The panel opened at a solid 4 out of 10 on the ego meter with Blum noting that young filmmakers are connecting in theaters again. Reasonable observation, except the evidence was their own project called Obsession.
At 6 out of 10 the needle jumped when the pair compared the current horror moment to the 1970s. That decade launched lasting auteurs on tiny budgets. This one apparently needs a production company merger to feel revolutionary.
By the 8 out of 10 mark the Blumhouse-Atomic partnership had been rebranded the Disney of horror. One studio buys brands and a theme park. The other buys micro-budget scripts and hopes volume creates a legacy.
The meter maxed out when they declared their slate would save the entire genre. Nothing says artistic renaissance like two established producers positioning themselves as the new generation's only safe bet.
