We wanted to have some fun leading up to the release of Piranha on home video [buy it from us], something that celebrates the fishy bloodbath for what it is. A great bit of B-Movie splendor. The best use of 3-D. The real purpose of the format. Now, this home video release isn’t in 3-D [well there IS a 3-d one, but you have to pony up the coins], but the fact remains…

3-D and horror go hand in hand and they aren’t going to be separated by a few Gulliver’s Travels-sized flops.

I loved Piranha 3-D. I loved it more in 3-D, as evidenced by this editorial I wrote after I saw it.

But a movie where thousands of fish gnash at human beings in frenzied joy is a slam dunk. What does the future of horror hold when it comes to the format?

It’s an interesting question.

There are a few obvious applications for 3-D with plenty of existing references to choose from:

The 3-D Slasher Film.

My Bloody Valentine proved it recently and Friday the 13th, Part 3 in 3-D proved it in the 80’s and House of Wax proved it in the 50’s. The slasher or ‘maniacal killer’ genre is ripe for the format because there’s no integrity to the genre to begin with. There could be a handful of these movies every year and it’d be just fine.

The Animals Amok film.

Piranha is a testament to the potential but this is a subgenre that often exists strictly in the DTV world. The 3-D inclusion might be what this lovely part of horror needs. Maybe the 3-D will help elevate a few of these projects from obscurity to theatrical grade. Not that theatrical is synonymous with quality, the evidence points to the contrary. But it’s an intriguing possibility.

Torture Porn.

I don’t care how many D’s you have, let’s allow this trend to die.

The Classical Horror Movie.

Early in development, the energy was put towards seeing of Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark was viable as a 3-D movie. It wasn’t. The film would’ve cost too much. But there is an interesting idea there. Horror works best when it’s in your head. Knowing your weaknesses. Going where it shouldn’t. Theoretically, 3-D could enhance a lot fo that, get close to you through its sensory tools and take your spine and chill it to the bone. Problem is, no one is really using the format for anything other than world building or cheap gags. Subtle is a four letter word in the office of a studio executive.

That to me is the future of the format. Finding ways to subtly work its way into your personal space without stomping through the gate with “in your face” trickery. Just little nuances to where you forget you’re wearing glasses. Forget you’re in a room with 300 other people. Forget you’re safe…

…and then WHAM!