Creepy houses, murderous rednecks, final girls: horror films often rely on these tried-and-true storytelling devices, and audiences have come to expect them; here are the most common genre tropes and clichés and how modern filmmakers subvert them.
Nearly a century after King Kong first ran amok, images of giant marauding monsters continue to enthrall; Godzilla is hotter than ever, and filmmakers like Bong Joon-ho, J.J. Abrams, and Jordan Peele have all added their unique spins to the genre.
Veering between slow dread and shocking violence, the wild world of Japanese horror has something for everyone; from Ugetsu to Ring, Onibaba to Audition, Tetsuo to Battle Royale: the greatest J-Horror films are essential viewing for horror fans.
Horror comedies make people laugh at things they might recoil from in real life; they come in many flavors, including splatstick (Evil Dead II), high camp (M3GAN), subversive family entertainment (Gremlins) and classics (Shaun of the Dead).