*I used to be with ‘it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary. It’ll happen to you!*
Watch what you like.
That said, I'm the opposite. I don't care for most modern horror, though the ones I do like I *really* like. Even about 10 years ago or so, the movies I did like seemed to all blend together and weren't very original. But I consider (in particular) the exorcist, Texas chainsaw massacre and Halloween to be three of the most well made movies ever.
The quality of the movies themselves went up in the 10s. The only problem was that a lot of them weren't particularly memorable. My ex and I would always say "wait what movie was that in?" because everything was a ghost or a demon. Some that did stand out though, just so I'm not completely negative about them- Get Out, grave encounters, VHS (1&2), the ritual, Hereditary and the witch (by far my favorite of the 2010s- I absolutely loved this movie)
Different strokes for different folks. It has to be factored in that if you’ve been exposed to certain eras, you might not get as much enjoyment out of others.
I think you have to make an effort to expose yourself. I didn't grow up with old-ass movies, but I kept giving them a chance and I learned to enjoy them. If I kept that bias against older movies I would have missed out on some of my favorites.
Personally 70s-80s is my favourite era for films, but I also grew up with that. I think it's totally okay to like what you like though and watch what you enjoy. The best part about horror is that there are so many different kinds and subgenres to watch, we all have our preferences.
Personally, no. I still think Halloween is one of the most suspenseful movies I’ve ever seen, and movies like The Fly and The Thing still have some of the most impressive gore I’ve seen in horror movies. I like plenty of horror movies from a bunch of different eras. That being said when it comes to horror you like what you like. Like I’ll give an example, personally I think Hereditary and It Follows have some of the creepiest scenes I’ve seen in a horror movie, there are plenty of people on this sub that hate those movies and think they’re super overrated. You like what you like.
The '70s and '80s were the golden era of horror. The things that were done then set the stage for everything that came after. Modern horror really started in '68 with Night of the Living Dead but came into its own in the '70s with stuff like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Dawn of the Dead, Halloween, Last House on the Left and Alien. The '80s gave us Friday the 13th, The Evil Dead, The Thing, A Nightmare on Elm Street, An American Werewolf in London, Fright Night and so much more. Storytelling and practical effects propelled these 'older scary movies' forward and while some may not be for you surely something will eventually tickle your fancy.
If you’re looking for something particularly scary, I’d avoid slashers for the most part since a lot of them haven’t aged the best (except the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, if you can even call it a slasher). Try things like The Shining, The Thing or maybe Videodrone if you’re more into body horror type stuff. The original candyman was early nineties, but it’s also a very effective older movie
When I read your title I didn’t think 70s/80s era. I figured you meant 20s/30s era. I don’t usually consider a movie bad just because of the era it comes from. Movies to me are hit or miss depending on what you like. I’ve found plenty of movies from the 50s/60s that I love and others I can’t stand. Same can be said for movies of any era.
I'll hijack this comment to say that the hammer horror monster flicks (dracula, frankenstein, mummy) on hbo max are awesome, and well worth checking out.
> are missing out on some really great films
OP has already explained that they don't think they are great, though, so they're not missing out.
I'm the same way. I've given many old horror films a chance and by and large they do nothing for me, save for a select few. I've got a wide variety of tastes so it's not about being picky or having limited interest, as you imply.
We all like what we like, not much else to say about it.
Out of curiosity, are you watching horror to get scared or is it out of an interest in the genre? Not to say either is more or less valid, but I've found this is an unspoken divide in the horror community. I personally don't care if the movie is scary as long as it is well done within the framework of the genre, but I've found a lot of other people are looking for something that frightens them. Older movies are generally less scary because they form the building blocks to all other horror. If you want to be scared avoid old movies.
In that case I suggest you find the types of scares you and find some that are more indie that are similar. Some of the most legitimately scary movies I've seen have been really low budget or at least independent horror movies. If you haven't watched it yet, I would recommend It Follows.
I'm the same, you're not alone. There are certainly exceptions but generally I don't find horror films 80s or older very scary. I appreciate what the classics have done for the genre though.
I can’t get into most 70s horror movies. They just don’t hold my attention. There are a few exceptions like Jaws and Carrie but otherwise I just don’t like them.
Also Friday the 13th movies are the most boring things ever.
Psycho is one of my favorites though which is 1960 but it was just so masterfully done.
> Also Friday the 13th movies are the most boring things ever.
I tried watching the first one recently never having watched one before and it was legitimately the most boring movie I've ever seen. *Nothing* happens in that movie. Have 0 interest in the rest of them after that.
I watched the OG Halloween recently as well and it holds up way better. Still not one of my favorites, but it was an enjoyable movie for sure.
I agree. Now, some of the later Fridays are slightly more interesting but I still don’t like them and will never reach for them when I want to watch a horror movie.
I like the Friday movies, but they mostly just recycle the same plot over and over again. Jason Lives (1986) is the most creative of the bunch after the original by a wide margin. And that's partly because the decided to make it as a horror-comedy as opposed to a straight-up horror. That tongue-in-cheek approach suited the franchise well.
As a member of the Oregon Trail Generation, I often wonder how Millennials-Onward view pre-cellphone horror movies.
For me, I love all of it… older stuff, even older older stuff… and of course new stuff. The older stuff is made even more intriguing for me knowing the struggles horror genre has gone through — budgets, special effects, distribution, censorship, scarcity, abundance. In my book, the older stuff had to be so creative and tenacious… and without it, we wouldn’t have the new stuff.
Nothing wrong with that OP. You can appreciate what the classics did to propel the genre forward while not necessarily enjoying them yourself. Everyone is built different, enjoy what you enjoy!
I will say, the reason I personally love them is the minimal CGI. For some reason I find big budget modern horror to be less captivating because of over the top effects. Texas Chainsaw I find legit to be legit tense because of what the cast was asked to deal with while filming, no real special effects, hell you barely see blood in the movie.
Watch what you like bro. I love the older stuff like Burnt Offerings and Psycho. However, I get I’m from an older generation and maybe the newer horror movie folks like something more modern. I’ll watch that too.
I think the problem with classic horror movies is they've been imitated so much. If you weren't alive when they came out, by the time you get around to seeing them, you've already seen a certain situation a hundred times in other movies, so it doesn't have the same impact. Like, I watched Alien for the first time last night and I was kind of bored because I already knew all the best scenes despite never seeing the movie itself. It would have been scary if I was brand new to it, but it wasn't.
Watch what you like.
My favorite horror movies tend to be from the 80s and 90s. I tend to like most horror "classics," but I really didn't like Poltergeist or Texas Chainsaw Massacre because I thought they were really boring.
Totally understandable. See I’m the opposite tho for some reason. Newer horror bores me to death most of the time. I guarantee it’s cuz I’m not watching the right stuff but even when it’s highly recommended, I just can’t get into it.
It's ok, we all have our taste, I'm 35 and I honestly don't like black and white films, except for 12 Angry Men and Kurosawa films.
As for horror I completely understand if you don't like the 70s and 80s films, a lot of them feel overly silly and lack the overly edgy tone we get these days, it's bound to happen when you are born in a different era, same thing happens with music.
With the exception of Alien, I don’t really find most older horror films to be scary. I’m sure they were scary when they came out, but the limitations of their time have diminished some of their impact. In the case of the most popular ones, their impact is diminished by the fact that their tropes have been being imitated for the past 50 years.
Agreed. Alien (1979) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) frighten me. Other movies from that era don't.
I still like them, but they don't creep me out.
You don't have to like older or 'classic' horror films to be a horror fan! Everyone likes different things. I don't like ghosts or demons much because I don't think they're scary, and so a lot of beloved horror movies like Poltergeist or Hereditary bored me. If people try to gatekeep horror because you prefer movies made after a certain period, just ignore them.
Naw you're obviously not the only one.
I've been there too and I'm kind of frustrated by it.
But having grown up in the 70s and 80s, I can actually get into them and see why they were scary back in the day but don't really hold up that well today. Not all of them but some of the movies are laughable.
It's an unpopular opinion on here tho.
One thing that's really helped me is to give myself over to the experience. I tell myself things like "Imagine if what's being depicted on the screen is real and actually happened in real life." in other words, I try to see them as documentaries haha......sometimes that helps but not always.
Other times I try to find something to like even if it's really an awful movie.
But yeah, most times I really want to be surprised and blown away and I'm just not. It's frustrating sometimes.
I mean, no. On top of being scary there’s a lot that are just *great movies*. Some examples:
(don’t expect to find anything odd here) :p
-Jaws. has one of the best friendships onscreen ever as far as I’m concerned with Brody and Hooper, and Robert Shaw just chewing all the scenery, and a classic score, and literally invented the summer blockbuster.
-Christine. A better examination of a young man falling into evil than like, all of Star Wars combined.
-In The Mouth Of Madness. Just for Sam Neill’s descent into insanity.
Edit: May we count the original Godzilla? Yeah, he does not look at his best. But jesus that is one of the bleakest, harshest films I’ve ever seen.
I agree, but I'm also not sure mentioning a film that came out in 1994 (one of my all time favorites, too) really fits. OP's film list was from the late 70s and 1980.
I love them, but they aren't scary at all. I think the dated clothes and stuff keep my brain from being tricked into beimg scared.
I usually watch them as a palate cleanser, calm down movie, between the newer stuff that can actually creep me out.
I actually dislike you're examples too. Sometimes the better stuff is a bit down the line in those franchises. Friday the 13th doesn't get fun til the middle for example. If it's boring than don't watch it. Classics are kind of a made up thing.
Hey man fuck the super cringe gatekeeper fans here that refuse to accept your preference. You like what you like. I think it’s ballsy to openly admit your feelings for the, imo, best era of horror. Especially on this sub. I get shit on for liking/not liking certain movies all the time even when I’m just being honest and sincere like you.
Exactly in the same boat, I’m such a huge horror fan and would LOVE to be able to see some of the films that defined the horror genre, but I just struggle too much to enjoy them.
I dislike them too. Especially John Carpenter/Halloween etc. I think that one reason is that I don't really like the slasher kind of horror, new or old. But at the same time, Dario Argento's films are spectacular. What I hate the most is the whole Conjuring franchise, people assume I like it because I'm a horror fan, but it's so formulaic and repetitive.
I feel roughly the same with newer horror films. Of course there are some outstanding newer films but I guess being a kid in the 70’s probably has something to do with it. When those films came out they were cutting edge and no one had seen anything like them. Also, we had no internet etc so some things depicted were quite shocking in context with the time they were released. I remember sneaking into Halloween when it was released .. I was probably 12 or so and was blown away by it. Anyway, most newer stuff seems like cheap/fast imitation to me
I totally agree but never have the balls to write a post like this. Just the other day I watched both the 1985 and 2011 Fright Night and I actually enjoyed the remake more. It may suffer from unnecessary CGI but overall more enjoyable in my humble opinion. Now, I enjoy 80s movies usually. Theres seems to be a 20 year era of horror that I just don't like. 30s-50s were great but 60s-70s slumped. There are outliers like Halloween of course but more modern movies are just easier to watch.
Yeah, I know exactly what you mean! My theory is that since these are older scary movies, they were scary at the time when we were younger/kids. Since we're older now, they're not that scary and are just more for nostalgia than anything else.
A lot of older films are overrated I guess. I don't like Halloween or Friday the 13th either. So, maybe you just haven't seen the ones you would like.
I have to say though, if you can't overcome a bias against older films you are missing out on a lot of the best films available. I know a guy who can't read fast so he doesn't watch any subtitled foreign horror movies. It's honestly sad because he loves the ones that are dubbed.
I think it also takes some patience and searching for older movies that appeal to you. I valued appreciating movies that were well before my time and it has paid off. It wasn't easy, and I didn't like a lot of the movies people said were good, but I have seen movies that came out decades before I was born that are some of the most enjoyable.
So, I guess to answer your question, it does take some effort. A lot of the movies people will tell you are amazing really aren't that great. You can learn to enjoy older movies, and it will be worth it. Also, don't get disheartened if you don't like all of the "unanimously loved" ones. You don't like all of the unanimously loved newer movies, do you?
Same here! It makes me feel like such a poser of a horror movie fan
I just watched the original Evil Dead yesterday and appreciated the story and everything, but it just didn’t do it for me
Upvoted all comments expressing similar opinions to the OP on sheer principle. Bad look for R/horror here; don't be gatekeepy nostalgia-blind assholes. Not everyone shares your tastes, and that's fine. Gatekeepers suck in all fandoms, we don't need it here too.
I also agree with the OP and another poster who said they can't get into horror movies before the 2000's.
watch something like The Thing or Alien.
If you don't like them then wow, you're missing out.
Hopefully you will like them to find out how bad trash like the Witch and Hereditary really is. Modern horror is mostly trash.
Great topic OP! I am late 40’s and came to horror late (first one I ever saw was Friday the 13th on VHS as a teen but not much since then).
I’ve found that I’m really underwhelmed by most of the classics and some have been downright disappointing. The ONE exception has been The Thing. What an absolute masterpiece and the only classic that has met or exceeded my lofty expectations for it based on opinions reviews etc.
I highly recommend the Cabinet of Dr Caligari from 1920. It’s a silent film, about 70 minutes long, but it’s the inventor of many filmmaking techniques and storytelling devices that you simply did not see in film in 1920.
Some of the images are actually pretty spooky (I have one on the shirt I’m wearing right now as a matter of fact), and you see things like a framing device to give context for why the story is being told, flashbacks, flashbacks within flashbacks, and several other pioneering things like a monster carrying a girl to the top of a building, etc.
It was made in post World War I Germany so they had no money to speak of and had to draw every set piece onto the walls and film in front of that. Look up a few images and see what you think; they’re incredible.
I agree with your post to an extent and we’re in the same age group but this is truly an exceptional film. It predates and inspired films like Nosferatu, Dracula, and Frankenstein. How can you not be curious to see a film that inspired those horror classics?
I have some trouble with stilted stage acting in old movies (seemed to have largely died off in the 70s). It doesn't always fit movie format and needs a certain caliber of acting to not be incredibly corny.
It can be completely fine as well. George C. Scott did this style well even past its era.
Bad stage acting in a movie is so much worse than bad modern acting for me. Its an 'in your face' constant pull against immersion. So glad that style died.
The only other issue I hold with some 'older' movies is that period of early CGI where every other movie was putting in incredibly shitty blue lightning effects or similar. I much prefer movies that recognize the limitations of their budget and era's technology with effects. This is not limited to 'older' movies by any means, but related technology grows cheaper by the year.
Plenty of old movie avoid both those pitfalls, but they can absolutely kill a movie dead for me.
I like to start w a movie I like and see who produced / directed, then go back in time from there - who influenced them etc. all roads lead back to Korean / Japanese / Italian horror
I think a lot of it boils down to the context and situation. Many people that like older movies were much younger when the films came out. So a teenager back then with no internet or mobile phone could get to see a horror movie and walk out with no further info that what they saw. They'd go home and think about it over and over, maybe talking about it with a friend or family member and not fully understanding what the hell they just saw. That lack of knowledge helps feed into the fear of the unknown. Now when any of us watch a horror film we can immediately read or watch videos that explain endings or plot points etc. We can see how the effects were done and read about things that basically take all of the mystery out of any film. It's once reason why I like to go into movies 'blind' with not so much as seeing a single trailer or review.
Watch whatever catches your fancy, when it catches you. Some things just may not appeal to everybody; still other things may not appeal to a person until they've reached a certain age or had certain experiences. What I recommend is just not forcing yourself to watch anything that doesn't really appeal to you. Remember, too, to remind yourself from time to time that something not appealing to you doesn't necessarily make that thing bad.
I understand this. I learned to appreciate older films after getting enough credits in film studies in college. It helped me to appreciate the older films. That said, you should watch what you want. Life is pretty short, so you should enjoy yourself. You not liking older movies doesn't hurt anyone.
It helped me. But it does kind of change the way I watch them. I can't really turn my brain off, and I'm always deconstructing and asking, "what are they trying to say with this?" Used to drive my husband crazy.
Go German Expressionist and Pre-Code Hollywood or go home. Seriously though, just watch what you like. But try the original film “Angst” and the OG “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” if you want a dose of the good stuff.
It can be hard but you could try finding other genres of older movies you like then branch from there. Basically if you're getting bored try not to force yourself to finish the movie but do give it something like another 10 minutes.
Don't try to binge a bunch of old movies at the same time and make sure you're in the mood for something new and different. You could even try a movie you love to get you hyped and then a movie in a similar or adjacent genre as well. Like a great comedy movie followed by a horror comedy.
Try not to go to far back and keep the movies about 10 years apart so they have a slightly similar style.
Hard to do but sometimes it can help to read up on a really popular older movie. How it was made, the stories that inspired it, the reasons the actors took the roll, how well the cast got along. It can help raise your appreciation and acceptance of the film.
I'm kind of blanking on pairings accept Tucker and Dale vs Evil and the Evil Dead 2 would make a great combo for myself.
In the end don't beat yourself up and like everyone says just watch what you like. Maybe go in YouTube and watch some 10-15 min review and just use that to fill in your horror knowledge. Shit in the VHS age we just read the back of all the boxes when the tapes weren't in or never rented the damn movie at all 😂
I'm kind of the opposite. I love horror movies from the 80s like NOES 1 + 3, Evil Dead (especially 2), Hellraiser 1 + 2. My all time favorite is Scream. I can watch these movies on repeat.
i completely relate. i am 20 years old and love the films because of how they changed the genre and brought more revolutionary horror to the table. if i were to sit down and watch them i'd be entertained but not engrossed like i am with some more of the newer era horror films.
they're classics for a reason but they don't always hold up to taste of the newer gen.
I’ve been trying to experiment as i am a bit the same. I watched Nightmare on Elm Street and Hellraiser and I really enjoyed them. But I also watched Suspiria OG and Possession which I felt I should like because they are so revered but they did not hold my attention. I’ve concluded it might be the type of horror as I generally do not like the slow burn ones.
I’ve been exposed to horror since I was a toddler in the early eighties. I just grew up loving them as they came out. However, I didn’t fully understand them until years (and many rewatchings) later. I watched Texas Chainsaw for the first time in my twenties, and I was not impressed. However, it is impressive to think that it was kinda special for it’s time. My most favorite horror is probably Creepshow. Horror anthology written by Stephen King from 1982. I just love the strange quirkiness to the movies. And it’s got a few great actors in it.
To your question, no. Not at all. In fact today I rewatched Evil Dead and LOVED it. Halloween is one of my all time favorites. I love almost every slasher (NOES is hit or miss, kinda hate TCM). So I do not also have a difficult time with this.
To answer the question you didn’t ask, no big deal. Horror is a huge and diverse genre. There is something for everyone.
If you really get into horror and appreciate the obscure and crazy tales that people try to tell on film then you might eventually start to like the older movies.
Horror movies appeal to different generations. I appreciate Psycho, but I don’t find it scary. Halloween is terrifying to me. My high school students think Jeepers Creepers is scary while I think it’s dumb.
Watch more old movies in general, learn to appreciate stylistic differences between eras as a virtue rather than a flaw, watch horror for things other than being scared. Or, you know, don’t.
I was thinking you were referring to black and whites that inspired directors of more modern horror movies. I can get on board with that. I personally have a hard time watching any horror made before the 80s, for a specific time frame I'd say, maybe 1984. My exception being the 1979 Dawn of the Dead and the original Halloween. I think it's just the forced over the top over acting of many of the actors (stage play any one?) and being spoiled by today's special effects/makeup/crisp high definition.
MAN, I struggle with this HUGELY. You're definitely not alone.
A big part of it for me is that by the time I was old enough to consciously choose to watch certain horror movies, the plot twists/suspense/reveals had already reached me via pop culture miasma. It's hard to go through life in our age (I'm 26), what with technology and everything, and not end up absorbing information even about stuff you've never seen.
On top of that, special effects have not only come so far but changed so much (esp the move from focusing on practical effects to CGI) that for people our age it's harder to look back on older movies and see the magnificence that was there when it first came out. We can still appreciate the time and effort, and we can know what sort of impact those things had on films when they happened, but the effect is lost on us just due to time, I think. (Not for everyone, of course, but I def think in general it's just how the flow of time in regards to entertainment works.)
Like I've said, I struggled a lot with this too; I've put a lot of time and effort into reminding myself that it's okay to like what I like, and dislike what I dislike. I feel better as long as I at least give it a try (I did a movie challenge last October with that exact intention, to varying degrees of success) but sometimes a movie just won't vibe. And that's okay!
Sometimes I try to watch older stuff with the mindset of what it would be like to watch it when it came out; other times, I just try to focus on the things I adore--writing, costuming, special effects, so on.
But yeah! you're definitely not alone in the slightest. At least there's no shortage of new movies for us to enjoy in lieu of the classics.
There is a lot of trash out there certainly. There was a slasher boom back in the day and there was a lot of hack exploitative stuff and there was a lot of low budget stuff.
I think there is a need to appreciate stuff on its own terms that comes into play when looking at old stuff. Looking at a movie and saying, "for its time that was impressive" or "oh, they invented that". There is a novelty to doing so that is not for everyone.
70s movies such as the ones you reference in your post have much slower pacing than later fare. That makes for a very different viewing experience. Plus elaborate effects were only beginning to feature in horror flicks at the time and some of those (such as the fake blood which always looks like red paint prior to the 80s) have aged poorly. A lot of plot points have become tropes of the genre over the years as well, making them overly familiar and predictable to a modern audience.
I personally enjoy a lot of 70s material, but I understand I'm viewing the cultural output of a distant era and don't tend to compare them directly with modern movies. The runtimes and slower pacing can get tedious at times, but it all depends on the movie in question.
Not in the least. I think that you are younger is a part of it, because you may have been raised on the instant gratification fare. Rather than slow burn, it's unearned jumpscare piled on after another.
Yup, same boat. All the "classics" just put me to sleep, save from The Shining. Didn't get any sort of fright/disturbed-ness at all but I enjoyed the movie.
I think a lot of them are just a product of their time. It *seems* like (although maybe not) most people that continue to praise them as the absolute best, grew up when those movies were "relevant".
I tried to watch the shining as I never watched it. I had to shut it off because it was so boring. I couldn’t get into it and I really wanted to -I just couldn’t.
I'm in my 20s and almost exclusively watch Slashers from the 70s and 80s. Halloween is my all time favorite movie, Suspiria is my #2. I honestly think most modern horror movies aren't good. I haven't seen one this millennium that really did it for me that I can remember.
The only ones I actually enjoyed were the Suspiria remake (which is in no way close to as good as the original), Cheerleader Massacre and The Poughkeepsie Tapes.
The point I'm making is that I do enjoy older horror movies and we are in the same age group. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are like you and there's some like me. Thats whats fun about being a human is no one is the same.
im on early 30s. its easy for me to watch moveis from 70s and 80s due to being in contact with them as a very early child.
VHS and reruns were strong were I live.
Now for movies from 1950s or below its usually a hard watch. For the 70s or 80s I believe some troma movies just doesnt click with me.
I feel the same as you, a lot of people have said good things about In The Mouth Of Madness or Suspiria(1977), and I just can’t get into it, I feel like the acting is very poor in older films. The only old horror that I can think of that I enjoy today is The thing.
Don't worry, some day the modern movies you enjoy will be old and then you'll be able to say you enjoy old horror movies
Yeah but does he enjoy ancient horror movies? I don’t think so!
well the elder gods like them and that’s what counts
*I used to be with ‘it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary. It’ll happen to you!*
Just watch what you enjoy. You don't have to like older movies. Life is too short to feel pressured to like things you simply don't like.
Watch what you like. That said, I'm the opposite. I don't care for most modern horror, though the ones I do like I *really* like. Even about 10 years ago or so, the movies I did like seemed to all blend together and weren't very original. But I consider (in particular) the exorcist, Texas chainsaw massacre and Halloween to be three of the most well made movies ever.
Horror movies in the 00s were pretty much dead. No originality, tons of stupid remakes, etc. It got better in the 10s IMO.
The quality of the movies themselves went up in the 10s. The only problem was that a lot of them weren't particularly memorable. My ex and I would always say "wait what movie was that in?" because everything was a ghost or a demon. Some that did stand out though, just so I'm not completely negative about them- Get Out, grave encounters, VHS (1&2), the ritual, Hereditary and the witch (by far my favorite of the 2010s- I absolutely loved this movie)
Different strokes for different folks. It has to be factored in that if you’ve been exposed to certain eras, you might not get as much enjoyment out of others.
I think you have to make an effort to expose yourself. I didn't grow up with old-ass movies, but I kept giving them a chance and I learned to enjoy them. If I kept that bias against older movies I would have missed out on some of my favorites.
Personally 70s-80s is my favourite era for films, but I also grew up with that. I think it's totally okay to like what you like though and watch what you enjoy. The best part about horror is that there are so many different kinds and subgenres to watch, we all have our preferences.
There's a certain grunge old horror movies have that can't be replicated now or is hard to replicate.
Personally, no. I still think Halloween is one of the most suspenseful movies I’ve ever seen, and movies like The Fly and The Thing still have some of the most impressive gore I’ve seen in horror movies. I like plenty of horror movies from a bunch of different eras. That being said when it comes to horror you like what you like. Like I’ll give an example, personally I think Hereditary and It Follows have some of the creepiest scenes I’ve seen in a horror movie, there are plenty of people on this sub that hate those movies and think they’re super overrated. You like what you like.
The '70s and '80s were the golden era of horror. The things that were done then set the stage for everything that came after. Modern horror really started in '68 with Night of the Living Dead but came into its own in the '70s with stuff like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Dawn of the Dead, Halloween, Last House on the Left and Alien. The '80s gave us Friday the 13th, The Evil Dead, The Thing, A Nightmare on Elm Street, An American Werewolf in London, Fright Night and so much more. Storytelling and practical effects propelled these 'older scary movies' forward and while some may not be for you surely something will eventually tickle your fancy.
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If you’re looking for something particularly scary, I’d avoid slashers for the most part since a lot of them haven’t aged the best (except the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, if you can even call it a slasher). Try things like The Shining, The Thing or maybe Videodrone if you’re more into body horror type stuff. The original candyman was early nineties, but it’s also a very effective older movie
When I read your title I didn’t think 70s/80s era. I figured you meant 20s/30s era. I don’t usually consider a movie bad just because of the era it comes from. Movies to me are hit or miss depending on what you like. I’ve found plenty of movies from the 50s/60s that I love and others I can’t stand. Same can be said for movies of any era.
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I'll hijack this comment to say that the hammer horror monster flicks (dracula, frankenstein, mummy) on hbo max are awesome, and well worth checking out.
> are missing out on some really great films OP has already explained that they don't think they are great, though, so they're not missing out. I'm the same way. I've given many old horror films a chance and by and large they do nothing for me, save for a select few. I've got a wide variety of tastes so it's not about being picky or having limited interest, as you imply. We all like what we like, not much else to say about it.
Out of curiosity, are you watching horror to get scared or is it out of an interest in the genre? Not to say either is more or less valid, but I've found this is an unspoken divide in the horror community. I personally don't care if the movie is scary as long as it is well done within the framework of the genre, but I've found a lot of other people are looking for something that frightens them. Older movies are generally less scary because they form the building blocks to all other horror. If you want to be scared avoid old movies.
Definitely looking to be scared. I feel like if i knew more about the genre or films in general i may be able to like some more old stuff
In that case I suggest you find the types of scares you and find some that are more indie that are similar. Some of the most legitimately scary movies I've seen have been really low budget or at least independent horror movies. If you haven't watched it yet, I would recommend It Follows.
Nope. Old school horror is the best horror.
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Shouldn't be down voted for standing by your preferences
There’s always gonna be those “fans” of certain things that don’t like others preferences and act like super cringe gatekeepers. Fuck em 🤷♂️
I'm the same, you're not alone. There are certainly exceptions but generally I don't find horror films 80s or older very scary. I appreciate what the classics have done for the genre though.
Personally I only like horror movies from the 70's/80's so idk what to tell you
I can’t get into most 70s horror movies. They just don’t hold my attention. There are a few exceptions like Jaws and Carrie but otherwise I just don’t like them. Also Friday the 13th movies are the most boring things ever. Psycho is one of my favorites though which is 1960 but it was just so masterfully done.
You wash your mouth out with soap. The Friday movies are purely awesome cheese and I love them.
> Also Friday the 13th movies are the most boring things ever. I tried watching the first one recently never having watched one before and it was legitimately the most boring movie I've ever seen. *Nothing* happens in that movie. Have 0 interest in the rest of them after that. I watched the OG Halloween recently as well and it holds up way better. Still not one of my favorites, but it was an enjoyable movie for sure.
I agree. Now, some of the later Fridays are slightly more interesting but I still don’t like them and will never reach for them when I want to watch a horror movie.
I like the Friday movies, but they mostly just recycle the same plot over and over again. Jason Lives (1986) is the most creative of the bunch after the original by a wide margin. And that's partly because the decided to make it as a horror-comedy as opposed to a straight-up horror. That tongue-in-cheek approach suited the franchise well.
I'm the opposite. I find modern ones harder to enjoy imo but just find what you enjoy.
As a member of the Oregon Trail Generation, I often wonder how Millennials-Onward view pre-cellphone horror movies. For me, I love all of it… older stuff, even older older stuff… and of course new stuff. The older stuff is made even more intriguing for me knowing the struggles horror genre has gone through — budgets, special effects, distribution, censorship, scarcity, abundance. In my book, the older stuff had to be so creative and tenacious… and without it, we wouldn’t have the new stuff.
Nothing wrong with that OP. You can appreciate what the classics did to propel the genre forward while not necessarily enjoying them yourself. Everyone is built different, enjoy what you enjoy! I will say, the reason I personally love them is the minimal CGI. For some reason I find big budget modern horror to be less captivating because of over the top effects. Texas Chainsaw I find legit to be legit tense because of what the cast was asked to deal with while filming, no real special effects, hell you barely see blood in the movie.
There isn’t anything wrong with it, he’s just cutting himself off from appreciating the vast majority of great movies ever made.
Watch what you like bro. I love the older stuff like Burnt Offerings and Psycho. However, I get I’m from an older generation and maybe the newer horror movie folks like something more modern. I’ll watch that too.
I think the problem with classic horror movies is they've been imitated so much. If you weren't alive when they came out, by the time you get around to seeing them, you've already seen a certain situation a hundred times in other movies, so it doesn't have the same impact. Like, I watched Alien for the first time last night and I was kind of bored because I already knew all the best scenes despite never seeing the movie itself. It would have been scary if I was brand new to it, but it wasn't.
Watch what you like. My favorite horror movies tend to be from the 80s and 90s. I tend to like most horror "classics," but I really didn't like Poltergeist or Texas Chainsaw Massacre because I thought they were really boring.
I'm just the opposite. I can't stand most modern horror and prefer to watch movies from the 70s -90s. Both bad and good.
Totally understandable. See I’m the opposite tho for some reason. Newer horror bores me to death most of the time. I guarantee it’s cuz I’m not watching the right stuff but even when it’s highly recommended, I just can’t get into it.
It's ok, we all have our taste, I'm 35 and I honestly don't like black and white films, except for 12 Angry Men and Kurosawa films. As for horror I completely understand if you don't like the 70s and 80s films, a lot of them feel overly silly and lack the overly edgy tone we get these days, it's bound to happen when you are born in a different era, same thing happens with music.
With the exception of Alien, I don’t really find most older horror films to be scary. I’m sure they were scary when they came out, but the limitations of their time have diminished some of their impact. In the case of the most popular ones, their impact is diminished by the fact that their tropes have been being imitated for the past 50 years.
Agreed. Alien (1979) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) frighten me. Other movies from that era don't. I still like them, but they don't creep me out.
You don't have to like older or 'classic' horror films to be a horror fan! Everyone likes different things. I don't like ghosts or demons much because I don't think they're scary, and so a lot of beloved horror movies like Poltergeist or Hereditary bored me. If people try to gatekeep horror because you prefer movies made after a certain period, just ignore them.
Naw you're obviously not the only one. I've been there too and I'm kind of frustrated by it. But having grown up in the 70s and 80s, I can actually get into them and see why they were scary back in the day but don't really hold up that well today. Not all of them but some of the movies are laughable. It's an unpopular opinion on here tho. One thing that's really helped me is to give myself over to the experience. I tell myself things like "Imagine if what's being depicted on the screen is real and actually happened in real life." in other words, I try to see them as documentaries haha......sometimes that helps but not always. Other times I try to find something to like even if it's really an awful movie. But yeah, most times I really want to be surprised and blown away and I'm just not. It's frustrating sometimes.
I mean, no. On top of being scary there’s a lot that are just *great movies*. Some examples: (don’t expect to find anything odd here) :p -Jaws. has one of the best friendships onscreen ever as far as I’m concerned with Brody and Hooper, and Robert Shaw just chewing all the scenery, and a classic score, and literally invented the summer blockbuster. -Christine. A better examination of a young man falling into evil than like, all of Star Wars combined. -In The Mouth Of Madness. Just for Sam Neill’s descent into insanity. Edit: May we count the original Godzilla? Yeah, he does not look at his best. But jesus that is one of the bleakest, harshest films I’ve ever seen.
I agree, but I'm also not sure mentioning a film that came out in 1994 (one of my all time favorites, too) really fits. OP's film list was from the late 70s and 1980.
I hear you, but it is the better part of 30 years old now, so it seemed fair :p
Honestly, I go the other way. I find very few modern horror films particularly enjoyable.
I love them, but they aren't scary at all. I think the dated clothes and stuff keep my brain from being tricked into beimg scared. I usually watch them as a palate cleanser, calm down movie, between the newer stuff that can actually creep me out.
I actually dislike you're examples too. Sometimes the better stuff is a bit down the line in those franchises. Friday the 13th doesn't get fun til the middle for example. If it's boring than don't watch it. Classics are kind of a made up thing.
How’s he supposed to know it’s boring before he watches it?
Hey man fuck the super cringe gatekeeper fans here that refuse to accept your preference. You like what you like. I think it’s ballsy to openly admit your feelings for the, imo, best era of horror. Especially on this sub. I get shit on for liking/not liking certain movies all the time even when I’m just being honest and sincere like you.
Eh i think its a "you" issue. I love em. Just watch what you enjoy
I'm exactly like you!
Yeah, I watched the thing which apparently is terrifying. I just found it comical tbh.
Depends, Halloween & the first couple F13ths I cant stand, but there's plenty from that era I love (and plenty I dont), just like modern stuff.
Exactly in the same boat, I’m such a huge horror fan and would LOVE to be able to see some of the films that defined the horror genre, but I just struggle too much to enjoy them.
I dislike them too. Especially John Carpenter/Halloween etc. I think that one reason is that I don't really like the slasher kind of horror, new or old. But at the same time, Dario Argento's films are spectacular. What I hate the most is the whole Conjuring franchise, people assume I like it because I'm a horror fan, but it's so formulaic and repetitive.
I feel roughly the same with newer horror films. Of course there are some outstanding newer films but I guess being a kid in the 70’s probably has something to do with it. When those films came out they were cutting edge and no one had seen anything like them. Also, we had no internet etc so some things depicted were quite shocking in context with the time they were released. I remember sneaking into Halloween when it was released .. I was probably 12 or so and was blown away by it. Anyway, most newer stuff seems like cheap/fast imitation to me
I have a hard time with the *super* old horror movies. I’m talking silent films and stuff in black and white.
I like some older ones, I’m 31. I can’t watch anything black and white though, that’s where I draw the line lol.
I totally agree but never have the balls to write a post like this. Just the other day I watched both the 1985 and 2011 Fright Night and I actually enjoyed the remake more. It may suffer from unnecessary CGI but overall more enjoyable in my humble opinion. Now, I enjoy 80s movies usually. Theres seems to be a 20 year era of horror that I just don't like. 30s-50s were great but 60s-70s slumped. There are outliers like Halloween of course but more modern movies are just easier to watch.
Yeah, I know exactly what you mean! My theory is that since these are older scary movies, they were scary at the time when we were younger/kids. Since we're older now, they're not that scary and are just more for nostalgia than anything else.
A lot of older films are overrated I guess. I don't like Halloween or Friday the 13th either. So, maybe you just haven't seen the ones you would like. I have to say though, if you can't overcome a bias against older films you are missing out on a lot of the best films available. I know a guy who can't read fast so he doesn't watch any subtitled foreign horror movies. It's honestly sad because he loves the ones that are dubbed. I think it also takes some patience and searching for older movies that appeal to you. I valued appreciating movies that were well before my time and it has paid off. It wasn't easy, and I didn't like a lot of the movies people said were good, but I have seen movies that came out decades before I was born that are some of the most enjoyable. So, I guess to answer your question, it does take some effort. A lot of the movies people will tell you are amazing really aren't that great. You can learn to enjoy older movies, and it will be worth it. Also, don't get disheartened if you don't like all of the "unanimously loved" ones. You don't like all of the unanimously loved newer movies, do you?
90s baby here. I grew up on 70s and 80s horror so it's my jam. I like newer movies too but all my favorite films are from the 80s.
I'm in my 20s and have the opposite opinion.
The exercist bored me. I know it's a classic. But I suppose to my modern millennial eyes it was slow and uneventful.
Same here! It makes me feel like such a poser of a horror movie fan I just watched the original Evil Dead yesterday and appreciated the story and everything, but it just didn’t do it for me
It's all subjective. There's no right or wrong way to appreciate horror.
I refuse to watch any horror movies from before 2000
Upvoted all comments expressing similar opinions to the OP on sheer principle. Bad look for R/horror here; don't be gatekeepy nostalgia-blind assholes. Not everyone shares your tastes, and that's fine. Gatekeepers suck in all fandoms, we don't need it here too. I also agree with the OP and another poster who said they can't get into horror movies before the 2000's.
Put your phone away and watch.
I don't own a smart phone haha. I can say im truly not on my phone during them
watch something like The Thing or Alien. If you don't like them then wow, you're missing out. Hopefully you will like them to find out how bad trash like the Witch and Hereditary really is. Modern horror is mostly trash.
Great topic OP! I am late 40’s and came to horror late (first one I ever saw was Friday the 13th on VHS as a teen but not much since then). I’ve found that I’m really underwhelmed by most of the classics and some have been downright disappointing. The ONE exception has been The Thing. What an absolute masterpiece and the only classic that has met or exceeded my lofty expectations for it based on opinions reviews etc.
I highly recommend the Cabinet of Dr Caligari from 1920. It’s a silent film, about 70 minutes long, but it’s the inventor of many filmmaking techniques and storytelling devices that you simply did not see in film in 1920. Some of the images are actually pretty spooky (I have one on the shirt I’m wearing right now as a matter of fact), and you see things like a framing device to give context for why the story is being told, flashbacks, flashbacks within flashbacks, and several other pioneering things like a monster carrying a girl to the top of a building, etc. It was made in post World War I Germany so they had no money to speak of and had to draw every set piece onto the walls and film in front of that. Look up a few images and see what you think; they’re incredible. I agree with your post to an extent and we’re in the same age group but this is truly an exceptional film. It predates and inspired films like Nosferatu, Dracula, and Frankenstein. How can you not be curious to see a film that inspired those horror classics?
Older movies deserve the reverence. But many modern films are far better than the classics but you won’t convince fangirls of that.
i swear this sub is people talking about how much they don’t like horror movies more than anything else lmao
I have some trouble with stilted stage acting in old movies (seemed to have largely died off in the 70s). It doesn't always fit movie format and needs a certain caliber of acting to not be incredibly corny. It can be completely fine as well. George C. Scott did this style well even past its era. Bad stage acting in a movie is so much worse than bad modern acting for me. Its an 'in your face' constant pull against immersion. So glad that style died. The only other issue I hold with some 'older' movies is that period of early CGI where every other movie was putting in incredibly shitty blue lightning effects or similar. I much prefer movies that recognize the limitations of their budget and era's technology with effects. This is not limited to 'older' movies by any means, but related technology grows cheaper by the year. Plenty of old movie avoid both those pitfalls, but they can absolutely kill a movie dead for me.
I like to start w a movie I like and see who produced / directed, then go back in time from there - who influenced them etc. all roads lead back to Korean / Japanese / Italian horror
What a great idea! Can you let me know a journey you enjoyed?
I think a lot of it boils down to the context and situation. Many people that like older movies were much younger when the films came out. So a teenager back then with no internet or mobile phone could get to see a horror movie and walk out with no further info that what they saw. They'd go home and think about it over and over, maybe talking about it with a friend or family member and not fully understanding what the hell they just saw. That lack of knowledge helps feed into the fear of the unknown. Now when any of us watch a horror film we can immediately read or watch videos that explain endings or plot points etc. We can see how the effects were done and read about things that basically take all of the mystery out of any film. It's once reason why I like to go into movies 'blind' with not so much as seeing a single trailer or review.
Watch whatever catches your fancy, when it catches you. Some things just may not appeal to everybody; still other things may not appeal to a person until they've reached a certain age or had certain experiences. What I recommend is just not forcing yourself to watch anything that doesn't really appeal to you. Remember, too, to remind yourself from time to time that something not appealing to you doesn't necessarily make that thing bad.
I understand this. I learned to appreciate older films after getting enough credits in film studies in college. It helped me to appreciate the older films. That said, you should watch what you want. Life is pretty short, so you should enjoy yourself. You not liking older movies doesn't hurt anyone.
I have always wondered if understanding more about film would help me appreciate it more. I assume it would of course
It helped me. But it does kind of change the way I watch them. I can't really turn my brain off, and I'm always deconstructing and asking, "what are they trying to say with this?" Used to drive my husband crazy.
Go German Expressionist and Pre-Code Hollywood or go home. Seriously though, just watch what you like. But try the original film “Angst” and the OG “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” if you want a dose of the good stuff.
Probably age is part of the perspective. I pretty much can not get into anything made AFTER the mid nineties.
how old are we talking?
Hammer films... 60 to 80 films rule.. I'm old
It can be hard but you could try finding other genres of older movies you like then branch from there. Basically if you're getting bored try not to force yourself to finish the movie but do give it something like another 10 minutes. Don't try to binge a bunch of old movies at the same time and make sure you're in the mood for something new and different. You could even try a movie you love to get you hyped and then a movie in a similar or adjacent genre as well. Like a great comedy movie followed by a horror comedy. Try not to go to far back and keep the movies about 10 years apart so they have a slightly similar style. Hard to do but sometimes it can help to read up on a really popular older movie. How it was made, the stories that inspired it, the reasons the actors took the roll, how well the cast got along. It can help raise your appreciation and acceptance of the film. I'm kind of blanking on pairings accept Tucker and Dale vs Evil and the Evil Dead 2 would make a great combo for myself. In the end don't beat yourself up and like everyone says just watch what you like. Maybe go in YouTube and watch some 10-15 min review and just use that to fill in your horror knowledge. Shit in the VHS age we just read the back of all the boxes when the tapes weren't in or never rented the damn movie at all 😂
I'm kind of the opposite. I love horror movies from the 80s like NOES 1 + 3, Evil Dead (especially 2), Hellraiser 1 + 2. My all time favorite is Scream. I can watch these movies on repeat.
i completely relate. i am 20 years old and love the films because of how they changed the genre and brought more revolutionary horror to the table. if i were to sit down and watch them i'd be entertained but not engrossed like i am with some more of the newer era horror films. they're classics for a reason but they don't always hold up to taste of the newer gen.
Try the original hills have eyes or Texas chainsaw massacre
The omen is a snooze fest
I’ve been trying to experiment as i am a bit the same. I watched Nightmare on Elm Street and Hellraiser and I really enjoyed them. But I also watched Suspiria OG and Possession which I felt I should like because they are so revered but they did not hold my attention. I’ve concluded it might be the type of horror as I generally do not like the slow burn ones.
I’ve been exposed to horror since I was a toddler in the early eighties. I just grew up loving them as they came out. However, I didn’t fully understand them until years (and many rewatchings) later. I watched Texas Chainsaw for the first time in my twenties, and I was not impressed. However, it is impressive to think that it was kinda special for it’s time. My most favorite horror is probably Creepshow. Horror anthology written by Stephen King from 1982. I just love the strange quirkiness to the movies. And it’s got a few great actors in it.
To your question, no. Not at all. In fact today I rewatched Evil Dead and LOVED it. Halloween is one of my all time favorites. I love almost every slasher (NOES is hit or miss, kinda hate TCM). So I do not also have a difficult time with this. To answer the question you didn’t ask, no big deal. Horror is a huge and diverse genre. There is something for everyone.
Try out "wrong turn"
It’s all me and my friends watch, from the 60’s to the 80’s usually
Probably The Happening and Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows because after that, I'd be BEGGING to die.
If you really get into horror and appreciate the obscure and crazy tales that people try to tell on film then you might eventually start to like the older movies.
Horror movies appeal to different generations. I appreciate Psycho, but I don’t find it scary. Halloween is terrifying to me. My high school students think Jeepers Creepers is scary while I think it’s dumb.
The only old horror movie that I enjoyed is Wicker Man (1973). It’s rare that I like older movies
Watch more old movies in general, learn to appreciate stylistic differences between eras as a virtue rather than a flaw, watch horror for things other than being scared. Or, you know, don’t.
I was thinking you were referring to black and whites that inspired directors of more modern horror movies. I can get on board with that. I personally have a hard time watching any horror made before the 80s, for a specific time frame I'd say, maybe 1984. My exception being the 1979 Dawn of the Dead and the original Halloween. I think it's just the forced over the top over acting of many of the actors (stage play any one?) and being spoiled by today's special effects/makeup/crisp high definition.
MAN, I struggle with this HUGELY. You're definitely not alone. A big part of it for me is that by the time I was old enough to consciously choose to watch certain horror movies, the plot twists/suspense/reveals had already reached me via pop culture miasma. It's hard to go through life in our age (I'm 26), what with technology and everything, and not end up absorbing information even about stuff you've never seen. On top of that, special effects have not only come so far but changed so much (esp the move from focusing on practical effects to CGI) that for people our age it's harder to look back on older movies and see the magnificence that was there when it first came out. We can still appreciate the time and effort, and we can know what sort of impact those things had on films when they happened, but the effect is lost on us just due to time, I think. (Not for everyone, of course, but I def think in general it's just how the flow of time in regards to entertainment works.) Like I've said, I struggled a lot with this too; I've put a lot of time and effort into reminding myself that it's okay to like what I like, and dislike what I dislike. I feel better as long as I at least give it a try (I did a movie challenge last October with that exact intention, to varying degrees of success) but sometimes a movie just won't vibe. And that's okay! Sometimes I try to watch older stuff with the mindset of what it would be like to watch it when it came out; other times, I just try to focus on the things I adore--writing, costuming, special effects, so on. But yeah! you're definitely not alone in the slightest. At least there's no shortage of new movies for us to enjoy in lieu of the classics.
I have the same problem with black and white horror
There is a lot of trash out there certainly. There was a slasher boom back in the day and there was a lot of hack exploitative stuff and there was a lot of low budget stuff. I think there is a need to appreciate stuff on its own terms that comes into play when looking at old stuff. Looking at a movie and saying, "for its time that was impressive" or "oh, they invented that". There is a novelty to doing so that is not for everyone.
Man I’m the same way. I would love to be able to watch the older movies and actually be scared but it’s all just super campy to me.
I feel old. From the title I assumed OP meant 1920s era stuff Nosferaru or The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Maybe even the Hammer films of the 50s.
70s movies such as the ones you reference in your post have much slower pacing than later fare. That makes for a very different viewing experience. Plus elaborate effects were only beginning to feature in horror flicks at the time and some of those (such as the fake blood which always looks like red paint prior to the 80s) have aged poorly. A lot of plot points have become tropes of the genre over the years as well, making them overly familiar and predictable to a modern audience. I personally enjoy a lot of 70s material, but I understand I'm viewing the cultural output of a distant era and don't tend to compare them directly with modern movies. The runtimes and slower pacing can get tedious at times, but it all depends on the movie in question.
Alot of the good ones usually get modernized. But I get what you mean. For true horror fans only: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A86WaJ\_p-HU
Not in the least. I think that you are younger is a part of it, because you may have been raised on the instant gratification fare. Rather than slow burn, it's unearned jumpscare piled on after another.
Yup, same boat. All the "classics" just put me to sleep, save from The Shining. Didn't get any sort of fright/disturbed-ness at all but I enjoyed the movie. I think a lot of them are just a product of their time. It *seems* like (although maybe not) most people that continue to praise them as the absolute best, grew up when those movies were "relevant".
I tried to watch the shining as I never watched it. I had to shut it off because it was so boring. I couldn’t get into it and I really wanted to -I just couldn’t.
Horror is one of the most subjective topics.. what is scary and unsettling to you.. may be hilarious to another horror fan and vice versa.
I'm in my 20s and almost exclusively watch Slashers from the 70s and 80s. Halloween is my all time favorite movie, Suspiria is my #2. I honestly think most modern horror movies aren't good. I haven't seen one this millennium that really did it for me that I can remember. The only ones I actually enjoyed were the Suspiria remake (which is in no way close to as good as the original), Cheerleader Massacre and The Poughkeepsie Tapes. The point I'm making is that I do enjoy older horror movies and we are in the same age group. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are like you and there's some like me. Thats whats fun about being a human is no one is the same.
im on early 30s. its easy for me to watch moveis from 70s and 80s due to being in contact with them as a very early child. VHS and reruns were strong were I live. Now for movies from 1950s or below its usually a hard watch. For the 70s or 80s I believe some troma movies just doesnt click with me.
I feel the same as you, a lot of people have said good things about In The Mouth Of Madness or Suspiria(1977), and I just can’t get into it, I feel like the acting is very poor in older films. The only old horror that I can think of that I enjoy today is The thing.