elevated horror

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Chances are if you’ve watched a mainstream horror film from the past ten years, it’s in the ‘elevated horror’ genre. Indie studio A24 is recognised as the trailblazer of these releases, with them often cited as the originator of the term itself.

The Myth of 'Elevated Horror' | Film East 2025
The elevated horror film, which will hit theaters in 2016, is the directorial debut for writer-director Osgood Perkins, who is better known for his acting, including roles in Legally Blonde and Psycho II.

TIFF: A24, DirecTV Acquire ‘February’ Starring Emma Roberts (Exclusive) Rebecca Ford 2015
You don’t hear the term elevated horror so often these days, and for that, we can be grateful. Ever since it was skewered in 2022’s Scream — literally: Jenna Ortega’s character is stabbed repeatedly after revealing her preference for movies like The Babadook — the vague designation has all but disappeared from reviews and online discourse.

This Was the Year of Elevated Trash Louis Peitzman 2024