Does anyone else have any fondness for that run of late 90s and 2000s run of studio horror movies that placed great emphasis on set design and generally eye popping visuals?
It started with the remake of House On Haunted Hill, followed by the remake of Thirteen Ghosts, often, but not always, they were remakes of 1950s movies and were often, but not always by the same production company, this one
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Castle_Entertainment
But not always like I said, as I would include Fear Dot Com as part of this cycle, which was a different studio, but the same director as the House on Haunted Hill remake.
Out of the ones I've seen I'd maybe only go to bat for the House on Haunted Hill remake being actually a good movie, although Thirteen Ghosts was weirdly likable, though not great, Ghost Ship is pretty bad, but still has those cool sets.
It arguably ended with the remake of House of Wax, which I haven't seen or maybe Orphan from 2009, which I have seen and thought was pretty good.
All of these movies, even if they're not great, are at least interesting given the emphasis on set design and visuals, which I feel like is what studio horror has been missing for a long time, especially that ten year later fucking awful trend of "found footage" movies ala Paranormal Activity.
I want to mention that I saw House on haunted Hill in theaters when I had just turned 10, I was maybe too young, it scared the shit out of me but I had a great time, probably one of the things that made me the horror fan I am today.