Blumhouse has lost it

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Victim of The Night
Looking over their catalogue, I wonder if Blumhouse ever really had it or if they just had a few lucky strikes in getting Whiplash, Split, Get Out/Us, BlacKkKlansman, and The Invisible Man. And then there's a few cool or fun ones like Lords Of Salem and The Visit. But it's not like they've been batting 1.000 or even .500 at any point.



If the extent of your comparison is that they both make "polished" or "mainstream" films, then that's are so broad as to be virtually meaningless. Love him or hate him, Michael Bay has a particular style when it comes to making movies that does actually distinguish his films for better or worse - you can compare him against any number of currently-working journeyman directors (e.g. the Russo brothers, Jon Watts, Colin Trevorrow) and find points of distinction. Conversely, Blumhouse is a studio that produces more feature films in a single year than Bay has produced in his decades-long career - regardless of quality, they are going to be varied simply by virtue of having multiple directors who may or may not adhere to whatever passes for the studio's house style. It's a comparison that doesn't make sense - that's like if I flipped the script and said that A24 had become the new Sam Raimi.
I'm talking about there being a general consensus in the horror world that Blumhouse movies are polished turds like Bays movies were referred to in the 2000s. I'm not trying to compare the two technically other than to say the final product on both types are very safe.



So do I, in an ideal world. But I also think pursuing that makes it very easy to veer into torture point territory. A successful “dreadful ending” makes a point, at least, e.g. Buried (not a horror film imo, but still). A successful-ish “dreadful” ending imo is something like Hereditary (though I know this is exactly what many people hate about it, and in fact, many people would call A24 a kind of “refined torture porn”).
Not necessarily. People coined the term "torture porn" because the violence was almost pornographic in how far it was willing to go. And I'm not saying I need that (although, I do welcome it sometimes) Yes, Hereditary is a good example because that movie not only has a dreadful ending, the whole damn thing is dreadful. It's rare that we get horror so steeped in dread like that.

many people would call A24 a kind of “refined torture porn
I could see that, but if we start labeling it, doesn't it start losing its ability to shock. Suddenly we know what we're getting. I guess I'm just a spoiled horror fan who needs to just relax and realize how good we got it.



Looking over their catalogue, I wonder if Blumhouse ever really had it or if they just had a few lucky strikes in getting Whiplash, Split, Get Out/Us, BlacKkKlansman, and The Invisible Man. And then there's a few cool or fun ones like Lords Of Salem and The Visit. But it's not like they've been batting 1.000 or even .500 at any point.
It looks like the more money they make the more money they try to make.

Man, I didn't know Lords of Salem was Blumhouse. Wow. Thanks to Rob that does not feel like a Blumhouse movie. lol



Looking over their catalogue, I wonder if Blumhouse ever really had it or if they just had a few lucky strikes in getting Whiplash, Split, Get Out/Us, BlacKkKlansman, and The Invisible Man. And then there's a few cool or fun ones like Lords Of Salem and The Visit. But it's not like they've been batting 1.000 or even .500 at any point.

I thought their business model was the old 60s genre one of, "we'll fund a lot of movies on the cheap and just statistically, some of them will be interesting and breakout hits, or at least noticeably profitable."


I think they've been stretching that model more recently, but I'm not sure.


But if that's their model, I'd expect their batting average to be more like .250 or maybe .166.



Not necessarily. People coined the term "torture porn" because the violence was almost pornographic in how far it was willing to go. And I'm not saying I need that (although, I do welcome it sometimes) Yes, Hereditary is a good example because that movie not only has a dreadful ending, the whole damn thing is dreadful. It's rare that we get horror so steeped in dread like that.

I could see that, but if we start labeling it, doesn't it start losing its ability to shock. Suddenly we know what we're getting. I guess I'm just a spoiled horror fan who needs to just relax and realize how good we got it.
I agree - I’m not one of those people and am generally on your side of the debate here. We do have it good now for sure.



I love most A24 films. Some I haven't seen though.

Loved Hereditary, Midsommar, It Comes at Night and more.



Victim of The Night
I thought their business model was the old 60s genre one of, "we'll fund a lot of movies on the cheap and just statistically, some of them will be interesting and breakout hits, or at least noticeably profitable."


I think they've been stretching that model more recently, but I'm not sure.


But if that's their model, I'd expect their batting average to be more like .250 or maybe .166.
Good point, I did not know that.



I love most A24 films. Some I haven't seen though.

Loved Hereditary, Midsommar, It Comes at Night and more.
Likewise, they are very much my ideal studio at the moment. Have you seen X and, if so, what did you think?