Being an expert in both fields, James Wan explains why horror can play blockbusters at their own game

Very seldom do we come across horror franchises that in addition to being impactful successfully, help set the benchmark for future entries. While decades-old slasher masterpieces like Halloween and Scream acquired that position, contemporary titles like The Conjuring and Insidious – through their gripping plot and dedication to the genre – are deemed as the epitome of modern horror.

The credit goes to none other than filmmaker James Wan, who was the driving force behind the aforementioned movies and their sequels. So, when he shared his perspectives on the potential of the genre, it’s worth listening to what he had to say. Speaking to MovieWeb, Wan shed light on how with time, the horror landscape is changing, and one of the areas where the transformation can be felt is the release date.

As per the filmmaker, winter is no longer the scheduled time for major horror releases, as it’s the engaging storyline and a satisfactory restructuring of the tropes which matter the most. He continued to add that these characteristics are the major reason why the younger generation has displayed an utmost interest in horror.

“I think a lot of it is attributed to how audiences are changing. Younger audiences really gravitate to the horror genre. It’s always been popular, and it’s always been around, but what I discovered with The Conjuring is if you make a movie people really want to see and it connects with people, it doesn’t matter what time of the year you release it. I do think there is an art to releasing a film, but I really think the landscape of cinema has shifted so much in recent years that you can release a horror film in the summer and compete with the big blockbuster films.”

The comment is especially significant in the context of the release of Insidious’ fifth entry The Red Door which hits theaters today. The movie will be challenged to make its space amidst some of the mega-hit franchises that generally make their bow at this time of the year, but a solid story and a commitment to horror will definitely make it stand out amongst the pack.