Horror Movies: Recession-Proof?

Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on October 15, 2009

I came across this article in HispanicBusiness.com that relates the recent firings of studio executives to horror movie carnage, and it made me think about the nature of horror movies in these rough economic times. With all of the uncertainty going around, it seems to me that horror movies are about as sure a bet as it gets when it comes to investing in films. The article goes into the intricacies of the business side of modern filmmaking, and for each example of ills plaguing the industry, horror movies prove to be a perfect remedy.

For instance:

Problem: “The global recession has made it far harder to raise capital for movie production.” Solution: Horror movies cost on average less than most other genres.
Problem: “DVD sales have plummeted.” Solution: Horror fans are traditionally technologically savvy audio/videophiles who spend a considerable amount of their disposable income on home video rentals and sales.
Problem: “The effectiveness of star power also appears to be waning.” Solution: Horror movies generally don’t rely on star power, focusing instead on creating an appealing villain and impressive gore effects.
Problem: As film companies have to put their own money on the line, they want a better formula for success than the artistic intuition of studio bosses.” Solution: Horror movies are sequel and remake goldmines with strong franchise name recognition that virtually guarantees a certain level of interest with minimal marketing costs.

If studios see what I see — that horror movies are essentially recession-proof — then you can be assured that fright flicks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Source: HispanicBusiness.com