Get ready to be spooked! A new A24 horror film is here to redefine the genre for film fans and filmmakers alike. The film, called Lamb, premiered at Fantastic Fest 2021 and continues the trend of blending classic horror motifs with an arthouse style. While it may not be as terrifying as previous A24 horror hits like The Witch or Hereditary, it has certainly cemented the new style of arthouse horror as a genre unto itself.
But what exactly is arthouse horror? Is it just a passing trend, or has A24 unlocked a new sub-genre that filmmakers should strive to emulate? Let’s take a closer look at Lamb and the rise of arthouse horror.
The horror genre has a rich history, with roots traceable back to some of the earliest moving pictures. Over time, the genre has developed many sub-genres, including slasher horror, zombie horror, folk horror, body horror, found footage horror, and more. However, in recent years, a new style of horror has emerged that feels different and difficult to classify.
These new arthouse-style horror films have been dubbed “elevated horror” by film critics and bloggers online. Examples include The Witch, Hereditary, Get Out, Us, Goodnight Mommy, The Babadook, and Mother!. While some of these films may fall into familiar sub-genres, they feel like a different breed than previous horror films.
Lamb is an interesting case study into this budding new horror sub-genre. Set against the backdrop of a rural Icelandic farm, the film follows a young couple battling with parenthood, loss, and marital issues. Their quiet life is interrupted with the discovery of a lamb-child creature, which they take in to raise as their own. The film is a weird blend of horror-esque scenes, without the traditional jump scares or plot twists you might expect for a standard genre horror film. Instead, it comes from more of an arthouse space of thematic exploration.
So, how should filmmakers respond to this new trend within the horror genre? Instead of making DIY horror projects full of scares and laughs, why not consider aiming for something a little deeper? Lamb is the perfect example of a film that requires little in terms of characters and settings. These elevated horror-type projects lean heavy on creating suspense, tension, and horror based on what’s off screen and unseen.
In conclusion, elevated horror films like Lamb provide inspiration for any filmmaker looking to make hybrid arthouse horror films of their own, with minimal budgets and plenty of imagination. So, get ready to scare your audience in a whole new way!
Other Articles
AI Technology at NAB Show 2023
F/4 versus F/2.8: Understanding the Distinction and Its Significance
