Before making the opening, me and my 3 partners had to choose a genre, first 3 that caught my eye were horror, western, and mystery.
A popular horror movie that shows the characteristics of a regular horror film could be The Exorcist(1973):
This is an absolute classic and has left a big impact on the genre. Its unsettling visuals, dim lighting, and use of religion along with its themes like exorcism of course and a battle between good and evil is sure to give the bravest people a scare.
I'd say what makes a horror movie good is its ability to do what its advertising...scare you!
The film did so good and became popular because of its ability to do that, all the effects and sounds kept watchers at the edge of their seats and is the reason why it is still talked about over half a century later.
Another timeless relic of a movie is "The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly"
A western piece made in the 60's but set in the late 19th century, featuring characters like a cowboy, outlaws, and lawmen, instead of their current day counterpart.
These types of films try to replicate and show what could've happened in that old time and when your thinking western, this is one of the first movies that comes to a fanatic.
Finally, there is mystery. A more recent but still staple of the genre is of course Sherlock Holmes:
Mystery films revolve around resolving a puzzle or finding out the truth on something, usually a crime. There are clues around the movie that hint at an answer so the viewer can make an educated guess and stays watching as the film builds suspense through twists in the story.
What makes a mystery movie good is its ability to keep their audience engaged and guessing, intriguing while still keeping it fun. This might sound easy but its a lot harder than it seems and this 2009 film executes it perfectly.
While it might seem unoriginal and boring, I think that me and my partners could make an excellent horror movie as I think mystery is off the table for its inability to tell a part of its huge story in just 2 minutes, and I don't think we have the skill do produce a decent western film. We are all happy with horror and hope we can make a masterpiece!