The 21st Century Horror Phenomenon That John Carpenter Can't Stand

The modern horror phenomenon that John Carpenter said he couldn't stand is the excess of franchises based on easy scares and repetitive formulas. The director of "Halloween" believes that part of the genre has become excessively dependent on predictable jump scares, leaving aside atmosphere, suspense and psychological construction. According to Carpenter, the best horror films are those that create fear through rising tension and the audience's imagination, not just through sudden explosions of sound and image. The filmmaker's criticism arises precisely because he helped define many of the elements of modern horror. His work on films such as "Halloween", "The Fog" and "The Thing" influenced generations of directors. Although he recognizes the existence of excellent contemporary productions, Carpenter believes that part of the genre has become overly dependent on commercial formulas.