgenres have not disappeared. Slasher movies in particular are seeing a revitalization Thanks to creators who were willing to go outside the normal conventions of what a slasher movie was. The best example of this is undoubtedly 2024’s In a violent natureThe innovative Canadian slasher that followed the perspective of the resurrected mute killer, Johnny, for most of the movie’s runtime. Other off-beat slashers like Thanksgiving And Bodies bodies bodies Use some traditional tropes but enhance them with an engaging mystery.

Slasher franchises certainly aren’t dead, however. The scream Franchise is better than ever, critically and at the box office, and the reboot trilogy of the Halloween franchise produced some of the top horror box office numbers in the 2020s. The West X Trilogy even brought a new slasher franchise to life, and all three movies are critical darlings. Slasher franchises will always remain a staple of the horror genre, partly due to nostalgia for the franchises of yesteryear, but a newfound willingness to push the boundaries of the genre is the other key to their enduring popularity.

How monster movies are making a comeback in horror

Reimagined traditional tropes revitalize the subgenre

The near future can see Control of the horror genre pass back into the claws of monsters. 2024 and 2025 will see the return of (potentially) high-quality movies featuring some of Hollywood’s favorite creepy creatures; by Leigh Whannell Wolf man An adaptation is on the way in 2025, as is Guillermo del Toro’s take on it Frankenstein with Jacob Alordi (Euphoria). Vampires in particular may take center stage, as the coming months will see three high-profile vampire movies in a new Salem’s place Adaptation, Robert Eggers’ much-anticipated NosferatuAnd Ryan Coogler’s first foray into horror with SinnersStarring Michael B. Jordan.

Horror is currently in the midst of a new golden age, with a prioritization on quality storytelling and innovative movies taking the genre to new heights. Although all horror subgenres will continue in some capacity, the spotlight is currently on psychological horror because of the recent string of hit movies that have been released. The top Horror Subgenre of the future is much less certain, but what is certain is that Moviegoers will continue to demand higher quality, both in storytelling and strength of craft.

Source: Statistics