Brittany Snow, Bradley Cooper feel the horror

The horror, the horror — audiences may actually be sick of torture porn. Consider that while “Saw III” made more than $80 million, “Saw IV” only pulled in a bit more than $63. And “Hostel II” only took in $17 million, while its predecessor earned more than $47 million. Meanwhile, last year’s “Turistas” took in a paltry $7 million. This spring’s horror films take a bit more old-fashioned approach. We shall see if less gore earns more money.

“Prom Night”

Video   ‘Prom Night’ Britney Snow and Johnathon Schaech star in this remake of the horror film about a vengeful killer on prom night. Buena Vista Pictures

Starring: Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis, Collins Pennie, Kelly Blatz
Director: Nelson McCormick
Story: Snow stars as Donna, a high school senior who hopes to put a tragedy from her past behind her and make prom the best night of her life. But the night turns deadly when a sadistic killer from the past comes back to seek revenge.
One to watch? No. Even though director McCormick told Horror.com that this is a remake of the 1980 film in name only, the concept still feels awfully tired. He went on to say, “The interesting thing about this film is that (the killer) is not my shark in ‘Jaws,’ he’s not my creature in ‘Alien,’ he is driven by an obsession. He doesn't have a bloodlust, he just wants her. He's got… oh God, there's a word for it — it's the same disease that John Hinckley had with Jodie Foster.” Nothing new to see here, move along.
Coming: April 11
Web site: http://sonypictures.com/movies/promnight/index.html

“The Midnight Meat Train”

Lionsgate

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Brooke Shields, Vinnie Jones, Leslie Bibb, Roger Bart, Peter Jacobson, Barbara Eve Harris
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Story: Based on a story by Clive Barker, this film tells the story of Leon Kaufman (Cooper), a photographer who tries to capture the grittiness of New York City and stumbles upon a serial killer (Jones). He follows as the killer dispatches his victims and even learns the creative way the killer gets rid of the bodies. But is he getting too close?
One to watch? Maybe. The creative-death angle (and the R rating) indicate that there may be a “Saw” level of violence here, but at least the story seems slightly original and has the potential to actually be scary. Monstermovieblog.blogspot.com referred to director Kitamura (“Godzilla: Final Wars”) as potentially “Japan’s Quentin Tarantino, a young director with a flare for action and fast paced films.”
Coming: May 16
Web site: http://www.lionsgate.com/midnightmeattrain/

“The Ruins”

Dreamworks

Starring: Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore
Director: Carter Smith
Story: Based on the popular book by Scott Smith, a group of friends on a Mexican holiday decide to accompany a guy they meet on a remote archeological dig. The natives don’t seem very friendly and neither does some of the vegetation.
One to watch? Maybe. Director Smith has a lot of horror movies clichés to get past if this film is going to work. From “Hostel” to “Turistas,” it seems that tourists are always being led astray in horror films. Smith seems to recognize this. He told Horror.com, “I think there is something about when you’re on a journey like that with people you care about the people you are invested in that makes it all the more terrifying what happens to them than if it’s just of random collection of like sort of good-looking WB actors.” Let’s hope he can pull it off.
Coming: April 4
Web site: http://www.ruinsmovie.com/

Best of the rest: Horror — “Pathology” stars “Heroes” Milo Ventimiglia as a medical student welcomed by an elite group of pathology interns into their dark after-hours game of who can commit the perfect murder. (April 18) — A couple (Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman) living in a remote suburban house is targeted for murder by three masked strangers in “The Strangers.” (May 23) — “Stuck” tells the story of a woman (Mena Suvari) who hits a homeless man (Stephen Rea) with her car, and tries to run, but the glass in the windshield keeps the man stuck to her car as she drives home. She decides to let him slowly bleed to death in her garage, but the man begins to realize his fate. (May 23).

MORE FROM SPRING MOVIE GUIDE

Indiana Jones and the season of blockbusters

Indiana Jones and the season of blockbusters G-rated fun? Spring movies have it covered Sandler, Myers, Carell bring spring laughs Can Kutcher and Diaz save the rom-com? Jolie, Pacino, Wahlberg have just the right thrill Brittany Snow, Bradley Cooper feel the horror Scorsese, Spurlock offer glimpses of real life   Slide show: 10 films to watch   Add Spring Movie Guide headlines to your news reader: