Are Films Getting Too Sick?

[NeAvO]

Think in the old days movies would be happy, even some of the newer movies which are action packed and full of death are good, like LoTR. But lately some films are becoming too saddistic, like Hostal or Saw, especially Hills have eyes 2. I don't have a problem with gory films, but when one involves a mutant ripping a baby out of a pregnant woman (Hhe2) that just draws the line for me. Hhe2 had lots of people walk out of the cinema near me and most cinemas stopped showing it because of the psychological horror. I don't mind a good action film with gore but some films just go too far now! Any one else think that?

[bluefinger]

Yeah... I think that too... Hostel just was too gory for its own good (and its the only movie that made me feel queasy). I've seen a lot of movies, with a lot of gore, not mention played quite gory video games as well, and out of the things I've seen, I reckon movies are the ones starting to push the line way too far. I mean, FEAR... yes, gory like hell... but it still didn't disturb me in the same way as Hostel... that movie was just over-the-top. But then again, people want to watch this sort of stuff, so people will make these films... I'm just surprised the tabloids haven't gone crazy saying "Movies gone to far!"...

[CymekSniper]

Yeah... I think that too... Hostel just was too gory for its own good (and its the only movie that made me feel queasy). I've seen a lot of movies, with a lot of gore, not mention played quite gory video games as well, and out of the things I've seen, I reckon movies are the ones starting to push the line way too far. I mean, FEAR... yes, gory like hell... but it still didn't disturb me in the same way as Hostel... that movie was just over-the-top. But then again, people want to watch this sort of stuff, so people will make these films... I'm just surprised the tabloids haven't gone crazy saying "Movies gone to far!"...[/b] With movies, there is some sense of real life that games just cannot create. I hate horror movies due to the fact that they seem so pointless. They show innocent people getting killed, tortured, and horrified out of their brains and for what? I saw the beginning of Ghost Ship and I was horrified to the point I refused to watch any more because it imaged the deaths of all those innocent people. I have seen Saving Private Ryan which was super bloody and I kept watching it because I knew this had actually happened and held a true purpose. What pisses me off is that the media attacks video games that are gory instead of movies that are even worse. Kids watch rated R movies more than they play M rated video games (which aren't even all that bad) so I don't see why the media turns a blind eye to it.

[bluefinger]

With movies, there is some sense of real life that games just cannot create. I hate horror movies due to the fact that they seem so pointless. They show innocent people getting killed, tortured, and horrified out of their brains and for what? I saw the beginning of Ghost Ship and I was horrified to the point I refused to watch any more because it imaged the deaths of all those innocent people. I have seen Saving Private Ryan which was super bloody and I kept watching it because I knew this had actually happened and held a true purpose. What pisses me off is that the media attacks video games that are gory instead of movies that are even worse. Kids watch rated R movies more than they play M rated video games (which aren't even all that bad) so I don't see why the media turns a blind eye to it.[/b] I feel the same way. It's just hypocrisy, no matter how you look at it... people with double standards. If people truly want to tackle violence in society, they must focus on all aspects of the media, and not just one part of it. As a kid, I watched so many violent movies by staying up late without my parents knowing, so if anything, it's movies that should be in the spotlight and not games. The BBFC did a very good study on violence in video games and concluded that "though the violence in video games does disturb the younger gamers, all the violence is put into the perspective of survival, since the gamer has to keep his character alive in order to progress in the game, rather than solely concentrate on thinking of ways to kill the characters in the game". Quite different to what the media want to portray. I actually think movies have more of an effect on people purely because they don't have the interaction, and movies can recreate a much more real sense of reality. Without the interaction, if one sees something 'cool' on the screen, one would feel compelled to imitate what goes on the screen, whereas with video games, since you are interacting with the game, you can already do the things being shown on the screen, except in a virtual sense. If anything, video games is just a new scapegoat used by people to white-wash the realities of bad parenting, indifferent gun laws and regulations, and also the harshness of society. It used to be rap music, and before that, rock music and even comic books, so it will blow over in its due course. Besides, the gaming industry is now bigger than hollywood, so its here to stay.

[Spinseeker]

Think in the old days movies would be happy, even some of the newer movies which are action packed and full of death are good, like LoTR. But lately some films are becoming too saddistic, like Hostal or Saw, especially Hills have eyes 2. I don't have a problem with gory films, but when one involves a mutant ripping a baby out of a pregnant woman (Hhe2) that just draws the line for me. Hhe2 had lots of people walk out of the cinema near me and most cinemas stopped showing it because of the psychological horror. I don't mind a good action film with gore but some films just go too far now! Any one else think that?[/b] Ripping fetuses out of pregnant women? Fucking insane. These types of movies are clear examples of how modern movie directors are running out of ideas. Since they fail to create interesting stories, they come up with graphic and controversial images. Not my kind of thing.

[King and God]

The sicker and gorier, the better. That's my take on this. I have to download that Hhe movie, sounds like it is good.

[In My Own World]

Is the Hills have Eyes the one with the family travelling across the desert? That movie does have alot of gore but movies like that don't bother me.

[wasup]

Seriously though, why do people even go to see movies like that? I understand legitimate horror films, but nowadays it's just an hour and a half of people getting tortured. I don't understand the "point." It's not entertaining. Why do people go see movies like hills have eyes, saw, or hostel?

[Jess]

I have to agree NeAvO. It's like Alfred Hitchcock said: "There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it."

[CoLd BlooDed]

I haven't seen many movies that have come out in theatres, just because I always assume that they'll be shit. Hollywood's running out of ideas, and fast - it's either a sequel that's coming out, or a comic book/video game adaptation, and I grow bored of it. I laughed when 'Snakes on a Plane' came out. The only dispute I have with gore is that it is usually a subsitute for a good plot.

[bluefinger]

The only dispute I have with gore is that it is usually a subsitute for a good plot.[/b] In Hostel... it went from a holiday movie, to a snuff film half-way through... it was yummy [/sarcasm] Its the case with most horror movie's now... why can't people realise that spectres of little girls can be a lot scarier than someone getting cut up by a psycho for little reason... or just something that isn't based solely on gore. I found Sunshine actually worked to build up a scary suspense, something which is lacking in other horror movies. *sigh* I grow disgruntled with the Movie industry...

[Volcon]

I totally agree, every time i go to the movies (i only usually see comedys now, what else is there really?) i see all the commercials and i always think "what kind of sick, twisted people think of these things?

[Burns]

I agree, NeAvO. I haven't seen any of those movies you listed, but from what you've said, they don't sound like something I'd enjoy watching anyway. A horror movie doesn't have to be full of blood, guts, and gore to be scary. The mysterious, suspenseful films have the best effect for me... the fear of the unknown... what you can't see. I agree that it seems like they are running out of ideas so they beef up the boring plotlines with gory violence.

[MercurialDream]

I'm still giggling at bluefinger saying "reckon", haha~ Anyway... The gore is just out of hand for my tastes. I like to be scared, creeped out or freaking out is great, but the constant bloodbath isn't scarey, just gross. IMHO anyway. *shrugs*

[bluefinger]

I'm still giggling at bluefinger saying "reckon", haha~ Anyway... [/b] Oh? what's so funny about me saying... "reckon"?

[Neruo]

I am going to watch The Hills Have Eyes, that sounds pretty cool : ) What does it matter? People like gore or disaster. If there is a fire, don't you see lots of people watching? People really do like watching other people getting in trouble, it had some evolutionary advantage or something. I thought it was that you can actually learn from seeing other people fuck up. Anyhow, in movies it is better, because you don't have to feel bad about the victims : )

[Gwendolyn]

I love gory movies. They rock, if they can pull off being scary and entertaining by my standards. I mean, obviously, I don't like most of the scary movies that are out, but gore has never turned me away from a movie. But, I will say that I think real-life is too gory, and that this is something we need to work on.

[wasup]

Neruo speak for yourself... personally I don't enjoy watching people die/get turtored/"in trouble." I guess I'm "weird."

[slimslowslider]

I think there IS a disturbing trend in horror films. The Hills Have Eyes is pretty bad - but just gross and gory, and not more so than many others e.g. Dario Argento's stuff from the 80s. However in my opinion there is a new breed of film such as Saw 1-3 and Hostel with sadism rather than gore as the theme. The Saw trilogy are very disturbing and quite stressful movies. Its not so much the gore, as the psychological trauma of the victims. Not for the fainthearted - even if you can laugh at Evil Dead etc this isn't funny. The same is true for Hostel and Wolf Creek. The only difference being that SAW is relentless. Hostel and Wolf Creek build quite slowly. IMO The most recent and horrific example of this new genre is H6, the 'Spanish answer to SAW and HOSTEL'. However it is far, far worse in my opinion. Very nasty. Don't watch it unless you are sure you want to put yourself through emotional hell. With horror like this you are made to identify with either the victims or the killer - neither is pleasant, and not something I'd want to do again (probaby will though&#33 It focusses on the rape and torture of two female victims, and the acting is too good. If it were bad, you could maybe cope by reconstruing this as a cartoon, or even horror-comedy like Evil Dead - but you can't. As I said: very nasty. However I'm not surprised - film genres change with society. Not only are the writers/directors/producers tring to get bums on seats by being novel and controversial, but there is also an implicit critique and commentary of contemprary society and culture. Violence is almost normal now in real life - psychotic spree killers, and serial rapists aside, just look at Iraq to find babies and pregnant women ripped apart every day by suicide bombers or coalition bullets. An Iraqi friend of mine lost her sister recently to the machine gun of American tank. Ever seen pictures of what happens when a high velocity, large calibre round hits a human being? Or a landmine? Far worse than any gore flick I've ever seen. Surely we can't really complain about movies when its still '...fitting and right to die [and kill] for one's country'? At least not when the people representing our countries appear to be so evil. Obviously its not just the government's fault - violence gets perpetuated at all levels of society - but when (respectable?) governments use violence to get their own way as a typical strategy, what else can we expect?

[bluefinger]

I think there IS a disturbing trend in horror films. The Hills Have Eyes is pretty bad - but just gross and gory, and not more so than many others e.g. Dario Argento's stuff from the 80s. However in my opinion there is a new breed of film such as Saw 1-3 and Hostel with sadism rather than gore as the theme. The Saw trilogy are very disturbing and quite stressful movies. Its not so much the gore, as the psychological trauma of the victims. Not for the fainthearted - even if you can laugh at Evil Dead etc this isn't funny. The same is true for Hostel and Wolf Creek. The only difference being that SAW is relentless. Hostel and Wolf Creek build quite slowly. IMO The most recent and horrific example of this new genre is H6, the 'Spanish answer to SAW and HOSTEL'. However it is far, far worse in my opinion. Very nasty. Don't watch it unless you are sure you want to put yourself through emotional hell. With horror like this you are made to identify with either the victims or the killer - neither is pleasant, and not something I'd want to do again (probaby will though&#33 It focusses on the rape and torture of two female victims, and the acting is too good. If it were bad, you could maybe cope by reconstruing this as a cartoon, or even horror-comedy like Evil Dead - but you can't. As I said: very nasty. However I'm not surprised - film genres change with society. Not only are the writers/directors/producers tring to get bums on seats by being novel and controversial, but there is also an implicit critique and commentary of contemprary society and culture. Violence is almost normal now in real life - psychotic spree killers, and serial rapists aside, just look at Iraq to find babies and pregnant women ripped apart every day by suicide bombers or coalition bullets. An Iraqi friend of mine lost her sister recently to the machine gun of American tank. Ever seen pictures of what happens when a high velocity, large calibre round hits a human being? Or a landmine? Far worse than any gore flick I've ever seen. Surely we can't really complain about movies when its still '...fitting and right to die [and kill] for one's country'? At least not when the people representing our countries appear to be so evil. Obviously its not just the government's fault - violence gets perpetuated at all levels of society - but when (respectable?) governments use violence to get their own way as a typical strategy, what else can we expect?[/b] That does sound nasty. I think I watched this spanish movie a while ago which focused about a girl doing a thesis on Society and Violence, and she wanted to get hold of some underground movies in order to help her with her research. The professor who helps her finds some tapes and decides to watch it himself to see if he got the right ones. However, when the girl finds him in the lecture theatre, he's dead, and the tapes are gone, though it appeared he suffered a heart attack. From there, the film focuses on the girl discovering more and more about snuff films and eventually falls prey to the underground culture. Not pleasant, but the film focused more on the psychological effect of the violence rather than the gore. If anything, Society is becoming increasingly desensitised to violence, and this is reflecting in the movies we watch, the games we play, even the news we read. Instead of us being disgusted by gore, we get curious and want to see more.

["tomeeka"]

Well I think it's all gross. It's more gross than scary and I refuse to watch those things. Yeah none of the stuff really happened, but they are just giving all the real sick twisted psychos ideas for their next murders is what they are doing. The only thing that'll stop it(maybe for a while) is when some sick freak out there actually acts out one of these disgusting movies in real life.Then what...

[bluefinger]

Well I think it's all gross. It's more gross than scary and I refuse to watch those things. Yeah none of the stuff really happened, but they are just giving all the real sick twisted psychos ideas for their next murders is what they are doing. The only thing that'll stop it(maybe for a while) is when some sick freak out there actually acts out one of these disgusting movies in real life.Then what...[/b] Its already happened... nobody gave much of a damn... guy just gets thrown into a mental hospital and media don't make a big deal over it. Basically, a guy watched Nightmare on Elm Street, and then acted it out by making a bladed glove and murdered someone with it. Lovely...

[King and God]

Well I think it's all gross. It's more gross than scary and I refuse to watch those things. Yeah none of the stuff really happened, but they are just giving all the real sick twisted psychos ideas for their next murders is what they are doing. The only thing that'll stop it(maybe for a while) is when some sick freak out there actually acts out one of these disgusting movies in real life.Then what...[/b] I think this whole blaming of videogames and movies is pathetic. Humans have brutally murdered each other long before the time of the violent videogames and movies.

[Chaos]

Its already happened... nobody gave much of a damn... guy just gets thrown into a mental hospital and media don't make a big deal over it. Basically, a guy watched Nightmare on Elm Street, and then acted it out by making a bladed glove and murdered someone with it. Lovely...[/b] There's always going to be someone stupid enough to try to copy TV and movies, but that doesn't mean they need to be banned. Really, the majority of the crimes that happen in real life are more disturbing than crap from horror films. Besides, I really don't see why Nightmare on Elm Street movies are really even considered horror anymore anyway. They are more comical than anything else. Anyone who tries to mimic something like that obiously had mental problems to begin w/ and was more than likely going to find some other way to kill people.

[bluefinger]

I think this whole blaming of videogames and movies is pathetic. Humans have brutally murdered each other long before the time of the violent videogames and movies.[/b] Very true, though one has to ask questions when stuff like Hostel come out. Is this want we want? Is this appropriate? Well, depends on the person. If anything, the example I quoted involved a person who was already mentally disturbed when he watched Nightmare on Elm Street, so the movie wasn&#39;t entirely to blame, since the man already had the capacity to kill. Its not a question of blaming movies for causing violence, its just whether its tasteful or not. I can&#39;t do much to stop movies like Hostel or HHE, but I can just not watch them... since I know other people will want to watch them. If anything, movies just reflect our society and how its pretty much desensitized to violence. We want violence... and sure enough, we get it... kinda like the Romans and their gladiatorial events, huh? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chaos)</div> There&#39;s always going to be someone stupid enough to try to copy TV and movies, but that doesn&#39;t mean they need to be banned. Really, the majority of the crimes that happen in real life are more disturbing than crap from horror films. Besides, I really don&#39;t see why Nightmare on Elm Street movies are really even considered horror anymore anyway. They are more comical than anything else. Anyone who tries to mimic something like that obiously had mental problems to begin w/ and was more than likely going to find some other way to kill people.[/b] I never said they need to be banned, I just said it happened. The man in the article I read was clearly mentally disturbed before he watched the movie, I was just surprised at the lack of media attention on the whole incident, considering how the media is so strung up about scapegoating video games.