With so many horror films in Indian theatres of late, the Indian Horror-ssance is here

Indian cinemas have witnessed an influx of moviegoers flocking to theatres to catch the latest horror flicks on the big screen, with films such as Megan in January, Scream VI in March and The Pope's Exorcist earlier this month attracting moviegoers to theatres in droves.

Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise has emerged as one of the most anticipated titles to grace Indian screens this year. A sequel to the popular horror franchise, the film follows a reunion between two estranged sisters, cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.

Have a look at the trailer for the film:

Before the highly anticipated Evil Dead Rise hits theatres, we tried making sense of how the Indian cinema landscape has been experiencing a resurgence in the consumption of horror cinema.

DailyO spoke to Kamal Gianchandani, chief business planning & strategy at PVR INOX, to discuss the popularity of horror cinema in India in contrast to other genres.

Gianchandani acknowledged the significant following of horror films in India, with audiences showing a keen interest in horror films from around the world, including classics such as Jaws and The Exorcist, as well as more recent hits like James Wan’s Conjuring universe, and the Insidious series. 

However, he was quick to point out that horror films, while popular, do not surpass the box office collections of mainstream genres such as superhero blockbusters or action or comedy movies.

Despite the recent superhero fatigue that seems to have set in as of late, these blockbuster films have a larger audience base in India, with franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe enjoying massive fan following in the country.

When asked why horror feels like the alternative to superhero films, Gianchandani corrected the assumption and said that recent releases of Antman & the Wasp: Quantumania, and Shazam: Fury of the Gods, that have otherwise been pretty trashy films, have not caused a decline in Marvel and DC viewership in India. Both franchises still enjoy a massive following in the country, with their movies performing well at the box office. He reiterated that while horror films cater to a specific audience segment that enjoys the genre's thrills and scares, they cannot replace the superhero films or even serve as an alternative to them.

The success of indie horror films such as Blumhouse's The Black Phone, which was released in Indian theatres in June 2022, demonstrates the demand for quality storytelling and innovative filmmaking in the horror genre. 

While the horror genre has been grappling with the issue of commercialisation in recent years with an increasing number of predictable and formulaic films, Gianchandani says that small-budget indie horror films such as Smile, Megan and Barbarian possess the advantage of being more creative, original, and daring, as they are not limited by the constraints of big-budget productions, while also proving to be big box office successes.

But perhaps the most frustrating point of contention for horror fans in India has been the curse of censorship, with crucial plot details and exciting sequences being cut from the films for being too graphic. 

Although most horror films carry an 'A' certificate to begin with for mature audiences, Gianchandani emphasises the need to reassess the way films are certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which was established under the Cinematograph Act of 1952 over 70 years ago. He also assured that despite its intense gore and graphic content, Evil Dead Rise will not feature any cuts.

With Evil Dead Rise already becoming a critical success, the film is expected to perform well at the box office, considering it's part of a popular franchise. Gianchandani also confirmed the release of other upcoming horror movies to watch out for in 2023, including Saw X, Haunted Mansion, Shelby Oaks, Nun 2 from The Conjuring Universe, and David Gordon Green's The Exorcist reboot.

Though the Indian audience has shown a keen interest in horror lately, the genre still faces several hurdles. The success of indie horror films and the need for reassessing the certification process by the CBFC are just some of the issues that the genre needs to address to continue thriving in India. Despite these challenges, horror cinema continues to captivate and terrify audiences, making it an essential part of the contemporary Indian movie-going landscape.

Evil Dead Rise hits Indian theatres tomorrow, April 21, 2023.

ALSO READ: There was a real Pope's Exorcist who thought Hinduism and yoga were evil

ALSO READ: The most DEFINITIVE terrifying films of all time. You're welcome to disagree