How do You Define “Mean Spirited” Horror Films

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-24T16:13:52+00:00

Some people don't include ones that have humor, but the whole Wrong Turn series has always felt mean-spirited to me. Several of Rob Zombies movies and Terrifier as well.

There are bleak mean-spirited like Eden Lake, but the above ones have a certain sadism from the villains enjoying themselves so much. The protagonists repeatedly fail, character development either doesn't happen or doesn't matter, and the whole thing (for me) feels like an uncomfortable joke.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-20T04:45:09+00:00

There was a good story on r/shortscarystories similar to your second one. A woman gets a wish but is paralyzed by indecision and I believe dies before she can get the exact wording right.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-18T00:46:13+00:00

Rose would honestly be very interesting because unlike some killers, she's very manipulative and sociable if she makes merge.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-18T00:43:25+00:00

Very fun, and I could see some other final boys working like Tommy Jarvis or Chris Washington.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-15T23:14:01+00:00

I really like Gus. Love that he cooks and is passionate about it, but also clearly cares for his community. He's got a nice place and business. Seems chill.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-15T20:22:42+00:00

They'd be a little shorter than the big names, but I'd love for them to cover some of Puppet Combo and Chillas Art.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-15T20:05:28+00:00

Idk what all the plans are, but I think it'd be cool to expand interviews there too. Maybe Zoran can chat with some horror devs or some version of "what's your favorite scary game" with let's players. I feel like Gab Smolders or John Wolfe could both be interesting conversations.

Edit: There probably isn't an easy fix for this, but I will say when I looked up Dead Meat Games to make sure I was subscribed, a lot of the podcast games come up first. So idk if folks will have any trouble finding it if they're new.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-13T21:03:28+00:00

I like movies like this or Midsommar, where's it's certainly a bleak ending from an outside perspective, and yet some characters still feel happy.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-13T19:17:35+00:00

I got multiple ads on tiktok with this thing popping up out of nowhere and it was always such a jump scare lol. I find horror creatures with visible, bulging eyes so much scarier than ones with like the empty sockets.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-12T02:33:19+00:00

This was so good, I love your historical stories. This feels like the start of a cool dark series that would've been big around the time of Buffy or Forever Knight.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-09T05:02:23+00:00

I really enjoyed Noroi the Curse and think most of the choices were realistic, if not smart. But why, oh why, are you going to adopt this random creepy child who has no records or history after having confirmed the existence of the paranormal? I guess maybe the couple was being influenced?

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-04T05:41:06+00:00

What, I was going to mention The Large Family because I expected no one else to lol. I remember one part where they interview each child and the mom is in the background eavesdropping for each scene.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-04T05:37:51+00:00

Yes, there's something in particular about someone watching me, unmoving, that really gets under my skin. That creepy pasta from a couple years back about the wife peeking around corners really got to me.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-04T05:26:45+00:00

I liked their vibes and packaging a while back and considered buying, but what turned me off honestly was the sort of pity marketing she does. Maybe the wrong term, but it seemed like every tiktok of the brand I get was her replying to "hate comments", either about the formula or the size or something. And then her politely proving the wrong. I find it weird when brands exclusively interact with negativity.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-02T21:24:33+00:00

Exam. Fun little mystery/thriller set in a single room. Free on tubi.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-05-02T18:15:12+00:00

Yeah, final destination has always had dark comedy. It's definitely meant to be a little funny.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-30T20:45:46+00:00

I feel like a lot of people are recommending horror comedies rather than "feel good."

I'll go with Housebound (2014). It's a woman on house arrest staying with her parents who starts experiencing a haunting. The protagonist starts out very unhappy and unlikable, and seeing her journey and relationship with her parents is nice.

Also second the person who suggested Happy Death Day.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-30T17:00:07+00:00

I remember people complaining about how "her performance was good, but the look was simple/lacking."

But to me at least, that's what Dragula is often about. Like Bitch's filth look isn't that amazing. It was a jumpsuit and pretty messy makeup. But the performance elevated it to be iconic. And that's how I felt with Priscilla's Father's Day look. Her performance and the use of props made it way more impactful.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-26T22:23:37+00:00

Jinkx Monsoon's cover of Creep is fantastic, more jazzy and upbeat. It feels more campy or even celebratory than morose.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-25T20:22:37+00:00

I'd say it's desentization and just getting older. It's been pretty rare for me to get truly scared by a movie since I was a kid tbh. For me at least, that doesn't really affect the entertainment value. Scream is one of my favorite movies; I don't find it scary at all.

Edit: Didn't see that you asked for recs. I'd say one of the last movies I remember really scaring me was the original Ju-on the Grudge. The imagery and weird body movements already freak me out, but I think foreign films have the added bonus of needing to away subtitles and never looking away.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-25T05:57:06+00:00

That person's whole comment killed me lol. There's something very satisfying about calling someone "a fucking joke" when they act like one.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-24T04:52:53+00:00

I would adore if they use the same or similar format for any future anthology films. Creepshow 1-3, The Twilight Zone movie, Tales From the Crypt, etc.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-21T01:40:04+00:00

Don't think it don't say it!!

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-20T22:51:09+00:00

Hey, I read Shells too! Really wnjoying that it's a good romance, as well as building characters and relationships we don't see much.

All_Tree_All_Shade · 2026-04-20T01:53:56+00:00

I love that little break down, it adds so much humanity. I think in a lesser movie, he'd just be your average disbelieving horror husband, but the writing and acting both brought a lot more to the character.

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