Can someone explain criteria for a good Horror Film

Suspiria is not a film for everyone. I wouldn´t even compare it to Evil Dead (this is indeed one overrated horror film IMO), let alone other American horror films. It´s style is so much it´s own, it even stands out from most Italian movies (even though it has the genre trademarks). Here´s what I posted on it´s defence on another post:

Suspiria is often dismissed as having a weak script which I don´t think it´s true, unless if it didn´t achieve Argento´s goal as to make a film that works both as a twisted fairy tale for adults (a Walt Disney horror film, if you will) and a cinematic representation of a child´s nightmare or fantasies. Thus, it´s approach at story-telling is closer to the works of Luis Buñuel (and you wouldn´t say "Un Chien Andalou" is a poorly written film would you?) than to say, Romero or Carpenter.
The main focus of the film is to create this bewildering, haunting dream-world, through extreme images and sound. Of course, the murder scenes are part of the overall effect, but they are not what the whole films is all about (sadly, some people watch Suspiria for the murders alone based on it´s reputation, and therefore find it disappointing) it would be silly to compare them for the likes of the Saw films and such, since the latter uses tasteless, meanspirited violence to attract shallower audiences who only watch them for this reason. And on top of that, in "Suspiria" and most of his other works (save for his post-90´s outcome), Argento takes the grotesque and elevates it into an art level. Rarely in the genre has one managed to make such brutal set pieces so beautiful and almost erotic (not unlike what Alejandro Jodorowsky did with "Santa Sangre")

Well firstly when approaching a film like suspira you have to take into consideration it is not like your average film. It is very non-linear and does not focus on plot as much as it does colour and atmospher and sound.

Just keep an open mind and you'l get it.

Is your issue with these films the quality of them or the label of Horror?

I was certainly dissatisfied with Suspiria as a horror film. I didn't find it frightening. I didn't care about the characters, so I couldn't fear for them, and I don't think they did the best job of building suspense. I tend to be very effected by the scores in horror films and found this one to be too overbearing to make me feel uneasy. I think that had I gone into the movie without the hopes of being frightened it might have turned out very differently, because I can't ignore that it was visually impressive.

However, there will always be films that are going to seem overrated. I went to film school myself and there were always people praising films that didn't move me at all. The main thing is that you have to be able to know why you don't like something. All the critics in the world can say whatever they want to about how great or terrible a film is, but as long as you know why you feel the way that you do it really doesn't matter if you don't agree with them.

Depends on what your expectations of a horror film are. Suspiria is rather artsy and more about atmosphere and creating the feeling of being in a nightmare rather than a succession of gory set pieces (though of course Suspiria does have a couple of those) or ratcheting up suspense which is a more typical way of doing horror. It's beautifully shot with a great colour palette and I personally find the soundtrack very creepy, though I appreciate it's rather marmite and a lot of people just find it cheesy and intrusive.

Evil Dead is arguably essentially a comedy, for the most part, albeit a very gory one.

I'll certainly agree that the production values on The Shining, Carrie and Rosemary's Baby are much higher than for your typical shlockfest, and then can be appreciated for that rather than the horror.

Just a painted face on a trip down suicide row

There are many different types of horror films and your personal preference will affect your enjoyment of them.

Generally, a good horror movie should follow the same criteria as any good movie from any genre. It should have convincing actors, a good script, characterization, and competent direction. The films you mentioned liking are all well-known for those qualities, as are films like "Psycho." It sounds like you wouldn't be into the sloppier, cheesy type of horror films like "Evil Dead." Some horror films focus more on gore and the scare factor than making you care about the victims or even trying to give them a personality beyond a stereotype. Generally these films are enjoyed on a more simplistic level and while no one would admit they are "good", they can be enjoyable trash. The original "Friday the 13th" is a good example. It doesn't meet the criteria to be considered a good film in terms of acting, script, etc. but it is nonetheless enjoyable to most.

"Drag Me to Hell" was directed by the same guy who made "Evil Dead" and your dislike for it as well as the films you mentioned tells me you probably look for things such as good script, acting, direction, etc.--things that make any film good. Unfortunately, not many horror films live up to that standard. You can pretty much exclude any slasher film, for example. You're most likely to find something you like if you focus on the supernatural horror genre, particularly from the 1970s, as these tend to have more of a story. You might also try some psychological thrillers, like "Silence of the Lambs." While not technically horror films, they are closely related and generally better made.

I would stay away from the whole 1980s decade if I were you. Most of the horror films made in that decade were slasher films and based on what you've told us, that doesn't seem to be up your alley. Try something from the 1970s or further back. The giallo genre is a notable mention. Just Google a giallo film and start looking some up. They're basically murder mysteries from Italy produced mainly in the 1960s-1970s, and if you don't mind some (often comical) dubbing, they usually have pretty good characterization and follow a story. The best ones mix all of that with some really cool artsy shots and cinematography as well as some of the most beautiful murder sequences captured on film.

your favourites are some goodies. i like my horror a bit more like the exorcist and rosemary's baby than all the schlocky gorefests that pass for horror nowadays. there's a lot to be said for unnerving, psychological horror, it's certainly more scary than simple gore, which is just lazy filmmaking

Watch the 1959 French film "Eyes Without a Face". That's a horror film even non-horror-buffs like me can admire tremendously. Eerie, sad, horrifying, and very beautiful.

Given that you haven't replied to any of these posts my guess is that you didn't really want to be educated; you just wanted to complain. Well, good for you. You have immaculate taste in movies and you're a fine specimen of human being because of it. Not like these base, repulsive "Horror fans."

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"It was night. I could tell because it was getting dark."