For years, whenever he watched a horror film at night, my brother insisted on closing all the curtains, switching all the lights off, and generally creating a morgue-like atmopshere in our living room. He was adamant that not even a single table lamp be left on, for this would make the atmosphere "less scary".
This, naturally, had the effect of making me absolutely terrified (but never being able to admit it to my older brother) and causing me to watch various portions of The Omen, Hammer House of Horror and The Exorcist (which we rented from "under the counter" at Harlequin video) from behind cushions and pieces of furniture.
Then, strangely, about five years ago, Ron declared that he'd had enough of "sick" films. He "couldn't watch" Reservoir Dogs and he no longer insisted on sitting in the dark to build suspense for whatever was on TV. His life values had seemingly changed overnight, and he was done with senseless killing forever.
At the time I thought "How Strange!"..but now I think I understand. Last night I watched "Untraceable"...an utterly sick horror flick. (In a departure from her usual genre, Emma chose it!) I heartily encourage you never to watch it (especially if you have children) unless you want to fuel those dark, horrific fears you have in the back of your mind. (Synopsis: sicko kills people, general public watches live on Internet.)
"Who would want to make a movie like that?" I asked Emma. "Why would anyone want to portray that as entertainment?", I thought to myself. Why would you even want to give someone the IDEA of copying what was in that film? Awful. Shocking. Without value.
As the New York Times put it (I HAD to find out what critics thought of this film): "You may view “Untraceable,” as I do, as a repugnant example of the voyeurism it pretends to condemn. Or you may stand back and see it as a cleverly conceived, slickly executed genre movie that ranks somewhere between “Seven” and the “Saw” movies in sadistic ingenuity."
So, can anyone else report a sudden overnight aversion to sick horror films that occurred in their mid thirties? I'm curious.
Never been able to watch them....and for some reason I seem to have a grown a pair of breasts in my mid (OK, late) thirties, as I now seem to spend my time watching American 'rom-coms' such as Knocked Up, Juno and 40 Year Old Virgin...what on earth is going on?? (or is it that I let my wife pick the movies?):-(
I did watch Eastern Promise last week and loved it (wife away) - Viggo Mortenwhatsit in a naked knife fight...I'll never be able to see Lord of the Rings in the same light again...
Posted by: Matt | July 16, 2008 at 02:29 AM
Never been able to watch them....and for some reason I seem to have a grown a pair of breasts in my mid (OK, late) thirties, as I now seem to spend my time watching American 'rom-coms' such as Knocked Up, Juno and 40 Year Old Virgin...what on earth is going on?? (or is it that I let my wife pick the movies?):-(
I did watch Eastern Promise last week and loved it (wife away) - Viggo Mortenwhatsit in a naked knife fight...I'll never be able to see Lord of the Rings in the same light again...
Posted by: Matt | July 16, 2008 at 02:29 AM
So good it posted it twice...
Posted by: Matt | July 16, 2008 at 02:43 AM
I have never, ever liked horror films. I used to like gory-lite (such as ER) and suddenly (just like you describe) couldn't stomach it anymore. AND, we watched Untraceable on a plane about a week ago, and I found it disgusting. Oh, Diane Lane. How could you?
Chick flicks all the way.
DZ
Posted by: Dushka | July 25, 2008 at 10:49 PM