'Horrex': The New Thrillers in Bollywood
Jan 15,2015
New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) "Scary is the new sexy," says actress Bipasha Basu ahead of the release of "Alone", but Bollywood trade experts believe filmmakers have for long entertained viewers with 'horrex', an amalgamation of horror and sex.
The "Raaz" and "Ragini MMS" franchises, "1920", "Haunted - 3D" and now "Alone" are a case in point.
"Alone" is not the first time that Bipasha has got up, close and personal with an actor on screen for a horror movie. She did it in "Raaz", but she's uninhibited in admitting that "Alone", releasing Friday, is her boldest ever work.
Whether it'll work for the film or not is yet to be seen, but a combination of intimate scenes and horror adds an intriguing touch to a horror film, says Bhushan Patel, who has directed "Alone", about conjoined twins who had promised to be together and how the death of one sister leads to a series of chilling incidents.
"Sex and scares have always gone hand in hand in films. It is an integral part of the genre. If you see old English films like 'Dracula', they all had their share of sex (scenes)," Patel told IANS.
Patel, who has directed films like "1920: Evil Returns" and "Ragini MMS 2" as well, says 'horrex' works like "magic" on the screen.
Tanuj Garg, former CEO of Balaji Motion Pictures which has produced films like "Krishna Cottage" and "Ragini MMS", says infusing horror with erotica grabs more eyeballs.
"When you add erotica into horror, it becomes more appealing and exciting. The formula has worked on a large scale. I think just erotica or horror by itself wouldn't have garnered that much fascination as the combination has," Garg told IANS.
Just a cursory glance at films of late 1980s like "Veerana", "Purani Haveli" and "Bandh Darwaza", will prove that some thrills with titillating scenes can add some frills to a movie.
Patel says the inclusion of veiled issues like sex has always managed to capture attention.
"The fascination continues as it is the dark side. The dark side is interesting and alluring. Sex is a taboo and often scares people. People are indulging in it every day and so what's wrong in showing it and talking about it?" Patel asked.
No matter how they defend the use of sex, makers of such movies have faced flak over making sex as the driving force of a film with no storyline.
Garg pointed out that the content in Bollywood films is well within limits thanks to the strictness of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
"I don't think we can cheat anyone by using sex as a driving force due to restrictions in terms of how much the censor will allow. So one has to balance the two elements," Garg noted.
Echoing this, Patel said: "Sex is a tool in horror films to take the story forward. I don't think sex is used unjustifiably."
Hence the staple ingredients of a Bollywood horror film: some spooky noises, a dark ambiance, a woman in distress, a hero, evil spirits, lovemaking scenes and sensual songs.
Distributor Rajesh Thadani held a different point of view and said that horror films have been reduced to sleaze fests to ensure success.
"It is the easiest way to make a successful film. The collections of these films is also decent," Thadani told IANS.
Adding to that, trade expert Vinod Mirani said: "Films, especially of the horror genre, in India are getting poorer in content."
"Horror films lack in content and they try to make it up with sound effects, loud background music, low light choreography and, in desperation, sex," Mirani told IANS.
It's needless to say that movies like "Haunted - 3D", "Raaz 3" and "Ragini MMS 2" were given 'A' certificate, making it open only to adult audiences. But the makers have no qualms as their target itself is adults only!
Top Stories
Salman Khan Viral Video: Bhaijaan Stops After Child Is Pushed, Scolds Driver Over Fan’s Foot
Sep 18,2026
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s appearances during Mumbai’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations have once again attracted significant attention online. From visiting the Ambani family’s residence and celebrating with his family to seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessing
King vs. Avengers: Doomsday – Shah Rukh Khan says "The father will come first," anticipating a Christmas box office clash.
Sep 15,2026
Shah Rukh Khan has once again shown why he is known as Bollywood’s ‘King Khan’. During his latest #AskSRK session on X, the superstar gave a witty response when a fan asked him about the much-discussed box-office clash between his upcoming film King and Marvel Studios&rsq
Salman Khan’s Ganesh Chaturthi Look Goes Viral: Tilak and Angavastram Steal the Show
Sep 15,2026
Salman Khan's appearance at the Ambani family's Ganesh Chaturthi celebration has become a talking point on social media. A video showing the Bollywood superstar offering prayers to Lord Ganpati at Antilia has gone viral, with fans praising his traditional festive appearance and the momen
Emraan Hashmi’s Iconic Heartbreak Song: Pakistani Singer Who Shot to Fame With This Rock Hit
Aug 18,2026
Emraan Hashmi has long been associated with memorable romantic and heartbreak songs. Over the years, the music of his films has produced several tracks that continue to feature prominently on listeners’ playlists.One such song is “Lambi Judai” from the 2008 film J
Shatrughan Sinha on Sonakshi Sinha Trolling: Accuses BJP IT Cell, Opens Up on Her Political Entry
Aug 18,2026
Veteran actor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shatrughan Sinha has spoken out over the social media trolling faced by his daughter, actor Sonakshi Sinha.In an interview with ABP News, Shatrughan addressed criticism of Sonakshi's public support for student protests and also res
Batwara 1947 Review: Sunny Deol Shines in a Powerful and Emotional Partition Drama
Aug 14,2026
Batwara 1947 Movie Review: When director Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol reunite, expectations are bound to be high. After memorable collaborations such as Ghayal, Damini and Ghatak, the duo returns with Batwara 1947, a Partition-era drama that takes a noticeably different route.R
‘Ramayana’: ‘Mahabharat’ Actor Gajendra Chauhan Reacts to Ranbir Kapoor’s Trailer, “I Wasn’t Impressed”
Aug 12,2026
Nitesh Tiwari's much-awaited ‘Ramayana’ has generated considerable buzz following the release of its trailer. While the trailer has received mixed reactions, actor Gajendra Chauhan, best known for playing Yudhishthira in B.R. Chopra's iconic Mahabharat, has now shared his opi
Urmila Matondkar’s Ex-Husband Mohsin Akhtar Mir Marries Again; Actress Takes a Dig at Second Wedding
Aug 12,2026
Urmila Matondkar is once again making headlines, this time because of a cryptic social media post following a post shared by her ex-husband Mohsin Akhtar Mir about his second wife, Nida Bhat.The actress, who generally keeps her personal life private, shared a message on Instagram that quic
Entertainment News
‘Ramayana’: ‘Mahabharat
Aug 12,2026
Urmila Matondkar’s Ex-Husban
Aug 12,2026
Munna Bhaiya Returns in ‘Mir
Aug 12,2026
Suniel Shetty Birthday: Ajay D
Aug 11,2026
Nikita Rawal on Ranbir Kapoor
Aug 05,2026