I'm standing my ground here, because whilst you may have meant "elevated" in the sense you describe here, I don't think anyone else does. I think it is definitely intended as a means of implying snooty superiority. If a horror film is experimental, or unusual, or blends subgenres, or whatever, then fine. Say that. But "elevated" is not a genre or a subgenre, and using "elevated" definitely has the connotations I describe in this article. I wish to burn the term with fire, and that's why I have a zero tolerance policy on it in Fanfare. :)

On a more general note, connotations are important. For example, I no longer describe myself as an "evangelical Christian" because "evangelical" has ceased to mean what it once meant (ie about preaching the Gospel and whatnot) and is now associated with right-wing American politics.

Anyway, thank you for reading my article. :)