It sometimes feels as if horror is at a crossroads, as certain fans seem determined to further split the genre into arbitrary categories.
As arthouse horror movies like “The Witch” and “Hereditary” have gained popularity in recent years, fans and directors alike have tried to create new discussion terms to differentiate intellectual, metaphor-driven horror films from their allegedly lowbrow counterparts.
The phrase “elevated horror” might draw some eye rolling from serious fans, but in certain circles it has become a category in and of itself.Ask an elevated horror devotee about their preferred metaphor, and you’ll often get the same response: trauma.
Who could forget the viral montage of Jamie Lee Curtis telling everyone who would listen that “Halloween Ends” was actually about traumatic experiences? It’s not an incorrect analysis, but it’s not uncommon to hear horror lovers express a desire to see movies take themselves less seriously again.
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