It has happened again. In the midst of the critical hype around new horror release Hereditary, the movie has been dubbed an example of ‘elevated horror’. Advocates of the term use it to describe scary movies that also have thematic and dramatic depth but, in practice, it just allows people to admit they like films that fit into a genre described as lowbrow culture by many. The label has been handed in recent years to brilliant films like The Babadook, The Witch and It Comes at Night, which are scary movies that serve as allegories for the real world.
In this video, I ask whether the label is ever helpful and whether it plays into the way audiences receive movies like Hereditary. Horror is my favourite genre and so it all gets a little fiery.
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How do you feel about the ‘elevated horror’ description? Does Hereditary live up to its months of hype? Let me know in the comments section and be sure to subscribe to The Popcorn Muncher on YouTube.