Picking a Genre

So i've thought about 2 possible genres but i'm leaning more towards one of them. Horror and Coming of Age. I think realistically, it would be easier to do a Coming of Age film, but I find myself drawn more to a horror opening. I just think that horror movie openings can be so unique, I would like to give my take on it. It can show you the end of the story, or just the beginning.

Coming of Age: 

A coming of age movie is centered around the themes of youth, growing up, and maturation with a strong focus on a central character arc. These films follow a singular protagonist as they “come of age,” meaning they progress into the next stage of their life. These films follow 3 characteristics: Character growth, Dialogue, and Social commentary. The character growth means that these films usually follow a character realizing their future, which drives their development from an innocent child to a perceptive young adult. The dialogue means that coming of age films focus on the interior lives and emotions of the characters, rather than an outside action or adventure that’s driving the narrative. And lastly, social commentary means that these films address issues that teens face today.

Coming of Age movies are so liked by many because of how universally relatable they are. Everyone experiences personal growth, identity exploration, and the challenges of transitioning from youth to adulthood. This allows viewers to reflect on their own lives and resonate with the characters' struggles and successes, often through comedy, moving moments, and emotional depth. This allows for the film to not only be entertaining, but also meaningful.

Example: Booksmart - 2019

Booksmart is a great coming-of-age movie because it mixes comedy with a real and emotional story about friendship and growing up. It follows two best friends, Amy and Molly, who worked hard in school to get into great schools, but realize they never had any fun while everyone else did, and they got into the good schools. Wanting to make up for it, the night before graduation, they go on an adventure determined to go to a party. The movie stands out because of its realistic and funny script, and puts a female spin on a male-dominated teen movie trope like the movie Superbad and Project X.

Horror:

Horror movies frequently explores themes of death, the supernatural, and existential dread. Ghosts, demons, and other supernatural entities are common in horror films, serving as metaphors for deeper fears about death and the afterlife. Some common horror tropes are: jump scares, creepy children, haunted houses, final girl (a lone survivor), found footage/documentary-style storytelling, evil entities possessing humans. 

Horror movies usually have a dark and creepy atmosphere, lots of suspense and tension, and themes like death, the supernatural, and feeling alone or helpless. A big part of horror is the fear of the unknown, like an invisible danger, a mysterious villain, or something that can’t be explained. This fear comes from the natural instinct to be scared of things we don’t understand. Horror movies also take normal things and make them scary by changing how they look or act, making the familiar feel weird and unsettling. Many horror films also use shock and gore, like blood and injuries, to get a strong reaction from the audience.

Horror movies are loved by many because they keep you on the edge of your seat and make you feel excited and scared at the same time. They play on deep fears and build suspense, making the viewer feel like they are in the film. No matter what the movie is, horror movies push limits and make you think in new ways. They also let people experience fear in a fun and safe way without actually being in danger. And the horror genre is always being evolved in new ways, using cool stories and visuals that stick with you after the movie is over.

Example: The Substance - 2024

The Substance is a great example of a horror movie because it combines creepy body horror and gore with a crucial message about how society is obsessed with staying young and looking perfect. Demi Moore does an amazing job playing a famous aerobics influencer who takes things way too far to keep her youth, making her character both relatable and super scary. The movie has crazy visuals and a smart story that sticks with you even after it’s over. With the world so obsessed with botox and ozempic, this is a scary but true horror film that I think most people can relate to in some aspect.

Citations: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-coming-of-age-movie-definition/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/coming-of-age-movies

https://raindance.org/unveiling-the-essentials-of-horror-key-elements-and-their-cinematic-uses/#:~:text=Horror%20frequently%20explores%20themes%20of,about%20death%20and%20the%20afterlife.