I can't recall the last horror movie I saw in a movie theater... I guess maybe, "The Exorcist"? Nah, must have seen another since then.. but I can't think of one. I saw Jaws, the first time, at a Drive-In.
But that's besides your point. Farmers don't have normal hours. Sometimes we go to work at night, sometimes the afternoon. Sometime we take Tuesday's off instead of Sunday.. or any other day of the week... my point being: "The Exorcist" may have also been the last movie I saw in 'prime time'.. that is, evenings. If there is a movie I want to see in the theater I'll go at 10am, on a Tuesday... no later than 3pm and 99 times out of 100 there are no more than a dozen people in the theater. But, of course... some of those off prime showings have been crowded and it's my experience that if the theater is crowded there is going to be discussion. Horror movie, adventure movie, romantic movie, doesn't matter.
About the only times I've noticed chatter to be almost nil, or even nil, in a crowded theater is when the audience are 'groupies'. By that I mean... L.O.R fans, or Harry Potter Fans... who set mesmerized by every single scene.
It's a big reason I don't go to crowded theaters.... but mostly it's just because, as you know, I don't like people.
Well, actually I love persons, up to about 4 of them, and above that I gotta get outta Dodge. - JamesJM