Horror Fans Find New Life With DVD

Horror fans have known since the birth of Beta that it's more soothing to watch the coveted scary movies, over and over again, in the security of one's home–with or without lights.

But now, that benefit has taken on a new dimension with the dawn of DVD.

"DVD is the perfect medium for horror films because it makes scarier seem scarier, screams seem louder," says Amy Jo Donner, executive director of the DVD Entertainment Group. "It heightens the thrill of the film."

True horror fans and mainstream viewers alike have been drawn to the format like sharks to blood.

"People who like horror movies are very dedicated," says Peter Bracke, editor-in-chief for the DVD File.

Jay Douglas, v.p. of acquisitions for Anchor Bay Entertainment, says today's DVD buyer is the average male age 18-25–the same demographic of horror movie fans who spent most of their childhoods "raised in a video store down on the corner."

"We've got a whole generation of kids who have grown up and they're buying the films of their youth," he says.

During the heyday of VHS, mounds of horror titles were released on home video.

"They were just slapped out there," says Vini Bancalari, president of the horror-specializing Elite Entertainment. "They never realized there was a devoted following who would want something special."

Today's horror zealots are nothing if not devoted. Boasting of one of the strongest followings in the fan club convention circle, horror is a popular genre which has never really ebbed in acceptance.

But with DVD, fans are getting more of what they've been screaming for–commentaries, alternate endings, outtakes, trailers, photos.

"The thing DVD does best is it gives fans a lot to sink their teeth into," says Eric Olson, editor--in-chief for DVD.com.

Those extras are what fans cry out for. Especially the chapter searches.

"You can also go straight to the nasty bits," says Douglas.

Horror in itself is a very visual film genre, depending more on action and sight than sound and dialog. Usually, the special effects and fabulous make-up transformations captivate the audience and the imagination.

"You want to know how it was done," says Bracke.

"You can see how that phony stunt really worked," Douglas adds.

With all the extras on DVDs, not to mention the updated visual and sound qualities, horror takes on a whole new life–or afterlife.

"I can make it look better than it did in the theaters," Douglas says. "If the theme from Halloween gave you goosebumps in mono, wait until you hear it in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound."

Many times, the original cast and director will come forth to help produce a modern-day documentary or commentary to go along with the release of a horror classic.

Take, for example, Piranha, a 22-year-old fright fest which made many viewers terrified to dangle even a toe in the water.

Director Joe Dante produced a commentary for the DVD, and his two decades worth of wisdom, as well as his anecdotes about making the movie, were what made the DVD worth watching and re-watching, says James Rocchi, senior writer for NetFlix.com

All these extras existed–or could have existed–years ago, "but we never had a medium to use these things," Bancalari says.

But now, DVD allows filmmakers the ability to take advantage of all those things which, in years past, would have been thrown away.

No need for that extra chainsaw scene? Just stick it in the outtakes section in the special features portion of the disc and there will be plenty of horror fans who will buy the DVD title just to see those extra bits of gore, industry folks say.

"The first thing I did was watch all the extras [on Jaws]," says Mark Ward, acquisition coordinator at Anchor Bay. The Jaws DVD just shipped more than 1 million DVDs, with many of those already sold.

This new-life theory also holds true for the independent, or 'B' role, horror films.

Cultish classics like Night of the Living Dead, anything from Italian filmmaker Dario Argento or titles filed with a vast array of gratuitous gore are gaining new popularity now, thanks to the vast availability of DVD, says Olson.

"There are so many lost classics out there," says Todd Doogan, reviews editor for The Digital Bits.

Giving people the ability to see the classics is one of the best gifts DVD has bestowed upon the movie-watching world. "It's important to have those movies out there on DVD because people should be able to make the choice to see them," he says.

Playing up more and more horror titles on DVD can only equal success as the genre's popularity seeps into the mainstream sector.

"It's definitely expanded the horror market," says Olson of DVDs.

Scores of studios, both big and small, have noticed the demand for horror on DVD, and they've answered the call by producing as much as they can.

"I'm pleased to see, whenever I visit my local Best Buy, the horror section gets bigger and bigger every week," says Bancalari.

The DVD market not only creates a splendid viewing experience, but it also sets the stage for a archival activity.

"We have a chance to make historical documents about these films," says Douglas, adding that many of today's filmmakers shoot movies with the later DVD product in mind.