Why So Many Horror Movies & Shows Are Anthologies Now

Why So Many Horror Movies & Shows Are Anthologies Now

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Horror anthologies have been seeing a major resurgence, but what is it that makes this short story format so popular for both TV and movies today?

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Why So Many Horror Movies & Shows Are Anthologies Now

Since the mid-late 2010s, horror has been experiencing a renaissance with more and more horror movies and shows being released of late — during this renaissance, the anthology format is bigger than ever. Several of these horror movies and series are remakes or resurgences of older IPs that were popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but a great deal of the modern offerings present original stories.

While these stories have been popular for years, with classic examples being the original Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt, there are certainly enough anthologies being released in this decade for it to be considered a clear trend. From American Horror Story to Scare Package, Books of Blood, and Welcome to the Blumhouse, there are so many new horror anthology movies and shows being released it begs the question: why now?

What is it about the anthology format that has become so popular with audiences in recent years, especially in the horror genre? Is it the rise in popularity of horror short stories, especially in online formats like creepypastas, or maybe the increasing media fatigue that’s developing in the modern era? Here are the most likely explanations.

How Creepypastas Influenced The Modern Horror Anthology

Why So Many Horror Movies & Shows Are Anthologies Now

“Creepypasta” is a term used to refer to horror-related short stories that have been spread around the internet. The most notable examples are Slenderman and Jeff the Killer; both stories have inspired various different types of media from movies to video games, TV shows, and podcasts. Creepypastas were also adapted for the anthology series, Channel Zero.

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Another example of creepypastas are those collected in the SCP Foundation, a fictional organization documented by a collaborative fiction database of the same name. Within the website’s fictional setting, the SCP Foundation is responsible for locating and containing individuals, entities, locations, and objects that violate natural law.

The rise in popularity of these online short stories has also sparked a resurgence in the publication of short story horror anthologies. While Stephen King has long been a lover of short stories, publishing sixteen short story anthologies over his career thus far, other horror writers have jumped onto this trend, notably North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud, which was adapted in 2020 as Hulu’s Monsterland.

As more short stories gain popularity, Hollywood has been catching on, first by developing notable creepypastas into films, and then by increasing the release of anthology shows. One of the first to make its mark was American Horror Story, an anthology show that premiered in 2011. Coming up on American Horror Story season 10 in 2021, Ryan Murphy’s show can be credited with heralding the rise of the horror anthology series.

After 2011, more horror series took on the anthology format as a way to explore multiple stories within one show. Whether telling one story per season like Slasher and American Horror Story or telling one story per episode like Black Mirror, it’s clear that the anthology is the new fad.

Media Fatigue Promotes The Anthology Model

Another likely cause for the rise of the anthology movie and TV series is a collective media fatigue. With the sheer volume of movies, TV shows, short films, Youtube videos, TikTok videos, and Instagram Reels out there, plus the increasing importance of social media, it brings a certain level of screen fatigue. For viewers having trouble staying focused on longer movies or more in-depth television series, the anthology is a welcome respite. Smaller pieces also allow directors and writers to experiment with different types of stories.

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In addition, the political climate and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 have left audiences feeling isolated and exhausted, meaning they have less energy to devote to media that asks a lot from them in order to engage. Therefore, it’s possible that anthology movies and series, which require low commitment from the viewer, are growing in popularity due to this mindset shift.

With or without the addition of a framing story tying the disparate pieces together, audiences are more likely to take a chance on a movie or series with low commitment required. The perceived responsibility to continue with a series and catch every episode or remain engaged throughout an entire movie in order to fully understand the ending may put off some viewers who simply don’t have the energy. As horror is often a source of catharsis for audiences, it makes sense for horror would be on the rise as well, and anthology style horror movies are the most logical choice for tired audiences.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/2020-horror-movies-shows-anthologies-popular-reason/

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