Why I Don't Like Exploitative Horror Movies
Horror movies have long been a staple of cinema, offering audiences a thrilling mix of fear, suspense, and catharsis. From classic monster movies to psychological horror and slasher films, the genre is incredibly diverse. However, there is a particular subgenre of horror that I have never been able to appreciate: exploitative horror. Unlike traditional horror films that rely on storytelling, atmosphere, and psychological tension, exploitative horror movies prioritize shock value, excessive violence, and often gratuitous suffering. In this blog, I will explore why I don’t enjoy these films and why I believe they can be problematic.

The Difference Between Horror and Exploitation
Before diving into my reasons for disliking exploitative horror movies, it’s important to define what I mean by “exploitative.” Horror films, in general, are designed to scare and unsettle the audience, but they do so in a way that engages emotions and imagination. Exploitative horror, on the other hand, tends to focus on excessive gore, disturbing imagery, and relentless cruelty, often at the expense of a meaningful narrative or character development.
Classic horror films like The Exorcist (1973) or Halloween (1978) build their fear factor through suspense, eerie atmosphere, and strong character arcs. Conversely, movies like Cannibal Holocaust (1980) or A Serbian Film (2010) rely on extreme violence, shock, and controversy as their main selling points. The distinction lies in intent: is the film designed to create a compelling story with horror elements, or is it merely an exercise in excess?
Sensationalism Over Substance
One of the biggest issues I have with exploitative horror is that it prioritizes sensationalism over storytelling. Good horror should immerse the audience in a gripping narrative, creating an emotional investment in the characters and their journey. However, many exploitative horror films focus so much on shocking the audience that they neglect fundamental aspects of filmmaking like character depth, plot development, and thematic exploration.
For instance, many of these movies rely on relentless violence to keep audiences engaged, but without a meaningful context, the brutality feels hollow. When excessive cruelty is depicted without purpose, it turns into little more than an endurance test for the viewer. Rather than being genuinely disturbing in a way that provokes thought or emotion, exploitative horror often feels like an attempt to see how much an audience can stomach before turning away.
Glorification of Suffering and Violence
While horror movies naturally contain disturbing elements, exploitative horror often glorifies suffering rather than using it to serve the story. There is a difference between showing violence as a necessary component of a terrifying story (such as in The Silence of the Lambs) and turning it into the main attraction.
Torture porn films like Hostel (2005) and The Human Centipede (2009) fall into this category. These movies focus almost entirely on the physical torment of their characters, often reducing them to little more than props for extreme violence. The result is a film that feels nihilistic and devoid of genuine horror storytelling. Instead of exploring fear in an insightful way, these movies often present violence as entertainment, which can be both troubling and desensitizing.
Lack of Emotional Depth
One of the things I love about good horror films is their ability to evoke strong emotions—fear, dread, sadness, even empathy. Movies like The Babadook (2014) and Hereditary (2018) use horror to explore deep psychological and emotional themes, making their scares all the more impactful. In contrast, exploitative horror films rarely offer this level of depth. Their focus on shock tactics leaves little room for meaningful character arcs or thought-provoking themes.
When horror is at its best, it resonates beyond just the scares—it lingers in the mind and leaves an impression. Exploitative horror, on the other hand, often feels shallow and forgettable, relying on fleeting moments of shock rather than lasting emotional or intellectual impact.
The Ethical Implications
Another major reason I don’t enjoy exploitative horror movies is their ethical implications. Many films in this category cross a line into problematic territory, either by depicting extreme violence against vulnerable individuals (such as women and children) or by using real-life tragedies as inspiration for shock value.
A prime example is Cannibal Holocaust, which not only featured staged but hyper-realistic brutality but also included real animal cruelty. Films like A Serbian Film push boundaries in ways that feel more like an attempt to provoke outrage than to tell a meaningful story. While horror should be transgressive to some degree—challenging our fears and anxieties—there is a difference between pushing boundaries in an artistic way and crossing ethical lines for sheer shock factor.
The Desensitization Argument
Many critics of exploitative horror argue that it contributes to the desensitization of violence in media. While this is a complex and often debated topic, there is some validity to the concern. If audiences consume extreme violence regularly without any meaningful context, it can diminish the emotional impact of real-world suffering.
I believe that horror films should make us feel something—whether it’s fear, sadness, or even a sense of catharsis. But when movies focus solely on gruesome imagery and nihilistic themes, they risk reducing human suffering to mere spectacle. This is not to say that all horror movies need to be morally upright or uplifting, but they should at least have a purpose beyond just shock and gore.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, my dislike for exploitative horror movies comes down to their lack of substance, their reliance on shock tactics, and their often problematic ethical implications. Horror is a powerful genre with the ability to explore deep fears, societal issues, and human psychology. When done well, horror can be one of the most thought-provoking and emotionally impactful genres in cinema. However, exploitative horror reduces the genre to its most superficial elements, prioritizing controversy and extreme violence over meaningful storytelling.
I understand that everyone has different tastes, and some people enjoy these films for their own reasons. But for me, horror should be about more than just excess—it should be about the fears that linger in the dark corners of our minds, not just the blood that spills on the screen.
Perimetrfilms refuses to exploit actors. Our movies are about fun, not cruelty. If burlesque is involved, it’s an enjoyable experience for both performer and audience—just as it should be. The moment an actress is forced into degrading exposure for someone's twisted gratification, we draw the line. Such roles take a serious toll on mental health, leading to self-doubt, isolation, and even personality disorders. Add social media-fueled narcissism into the mix, and the damage becomes profound. No film is worth that cost.. All our movies are good fun, and If burlesque is involved, it’s an enjoyable experience for both performer and audience—exactly as it should be. moment an actress has to expose herself and be put into a position that is treating her cruelly for someone's weird gratification, that is where we draw our line in the sand. It also takes a good actress a lot of time to recover from such a role, and damages their mental health. This damage can result in borderline personality traits, disorders, extreme narcissism, avoidance, shyness, self-doubt, regret, loneliness, cravings for love, and rejection of friends and family. Combine this with a vulnerable narcissist, who seeks attention on social media, and gives hostile responses to all and sundry, then we have a terrible impact on that person's personality.
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