How Horror Films Lost Their Essence Over Time

 Horror isn’t what it used to be. And no, that’s not just nostalgia talking. If you've been watching horror films for years or even just comparing horror films then vs now you've probably felt that the vibe has shifted. They unsettled you slowly. They relied on silence, dread, and atmosphere. The Exorcist, Psycho, The Shining,these weren’t just horror films, they were experiences. They crawled into your mind and stayed there, lingering long after the credits rolled.

Fast forward to now, and much of that has changed. The evolution of horror cinema hasn’t just been about better cameras or CGI ghosts but it’s also been about changing priorities. In trying to appeal to broader audiences, many horror films have lost what made them special in the first place.It’s not that horror doesn’t exist anymore. It’s just been diluted.

The Golden Age vs. Today

Classic Horror (Then)	Modern Horror (Now)
Slow-burn suspense and atmosphere	Frequent jump scares
Psychological and emotional depth	Formulaic plots, predictable tropes
Unique, unsettling sound design	Heavy reliance on CGI and effects
Relatable, flawed characters	Stereotypical or “relatable” leads
Lasting impact and afterthought	Quick thrills, easy to forget

 

The decline of horror movies isn’t really about quantity (there are more horror films than ever); It’s about quality, intent, and originality. Today, horror is often treated like a genre that needs to be softened. Add some comedy, a romantic subplot, a jump scare every 15 minutes, and maybe a “relatable” character who never makes logical choices. It’s designed to be watchable by everyone, including people who don’t even like horror. In that process, it stops being scary.

A big part of the problem is that too many horror films feel the same. When you compare the old horror films vs now, you notice a formula setting in. Ghosts in white sarees (in India), haunted dolls, “inspired” plots that are just remakes in disguise and there’s nothing new to see, only recycled ideas. And when something truly bold comes along-like Tumbbad it often gets lost because it doesn’t fit the commercial formula or doesn’t get enough backing from mainstream platforms.

There’s also the issue of genre blending. “Horror comedy” is popular now, and while it has its place, it’s often used as a safety net. Horror, by nature, requires a certain discomfort. When that discomfort is constantly interrupted by punchlines, the mood breaks, and the scare is lost.

The history of horror movies shows us that good horror reflects the fears of its time.  The '70s and '80s gave us slasher flicks ( a subgenre of horror films involving a killer stalking and murdering a group of people, )that explored social panic and individual vulnerability. Even supernatural horror used to be grounded in something that could be religion, culture, trauma, isolation. But when that emotional depth is replaced by predictable tropes and empty jump scares, the genre becomes shallow.

And let’s not ignore how the business side affects the creative side. Many filmmakers now design horror to pass the test of mass consumption. Global markets, streaming algorithms, and safe returns on investment. There’s less room for psychological horror or slow-burn storytelling when everything needs to hook the viewer in under five minutes.

This isn’t to say all horror today is bad. There are brilliant exceptions. Some indie films and international creators are still pushing boundaries. But they often go unnoticed because big-budget horror dominates the conversation, and audiences are conditioned to expect certain beats.

Ultimately, horror isn't supposed to be loud, fast, or funny. It needs to be honest. It needs to be specific in what it’s trying to say and how it says it. The genre isn’t dying, but  it is definitely struggling with identity.

Maybe the next great wave of horror won’t come from bigger effects or higher budgets ,but from remembering what made it work in the first place

By Aditi Sawarkar