Monsters aren't so scary anymore?

[Beowwulf]

Throughout human history humans have created monsters or added legendary attributes to already existing creatures in which the people of the time find horrifying and yet intriguing.

For example Werewolves obviously real creatures that have been given attributes of legendary proportions resembled the beast-like nature in humans, (Though in certain societies they were simply a way to explain serial killers.)

Vampires (I'm actually still horrified by these, but for the same reason i'm horrified of needles.) resembled gluttony, greed, and undisciplined... everything. They took what they wanted, ate who they wanted, ans slept with who they wanted to sleep with without a care in the world what it was affecting (I can think a few "Vampires" in real life.)

Zombies are what we are currently fascinated with right now. And it may be hard to realize what it is about zombies that makes them so scary until you realize what the beginning of every zombie story is. A disease created by people in a lab broke out into the population and nobody in the world can stop it. Not only this but it turns what once were people into "things" that have no emotion or ethics or even intelligence. They simply rot and devour. Basically zombies are a fear that a mistake in technology will change the world for the worse and ruin it (I know my world would be ruined if apple made a serious mistake in Iphone 6).

So my questions are:

What other monsters are/were we afraid of and why?

Are there any more reasons we are afraid of the monsters I listed before. Or did you completely disagree with my reasoning to begin with?

What kind of monster will we be afraid of next now that surviving a zombie apocalypse is starting to look more fun than scary?

P.S. Werewolves are the most fluffING BADASS monsters to exist and I'm disappointed that Bethesda made the vampire lord much better in gameplay. Also over time these monster turn into stuff like Edward.

P.S.S I refuse to accept the existence that one person who claims to be a werewolf in Twighlight.

 

[Punz]

I agree. Maybe the Mummy could've been on your list? It's a very underrated and poorly rebooted monster.

Vampires have always scared/fascinated me. There is something extremely frightening about the monster with a human face. Kind of like a friend who can easily stab you in the back. A person who can smile at you while secretly plotting to kill you. Real deceit and betrayal. Snake like. In control and goal driven.

I've never been a huge fan of werewolves or zombies. Not that they aren't interesting, but I don't connect with the lore as much as I do with the vampire myth. Or should I say vampire fiction, as the vampire mythology is greatly intertwined with zombies, ghosts and shapeshifting. They are the quintessential monster, having the ability to control pest and beast, shapeshift into the creatures of the night, superhuman strength and "immortality". Bram Stoker's Dracula had the ability to turn into a giant wolf or werewolf amongst other things. Carmilla could shift into a giant cat. The vampire is a versatile demon and can be very powerful.

I think many reasons monsters today aren't scary is because they simply aren't real to us. They never have been for this era. Since we were young, the monsters appeared on cereal boxes and cartoon shows. We didn't grow up hanging garlic over our door ways or locking the windows when the moon was full. We didn't behead our dead and buried they bodies face the Earth in fear they would rise again. They are so mainstream friendly now and have lost their mystique and bite, pun intended. Look no further than the parade of vampire/werewolves movies that have followed in Twilight's wake. If you comb through the clones, you'll find some gems, but everything now is geared toward teen romance/porn. As to which monster is next to become popular, I haven't the slightest idea. I see a large number of possession movies on Netflix so maybe The Devil himself will be the next monster. That would actually be interesting.

The vampire I love is the demon. The evil creature of the night whose actions aren't for the sake of morality. Whether it be to stop another force of evil or battle good, the vampire I love it the one that smiles in your face... then rips out your heart.

Oh, and the Vampire Lord form rules all.

 

[Medea]

Monsters (of myth and legend) in today's society aren't scary anymore because of one thing: We have taken all of the suspense away. Suspense is probably the main ingredient in horror. When you reveal the monster 60 seconds into the movie or tv show, all the bite is taken away (pun intended).

True horror is keeping the audience guessing.

The horror genre has turned into a violent version of the action genre. We've taken away all the mystery and suspense and replaced it with throwing as much fake blood and guts at the audience as we possibly can. Scary for 13 year old girls? Sure, but not for people who don't believe in fairy tales anymore.

 

[tx12001]

I agree. Maybe the Mummy could've been on your list? It's a very underrated and poorly rebooted monster.

Vampires have always scared/fascinated me. There is something extremely frightening about the monster with a human face. Kind of like a friend who can easily stab you in the back. A person who can smile at you while secretly plotting to kill you. Real deceit and betrayal. Snake like. In control and goal driven.

I've never been a huge fan of werewolves or zombies. Not that they aren't interesting, but I don't connect with the lore as much as I do with the vampire myth. Or should I say vampire fiction, as the vampire mythology is greatly intertwined with zombies, ghosts and shapeshifting. They are the quintessential monster, having the ability to control pest and beast, shapeshift into the creatures of the night, superhuman strength and "immortality". Bram Stoker's Dracula had the ability to turn into a giant wolf or werewolf amongst other things. Carmilla could shift into a giant cat. The vampire is a versatile demon and can be very powerful.

I think many reasons monsters today aren't scary is because they simply aren't real to us. They never have been for this era. Since we were young, the monsters appeared on cereal boxes and cartoon shows. We didn't grow up hanging garlic over our door ways or locking the windows when the moon was full. We didn't behead our dead and buried they bodies face the Earth in fear they would rise again. They are so mainstream friendly now and have lost their mystique and bite, pun intended. Look no further than the parade of vampire/werewolves movies that have followed in Twilight's wake. If you comb through the clones, you'll find some gems, but everything now is geared toward teen romance/porn. As to which monster is next to become popular, I haven't the slightest idea. I see a large number of possession movies on Netflix so maybe The Devil himself will be the next monster. That would actually be interesting.

The vampire I love is the demon. The evil creature of the night whose actions aren't for the sake of morality. Whether it be to stop another force of evil or battle good, the vampire I love it the one that smiles in your face... then rips out your heart.

Oh, and the Vampire Lord form rules all.

If a vampire could turn into a werewolf as one of their powers that would clearly make them superior to werewolves in every way wouldn't it

 

[PrisonerLizzie]

Monsters (of myth and legend) in today's society aren't scary anymore because of one thing: We have taken all of the suspense away. Suspense is probably the main ingredient in horror. When you reveal the monster 60 seconds into the movie or tv show, all the bite is taken away (pun intended).

True horror is keeping the audience guessing.

The horror genre has turned into a violent version of the action genre. We've taken away all the mystery and suspense and replaced it with throwing as much fake blood and guts at the audience as we possibly can. Scary for 13 year old girls? Sure, but not for people who don't believe in fairy tales anymore.

They weren't really scary for a 13 year old girl either. Actually they weren't even gross enough to get me to stop eating my popcorn so it was kind of a fail/fail.


The "monsters" that scare the hell out of me are the ones that can get inside your mind and control you. Also small children as demons scare me more then adult demons. (The Omen, The Unborn)

 

[Beowwulf]

If a vampire could turn into a werewolf as one of their powers that would clearly make them superior to werewolves in every way wouldn't it

In many myths vampires are merely dead werewolves. In others they are the same thing. Depends on what you accept as a vampire, but most of the stories are dead people rising from the grave and drinking blood from villagers and such. A lot of the vampirewerewolves seem to me to be werewolves that merely are fond of drinking (or in some cases lapping) blood.

 

[Crooksin]

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE LOCH NESS MONSTER DOESN'T EXIST

 

[Beowwulf]

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE LOCH NESS MONSTER DOESN'T EXIST

 

[DragonMyth]

Are you my mummy?

 

[The Honorable Gidian Diva of Sass]

Dragons. Dragons are almost always cool. Unless it's a biblical dragon.

 

[Beowwulf]

Dragons. Dragons are almost always cool. Unless it's a biblical dragon.

Bro you've never heard of the Leviathan have you?

 

[DragonMyth]

Are you my mummy?

Incase anybody doesn't get the reference it's from Doctor Who. And it the creepiest thing I've ever seen.

Also, anything without a face is pretty creepy.

 

[The Honorable Gidian Diva of Sass]

Dragons. Dragons are almost always cool. Unless it's a biblical dragon.

Bro you've never heard of the Leviathan have you?

I have. But which leviathan are you referring to? Exactly what a leviathan is is undefined, and ranges from immense serpents to simply huge carnivorous fish.

 

[Anouck]

What scares people is greatly dependent on the time they live in. For instance: decades ago people would make Horror movies about giant spiders attacking New York City. Or a werewolf killing people in the streets of London. Partially, that can be blamed on the fact that special effects were a phenomenon with an increasing popularity back then. People saw stuff in movies they weren't used to at all. For the first time ever unrealistic horror stories starring monsters and non-human creatures were created.
Now we are used to special effects. We are used to special effects that look like they're actually real. Hence why 'psychological thrillers' are becoming so popular now. People love movies where you can't see what's chasing you, or what creature just killed your friend. It is up to your own imagination to make something up. It is the fear of the unknown that terrifies people.

 

[Manmangler]

I just refuse count certain bloody movies to horror movies.
Good horror movie dont tell too much, like Jacobs ladder(Good movie, horror or physologial, Its up to you)

Problem that monster wont be monsters anymore. As earlier said, it teenage romance
http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Then+and+Now_31c4ba_4622272.jpg
http://members.jacksonville.com/lifestyles/2009-10-27/story/vampire_101_a_history_of_the_fanged_one
http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Vampires_c52c2e_277397.jpg

I have watched some Japan, Korean and Chinese movies, where monster were more terrible.

 

[Medea]

One thing that makes a horror movie good for me is when they have a hidden meaning or the monster symbolizes something terrible that exists in true life or society.

For instance, in almost every zombie movie ever made, as well as the series The Walking Dead, the real horror is that the people can be just as bad (or even worse) than the zombies. Many people think that the zombies themselves represent something, such as blindly following capitalism/communism/whatever, but the real message (in my opinion) is that we as people can be just like them: monsters.

Another example of a horror film with hidden meanings is The Shining. Most people think it's just a movie, inspired by a book, where a father with a history of psychosis and abuse attempts to kill his gifted son and wife. That is only what you see on the surface. There are several subliminal messages in that movie. Even if you like The Shining and have seen it multiple times, I'm willing to bet you missed a lot. Rather than explain the hidden messages myself, here is a very interesting link:

http://viooz.co/movies/16059-room-237-2012.html

I think some of these people are over-analyzing the movie, but there are others who seem to be spot on. For instance, the evidence that Kubrick placed several hidden messages in the film about the Native American holocaust is pretty undeniable.

 

[Beowwulf]

Dragons. Dragons are almost always cool. Unless it's a biblical dragon.

Bro you've never heard of the Leviathan have you?

I have. But which leviathan are you referring to? Exactly what a leviathan is is undefined, and ranges from immense serpents to simply huge carnivorous fish.

The one in Job that breathes fire from it's nostrils. I like to imagine an amphibious dragon.

 

[Beowwulf]

One thing that makes a horror movie good for me is when they have a hidden meaning or the monster symbolizes something terrible that exists in true life or society.

For instance, in almost every zombie movie ever made, as well as the series The Walking Dead, the real horror is that the people can be just as bad (or even worse) than the zombies. Many people think that the zombies themselves represent something, such as blindly following capitalism/communism/whatever, but the real message (in my opinion) is that we as people can be just like them: monsters.

Another example of a horror film with hidden meanings is The Shining. Most people think it's just a movie, inspired by a book, where a father with a history of psychosis and abuse attempts to kill his gifted son and wife. That is only what you see on the surface. There are several subliminal messages in that movie. Even if you like The Shining and have seen it multiple times, I'm willing to bet you missed a lot. Rather than explain the hidden messages myself, here is a very interesting link:

http://viooz.co/movies/16059-room-237-2012.html

I think some of these people are over-analyzing the movie, but there are others who seem to be spot on. For instance, the evidence that Kubrick placed several hidden messages in the film about the Native American holocaust is pretty undeniable.

Favorite post so far!!

 

[Medea]

Bro you've never heard of the Leviathan have you?

I have. But which leviathan are you referring to? Exactly what a leviathan is is undefined, and ranges from immense serpents to simply huge carnivorous fish.

The one in Job that breathes fire from it's nostrils. I like to imagine an amphibious dragon.

Leviathan evolved over time and represented different things. In ancient Sumerian traditions, the Leviathan was a monstrous sea serpent with seven heads. In Hebrew tradition, The Leviathan was indeed described as a "dragon". It's land equivalent was known as the Behemoth. During the end of days, both of these beasts would be served up to the righteous. Also in Hebrew tradition, just after Jonah was swallowed by the great fish, the fish narrowly avoided being eaten by Leviathan.

In Christianity (during Medieval times) Leviathan was used as an image of Satan and came to represent a demonic power, who was described as a demon of envy.

In Demonology Leviathan is one of the Seven Princes of Hell, and it's gatekeeper. At the end of times, it is said that all sinners will be engulfed by The Hellmouth, which is another representation of Leviathan, using his huge gaping maw to swallow all of the world's sinners into Hell.

 

[Manmangler]

Leviathan cut out most Christian book in its first mentioned place. Its said belong to Genesis in Old Testament.
Genesis seems to be taken two little different stories and combinied.