PS: Totally fair. So, you've been doing this horror thing for a decade now. A little more, in fact. What's the secret to scaring people?
LW: I actually think the secret to scaring people is all in the buildup. A lot of people think a burst of violence or [jump scares] . . . that's where the scare lies. And that might be the payoff, but I think it's got to come after a long, drawn-out moment. You know, it's like a roller coaster going up. The reason it's so creepy is because you hear the . . . [impression of a roller coaster escalating]. So, I actually think the secret is in the long buildup, and the more you can draw it out.
PS: And what separates a crappy horror movie from a great one?
LW: Wow! OK, so, do we have an hour to talk about this? Essentially, the difference between a crappy horror film and great one is really, first and foremost, personal taste. I can argue all day with a horror fan about whether a film is underrated or not. What I think is missing from horror films is people taking them really seriously. People talk about that "golden age" of the '70s, where big directors took horror films very seriously. If you look at The Exorcist, William Friedkin is treating that like a documentary. I would love to see that come back in horror. I would love to see some bigger directors not be afraid of this genre, and this sort of gateway genre that they can't touch. Can you imagine Christopher Nolan making a horror film? You just wouldn't hear of it now. But I think in the '70s, he may have. I would have loved to see that. I just think, for up-and-coming directors, just take it really seriously. Because, the minute you don't, it's going to be crappy.
![PS: Totally fair. So, you've been doing this horror thing for a decade now. A little more, in fact. What's the secret to scaring people?
LW: I actually think the secret to scaring people is all in the buildup. A lot of people think a burst of violence or [jump scares] . . . that's where the scare lies. And that might be the payoff, but I think it's got to come after a long, drawn-out moment. You know, it's like a roller coaster going up. The reason it's so creepy is because you hear the . . . [impression of a roller coaster escalating]. So, I actually think the secret is in the long buildup, and the more you can draw it out.
PS: And what separates a crappy horror movie from a great one?
LW: Wow! OK, so, do we have an hour to talk about this? Essentially, the difference between a crappy horror film and great one is really, first and foremost, personal taste. I can argue all day with a horror fan about whether a film is underrated or not. What I think is missing from horror films is people taking them really seriously. People talk about that "golden age" of the '70s, where big directors took horror films very seriously. If you look at The Exorcist, William Friedkin is treating that like a documentary. I would love to see that come back in horror. I would love to see some bigger directors not be afraid of this genre, and this sort of gateway genre that they can't touch. Can you imagine Christopher Nolan making a horror film? You just wouldn't hear of it now. But I think in the '70s, he may have. I would have loved to see that. I just think, for up-and-coming directors, just take it really seriously. Because, the minute you don't, it's going to be crappy.](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/t_g1MzNJhtBgLE3ymrTKnrn_iSo/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2015/04/23/934/n/1922283/65c25dc5c2ebd4fa_4092_D10_03110_R_CROP1427739444/i/PS-Totally-fair-So-youve-been-doing-horror-thing.jpg "PS: Totally fair. So, you've been doing this horror thing for a decade now. A little more, in fact. What's the secret to scaring people?
LW: I actually think the secret to scaring people is all in the buildup. A lot of people think a burst of violence or [jump scares] . . . that's where the scare lies. And that might be the payoff, but I think it's got to come after a long, drawn-out moment. You know, it's like a roller coaster going up. The reason it's so creepy is because you hear the . . . [impression of a roller coaster escalating]. So, I actually think the secret is in the long buildup, and the more you can draw it out.
PS: And what separates a crappy horror movie from a great one?
LW: Wow! OK, so, do we have an hour to talk about this? Essentially, the difference between a crappy horror film and great one is really, first and foremost, personal taste. I can argue all day with a horror fan about whether a film is underrated or not. What I think is missing from horror films is people taking them really seriously. People talk about that \"golden age\" of the '70s, where big directors took horror films very seriously. If you look at The Exorcist, William Friedkin is treating that like a documentary. I would love to see that come back in horror. I would love to see some bigger directors not be afraid of this genre, and this sort of gateway genre that they can't touch. Can you imagine Christopher Nolan making a horror film? You just wouldn't hear of it now. But I think in the '70s, he may have. I would have loved to see that. I just think, for up-and-coming directors, just take it really seriously. Because, the minute you don't, it's going to be crappy.")
