The changing face of horror

While Ram Gopral Varma and Ramsay Brothers seem to have taken a break from providing us with horror films, the new bunch of filmmakers are trying their best to send a chill down our spines. What makes it more interesting is that this genre has gotten pretty experimental in recent times. The latest offering in the horror bandwagon is today’s release Creature 3D wherein Vikram Bhatt has tried something new by adding a Brahmaraksha to his film. While we wait for the critics’ and audiences verdict about Creature 3D, here’s look at the few films and filmmakers that fall in the ‘experimental’ category when it comes to horror…

 

The Ramsays

The Ramsay Brothers pioneered in mixing sex with horror. Girls showering at midnight, blood smacked ghosts, draculas and beheaded creatures, Ramsay films had it all. Purana Mandir, Veerana, Samri are a few of their gems. In the given scenario, one might think of them as tacky and funny, but back then they were the only source to a dose of spooky films.

Ram Gopal Varma

As good as he was with his crime drama films, Ram Gopal Varma’s horror flicks were even better. Raat and Bhoot are testimony to it. In fact, Bhoot still manages to send a chill down our spines and Urmila Matondkar’s superlative performance was to watch out for. He also tried his best with Vasstu Shastra and his latest attempt Bhoot Returns, but they failed to impress the horror genre lovers.

The Bhatts

The Bhatts definitely know how to sell sex and horror. The Raaz series shows us what they are capable of when it comes to this particular genre. In the third installment of the series Raaz3 that was in 3D the audiences crept out at the sight of 300 cockroaches made with special effects.

 

Bhoothnath

Ghosts are meant to be scary and hated but can anyone hate Amitabh Bachchan in a ghost’s avatar? Guess not. Big B as Bhoothnath and his adorable tale with a kid made for a delightful watch. The film also had a successful sequel, Bhootnath Returns that has Big B and his little friend Akhrot on a mission to eradicate corruption from our country.

Haunted 3D

Haunted 3D was the first 3D horror film in India. Horror film lovers rushed to theaters to experience fear in an all-new way. Though the film was an average at the box office, Vikaram Bhatt’s efforts were well appreciated.

 

Ragini MMS

Ekta Kapoor’s Bollywood version of Hollywood’s spooky rage Paranormal Activity, Ragini MMS was high on sex and horror. The filmmakers actually succeeded at making the audiences freak out at the sight of ghostly activities being captured on camera. Early this year the film had its sequel, Ragini MM2 wherein Sunny Leone played the lead. But this time around the producer took the sleaze sex factor even further that side lined the horror in it.

Ek Thi Daayan

Until recently our audiences only knew the witches and chudails that existed in B and C grade films. So what we’ve actually seen of these evil ladies are ugly teeth, blood-dripping mouths, and long creepy nails. But Ekta Kapoor’s gritty tale of gorgeous looking witches, Ek Thi Dayan made for an interesting change. Though the film disappointed a few due to its unimpressive climax, the first half has the audiences queering in their seats. Konkona Sen Sharma and Huma Qureshi as dayans were superb and scary as hell.

 

Creature 3D

Vikram Bhatt ‘s latest film is a monster thriller in 3D. The film is said to be one of its kind and is shot in Hollywood style. Creature 3D has all the ingredients of a good horror film and stars Bipasha Basu and Pakistan’s hottie Imran Abbas. Well let’s see how scary this 3 monster is eh!