For decades, I've thought that the British just didn't know how to do a horror film. I like or sometimes even prefer UK films and TV, but Hammer has left me cold. Now, I sort of think I'm probably wrong about that. I am coming to appreciate a lot of films and books which I was too young for before. Hammer films seemed too blunt, crass, and manipulative. The color may have something to do with it, but it was more a matter of gore, blood dripping from vampires' mouths, that kind of thing. The first DS movie seemed like part of the same trend, so I didn't see it back then.
Recently, I saw two Dr. Phibes films for the first time. The sequel suffered from typical sequelitis but had ridiculousness going for it... the original film, though, seemed like a much cooler, improved Phantom of the Opera. I now regret all my film-going decisions, growing up. Someone ought to have whacked some sense into me, and loosened me up. I'd be a much less repressed human being now.
I still have yet to go through a Hammer phase. I hope to.