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Feature: Horror movies are bringing audiences back to theaters. But how long can it last?
Bear (Michael Johnston) and Nikki (Inde Navarrette) in Obsession
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Courtesy Focus Features
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Horror's moment: two of this year's greatest box office successes are two horror films, each from unknown directors with non-IP scripts and relatively small budgets.
The topic:
Horror movies are having a moment. Two of this year's greatest box office successes are two horror films, each from unknown directors with non-IP scripts and relatively small budgets.
A horror darling: Obsession is the unexpected runaway hit of the summer, having grossed over $400 million worldwide on less than $1 million budget. Now almost two months out from its initial release, it is still playing in theaters nationwide.
Another hit: Backed by the studio A24, Backrooms had a budget of $10 million and has grossed over $350 million worldwide. Some of its success can be attributed to it being based on a popular 4Chan post that sparked a webseries and several internet games.
Guests:
- Amy Nicholson, film critic for LAist and the Los Angeles Times and host of the podcast ‘Unspooled’
- Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series
- Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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