For members of Generation Z, life can be a real challenge—an unstable economy, regular school shootings, a global pandemic.
That's why Obsession and Behind the Scenes have lured them into theaters twice recently with the promise of horrors tailored specifically for them—a reminder of how difficult, yet rewarding, it is for filmmakers to create horror for a generation stuck in a nightmarish reality.
«"The horror genre has changed a bit with the advent of Gen Z, exploring darker, real-life themes rather than just showing gore and the like," said Lauren Cook, a psychotherapist and author of "Generation Anxiety: A Millennial and Gen Z Guide to Surviving Uncertain Times.".
To be fair, there are plenty of gory scenes in Whiplash.
How can a storyline about a man (Michael Johnston) making a wish on a magical toy branch so that his unrequited love for the woman (Indie Navarrette) will return his affections be complete without blood?
But the film, directed by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Baker, also touches on deeper themes, including "red pill" culture, which promotes the idea that men now live in a world systematically rigged against them, calls for an end to feminism and seeks a return to what they consider traditional values.
«Obsession is the story of a love curse gone wrong and the red pill culture that Generation Z faces. — Courtesy of Focus Features
There's more to Gen Z director Kain Parsons' Behind the Scenes than meets the eye. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, the psychological horror film follows a furniture store owner who descends into his own darkness within his shop. Inspired by Parsons' YouTube series, the film explores themes of isolation, trauma, and disability—concepts familiar to Gen Z.
«"They love the honesty that horror can bring. It doesn't try to sugarcoat reality," Cook said of Generation Z. "They can embrace that bleakness a little more than perhaps previous generations, who wanted to sugarcoat everything and make it laugh, and I think that's actually their strength.".
Those born between 1997 and 2012 had to deal with a lot of scary things.
The 2008 financial crisis served as the economic backdrop for their childhood, and a bleak job market, made even bleaker by the advent of AI, is their current reality. Then came climate disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the normalization of school shooting drills, and a global pandemic. It was incredibly difficult.
According to 23-year-old school teacher Caitlin Ruano, who analyzes films and TV shows on her website The Drama Drive-In, Hollywood still believes it can scare this generation, and it does so in a way that resonates deeply with the current generation of moviegoers.
She explained that each generation seems to be defined by its own subgenre of horror—from the slasher films of the '70s to films like The Craft that came out during the "Satanic Panic" of the '80s and '90s.
The popularity of witches in "The Craft" was emblematic of its time, one film critic believes. — Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
«"In the 2000s, we started seeing horror films that were more like action movies. That's when all these zombie movies came out, and I think that really captures the war on terror in a militaristic American context," she said. "I think that since Generation Z tends to be very focused on social issues, that's kind of the defining factor of our generation, and horror films fit that picture really well.".
The data confirms this.
According to a report published last year by research company Statista, "among all age groups, Gen Z consumers were the most likely to watch horror movies or TV shows: 91 percent of them did so.".
Katie Boxall, global head of entertainment content at advertising agency Dentsu, recently referenced the report in an article, noting that the figure represents "the highest share of any generation.".
«"Horror is their third favorite genre after comedy and action, and those numbers are growing: horror films now account for 17% of all ticket sales in North America, up from just 4% a decade ago," Boxall wrote.
Film studios are cashing in on this wave.
According to A24, the studio that released "Behind the Scenes," Parsons is the youngest director in Hollywood history to have a film take first place at the weekend box office, thanks to the Gen Z-led film grossing nearly $80 million in North America and $120 million worldwide in its opening weekend.
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Whiplash, a Focus Features and Blumhouse Productions production, opened at number two that weekend and has grossed nearly $150 million since its May 15 debut—an astronomical sum considering the film only cost about $750,000 to make.
The success of both films is entirely in keeping with Generation Z's penchant for hype and curiosity—"The Breakup" is a prime example—content that quickly spreads online and engages viewers in online discussions.
«"Because we live in an era that's largely defined by media and our interactions with others, I would say that Generation Z tends to be more analytical than most," Ruano said. "I think Generation Z likes to overthink every piece of content we encounter. We grew up on analytical articles and YouTube video essays.".
Ruano said her generation needs to be strong in a world filled with political divisions, darkness, and a new definition of "escapism.".
She says the days are gone when nostalgic, upbeat films like "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" brought her joy, because such optimistic stories can seem "a little offensive.".
«"When you watch shows from the '90s and '20s where people graduate from university and get amazing jobs or internships and stuff like that, it's almost upsetting because you think, 'Oh my God, was life really that easy back then?'" she said. "And look where we are now.".
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