The 90's Horror films finally getting their roses!

 

The 90s horror films have come a long way from the glorious 1980s horror days. 

    90s Horror films are slowly starting to get the flowers and praise, they so highly deserved. Between the highly recognizable 1980s, the unforgotten 70s, and the famous Atom 50s it sure took a long time for Film historians, Critics, and fans, to see the influences that some of the '90s horror films have on future filmmakers and writers of today. 

From High School Vampire Slayer to Living Dead Zombie Telling Scary Stories, these were the shows that defined the 90s.

    The movies that were once gone straight to Video Horror films have now been resurrected back to the big screen. Even though some low-budget horror films, have made it big on video and networks made tv movie horror films. ( Steven King's IT Series, The Shinning, and Rose Red). Horror TV shows were still going strong with some anthropology horror shows that are well known. 

Pennywise the Clown was one of the main Villian in the Made for TV Miniseries "It" That was based on Steven King's novel of the same name. It keeps us 90 kids up all night and afraid to go near drains. 

    From the 1960s and 1970s Dark Shadows ( Soap Opera with horror element). With other horror TV shows. In the 1990s, the original stories like  Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Tales from the Crypt" & The X files. These were the type of horror shows that grabbed the people's attention. The Big Four horror/ mystery shows are talked about to this day.  

    Not only did adults get their chances to see horror shows. Young Kids and Teens, watch their own Horror shows like "Are You Afraid of the Dark" And Goosebumps. Kids got their fair share of horror, but not with the bloody stuff. Have to make sure kids don't have nightmares from these types of films. ( But 90 kids would someone watch the adult).

The Show that led to the growing change of 1990s Horror shows still leaves people questioning and trying to solve the crime of the dead Homecoming Queen Laura Palmer. The series made a huge comeback in 2017 with Twin Peaks: The Return

     David Lynch introduced everyone to the mysterious town of Twin Peaks, while also telling the mysterious case of the Homecoming queen, Laura Palmer, and her untimely death. this film made waves on network TV, while everyone tuned in every night.  This was one of the big 4 shows that people watched in the 90s, even though the series ended too soon, and had a prequel to the series called "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me". 

    The series has a cult following and it was well-received in later years, which just goes to show its creativity was ahead of its time. This was one of those shows that were on the growing list of horror shows and made-for-TV shows. Something that horror and mystery fans loved to watch. 

The Reboot of The Famous "Devilman" from 1970, was reintroduced in the 1990s, with original content, with the revival of the manga. This anime was part of the big Asian Wave of Horror films and shows. 

    The 90s also brought in some horror Anime Shows and Great films from Asian films. From the Famous Big 2 from Japan:  The Ring ( Ringu: Original Japanese name) The Grudge, and the Whispering Corridor series from South Korea, to indie films like Cure in 1997. 

It was the great Japanese Horror film Wave. Even down to the anime films that came along with the horror trope. Some Sci-Fi films like Serial Experiments Lain to horror films like Devilman Reboot in 1990.  (I did a Blog post on Horror Manga and Anime).

Japanese Horror films (Jhorror) in the 90s made a huge splash with this film along Ring and The Grudge (not the remake). In Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 1997 Cure, The sense of "Who did it" changed to "Why did they do it". Leaving people guessing.

    This era also brought back the Slasher Genre, which was fading away in the late 1980s, and was barely shown on the big screen.  Wes Craven's Grand comeback to the slasher field " Scream" gave horror film fans a love letter. to which horror film said it was Wes Craven's " Comeback" Film. A long return to the Slasher genre, since Nightmare on Elm Street. 

    Also along the way at the end of the 90s, was "The Blair Witch Project", That movie was the master of " Found Footage" horror films. Without the film, Paranormal activities wouldn't be around.  Even though some people still have questions about its influences on those types of Horror films.  

This was considered to be Wes Craven's Comeback film. It was a love letter and tribute to the horror movie fans!

  While the 90s showed the while and teen-crazed trends and the romanticization of old Hollywood monsters, from Dracula and the Mummy, for the new generation of horror film fans, The 90s was also around a time of tough political tension and uncertainty for the future. 

    From the Rodney King beating to the panic for Y2K, some of the unrest has led to some horror films with a serious message that can be made for people to understand better. Using a villainous figure in the urban setting, and also mentions the unjust justice system for some. 

Considered to be one of the best black horror cinemas. Candyman showcases a mix of Mythology, Inner city turmoil, and troubling economics, for people of color. 

The 90s also gave us another great Horror Icon, the name you shouldn't say more than once, Candyman. The boogieman that strikes fear in people's hearts. Showcasing the pure inner city fear. Tony Todd embodied the fiend with nocturnal fear and a mysterious aura. He was the big bad monster, with a hook and some bees ( Lots of bee).

From Tales from the Hood (A black take on the original 1970 movie) to Candyman, these films have lasting effects for Horror film fans to look back on, and a topic that a lot of film historians and critics, analyze from the plot to the meaning behind these films. 

    That's what is mentioned and blends it well with horror stories, whether it's slashers or Dark Fantasy. The blend of true issues in the world, while not alienating its viewers. To Have real problems as inspiration and, add some Horror element, means a more frightening matter. 

The 90s have finally seen the light of day, and to make sure they get their chance to shine just as well as the 80s

    In Closing, these films of the 90s were bussing with excitement and joy, of being scared and having something else to be scared of. But these films have had a huge influence and have inspired young filmmakers and writers to look at the 90s with admiration.  These films are still relevant to this day, and as a 90s baby (91 BABY!!!!) this is finally the sweet smell of success.