Last year was the year of opposites: new vs. old, remake vs. original, high budget vs. low budget, indie vs. studio, so on and so forth. This year, I think we will see a shift towards one side.
Take the battle of decades-old horror vs. original ideas, for example. While Scream was loved by audiences, Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre were not so much (note: we’re talking about audience appeal, not so much box office numbers here). Terrifier 2, Smile, Nope, Pearl, The Black Phone, and many others pretty much held audiences in their grip for most of the year. The same can be said about studio vs. indie horror. The flow of money from horror fans is already starting to overtake studio releases; fans now have more direct input in what they want to watch by donating to get movies made or buying the merch.
That goes for social media too. I’m new to TikTok (shameless promotion here!), but I’m seeing so many people talk about their favorite horror movies, hits, misses, and underrated gems. It’s great because it helps spread the word about new finds while facilitating discussion of our favorite flicks. We see all of it: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But most of all, we have an impact on what producers choose to make.
As for subgenres, I’m not so sure. We currently have an abundance of sequels from well-loved series that is nearing its peak, but we also have reimaginings that are coming into fruition (Netflix’s Wednesday). What I see happening is a kind of “Elevated Horror: Lite,” with movies leaning toward the elevated sense but still retain a more down-to-earth vibe, if that makes sense. That, and more POV/Found Footage, something I am definitely a fan of. The V/H/S series is still making waves, and new additions like Deadstream pair well with older finds like The Last Broadcast.
It’s hard to say where things will go for 2023. It’s almost like the subgenres are splitting off and becoming more specific, all while retaining that distinct Millennial/Gen Z feeling to it. Either way, I’m excited to not know.
What are your thoughts on 2023 trends? Let us know in the comments!
