The concept of 3D cinema is not a new one - in fact, 3D film viewing goes as far back as the 50s - but it's certainly more popular today than it ever was. This is helped in part by the massive leaps in technology that have come over the last few decades in perfecting the 3D experience: nowadays, 3D looks more real and, thanks to the immersive experience of cinema and the new glasses that are handed out, easier to believe.
While many people's idea of a nightmare is going to a horror film and having the character come off the screen and into the audience, it's certainly true that the horror genre is one that lends itself tremendously to the 3D experience. As one of the main goals of a horror movie is to scare the living daylights out of its audience, why not enhance the experience by having the killer's wayward stab swing all the way out over the heads of those who thought they were safely tucked away in a cinema theatre? And if flying knives is all you're afraid of, think again.
In today's horror genre, the volume of projectiles tends to be on the high side. Think about all of the objects that go flying around in films like Final Destination, where the entire point is that a series of seemingly random events end up triggering the violent death of one of the characters. Enter Final Destination 3D. The very opening of this thrilling horror flick - where the main characters are offed one by one at a speedway car race gone awry - shows audiences exactly what to expect over the coming hour and a half. Cars explode, sending flames gasping towards the front row; tires bounce out of the screen and flying towards your head, falling debris from the rapidly crumbling stadium drops and bounces out in all directions and, of course, there's one flying screw or two that's aiming straight for your right eye. Ouch.
One thing that 3D has really done for horror films is to bring back a sense of real joy and entertainment while watching them. Sure, that feeling is often present while we're waiting for the next big scare, but when the effects are as flamboyant as they are in 3D, it's hard not to forget you're watching people get mercilessly splattered. And because of this, horror fans should rejoice at the arrival of 3D television, because that means you'll be able to enjoy every moment in the comfort of your own living room.
While many people's idea of a nightmare is going to a horror film and having the character come off the screen and into the audience, it's certainly true that the horror genre is one that lends itself tremendously to the 3D experience. As one of the main goals of a horror movie is to scare the living daylights out of its audience, why not enhance the experience by having the killer's wayward stab swing all the way out over the heads of those who thought they were safely tucked away in a cinema theatre? And if flying knives is all you're afraid of, think again.
In today's horror genre, the volume of projectiles tends to be on the high side. Think about all of the objects that go flying around in films like Final Destination, where the entire point is that a series of seemingly random events end up triggering the violent death of one of the characters. Enter Final Destination 3D. The very opening of this thrilling horror flick - where the main characters are offed one by one at a speedway car race gone awry - shows audiences exactly what to expect over the coming hour and a half. Cars explode, sending flames gasping towards the front row; tires bounce out of the screen and flying towards your head, falling debris from the rapidly crumbling stadium drops and bounces out in all directions and, of course, there's one flying screw or two that's aiming straight for your right eye. Ouch.
One thing that 3D has really done for horror films is to bring back a sense of real joy and entertainment while watching them. Sure, that feeling is often present while we're waiting for the next big scare, but when the effects are as flamboyant as they are in 3D, it's hard not to forget you're watching people get mercilessly splattered. And because of this, horror fans should rejoice at the arrival of 3D television, because that means you'll be able to enjoy every moment in the comfort of your own living room.