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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think that people who 'enjoy' horror films are just a little bit fucked up?

237 replies

LastMinuteLouise · 29/12/2011 00:07

Maybe I am just an oversensitive person but I find watching my fellow man being terrified, screaming and then horribly killed, with blood and guts spewing, just a bit offensive! I am aware it is not real (plenty of real stuff in the news which is just as bad) but just having these images in my head upsets me. DH says he just forgets it when it's finished - he's currently watching 'Devil', some fucked up film about a devil in a lift Hmm. Most of the dramas and films these days are about people getting murdered, getting killed or being dead. It is so mainstream.

I mean where do these film makers get these ideas? Surely they should be committed? Are we all supposed to have this 'dark' side that they make into 'art'? Where is the entertainment in having horrifying images in your head?

I remember watching 'Changeling' a few years back thinking it was about a woman who's son disappears and who is then given a 'ringer' back by the police. I was totally unprepared for the scene in which young boys (my DSs age) were shown being axed to death. Fucked me up for months weeks and I was watching it alone. I remember shouting at the screen, please tell me that did'nt happen but apparently it did.

I don't know. Am I abnormal?

OP posts:
saadia · 29/12/2011 09:24

YANBU - I've never understood the film industry's fascination/obsession with serial killers etc either.

TotemPole · 29/12/2011 09:28

EdwardorEricCantDecide, I think it was based on a true story.

There's so much more to that film than what's been mentioned. For me, the 'horror' was the mother being institutionalised and the hopelessness of the situation she was in. I wouldn't describe it as a horror film.

BTW, Eric ... obviously. Edward is far too sparkly.Wink

TotemPole · 29/12/2011 09:42

Oops, and I've just seen that you already mentioned that earlier. Blush

MilkNoSugarPlease · 29/12/2011 10:52

YABVU to suggest that someone who likes these films is "fucked up"

They're entertainment...maybe not YOUR kind of entertainment....but they are someone's!

Final destination is brilliant! 4th one was a bit shit, but they brought it back with an excellent 5th one :o

limitedperiodonly · 29/12/2011 10:57

You spectacularly missed the point of Changeling OP.

I also like some actual horror films, rather than films in which horrible things happen. It depends what you watch and how much attention you pay it.

pictish · 29/12/2011 10:58

So don't watch them then OP!
I don't....I find them gruesome and childish, so I avoid them.

What other people find entertaining is up to them though. I imagine it's the sensation they enjoy....as in watching something that makes them feel something...whether that be fear, disgust or even humour!

It's a harmless enough pastime isn't it? I don't think it indicates anything fundamentally wrong with the viewer does it?

aldiwhore · 29/12/2011 11:01

I personally think people who love rom coms are the fucked up ones, but there you go, horses for courses and all that.

I LOVE horror films in general, gory or not. There are some seriously crap ones, and some that miss the point of a good story, there are some that have very questionable production ethics, and some that have content that makes me deeply uncomfortable, but in the main, I'd watch a horror over any other genre.

fuzzypicklehead · 29/12/2011 11:02

YANBU.

SuePurblybilt · 29/12/2011 11:08

Rom-coms have much to answer for, they may raise expectations, show inaccurate living conditions (WHO has houses like that?), regularly show male leads punching above their weight and bore the viewer even to death. They regularly have soundtracks that may disturb and worry.

I don't think you could argue that they normalise extreme violence but it's been said about the torture porn genre and I can see why. So on balance, I'd not be as Confused if I saw Notting Hill on a shelf of a friend as if I saw the box set of Saw films.

sheepgomeep · 29/12/2011 11:08

yanbu. I enjoy a good gory horror book and I love a proper scary horror film, like paranormal activity etc but when it comes to sadistic gory films that have torture or horrific murders in them that that turns my stomach. Why anyone would want to watch that is beyond me.

I know the actors are acting but in reality many people have been horrifically murdered/tortured in real life and why anyone would want to re enact that baffles me

sheepgomeep · 29/12/2011 11:11

I quite like the halloween films, I get those Grin

ByTheSea · 29/12/2011 11:18

I liked them okay as a teen, but I am just soooo past it. And I can't even look these days when anything gets too graphic.

solidgoldbrass · 29/12/2011 11:20

There is a long history of people enjoying entertainment which is frightening/upsetting, and sound psychological reasons behind the idea of the 'safe scare'. Watching a film of bad shit happening is safe in that the bad shit is not happening to you, and the whole catharsis of fear/pity etc gives your glands a good workout.
OP, you probably get your thrills in other ways - sport, rollercoasters, dramatic love life or something. No need to watch films you don't like, but being sniffy about others' tastes tends to make you look a bit unimaginative and narrow.

pictish · 29/12/2011 11:23

I'm the same bythesea - I was quite the fan in my early to mid teens, but I lost interest by the time I got a bit older. They're all pretty samey and low brow.

I think horror/slasher movies are childish, but I don't think they indicate any problem with the viewer!

OrmIrian · 29/12/2011 11:30

I can't watch them. Never have been able to. The images stay with me. And yes, I do wonder a little about what makes people find such stuff tolerable, even enjoyable. But then I am ridiculously easy to manipulate - I cry easily too, at any old sentimental tosh.

nokissymum · 29/12/2011 11:38

YANBU! I agree with everything you said, I stopped watching horror films about 20 yrs ago. The ones that are true life accounts I find the most disturbing, and yes I was shaking after watching changeling, was totally unprepared, I just can't help playing over and over in my head the terror and pain those children went through especially in the last minutes if their lives and those that had to watch it all.

Malificence · 29/12/2011 11:41

I love horror films, the gorier and more psychologically torturing the better, but then I love stuff about serial killers etc. too.

The Walking dead has to be one of the best programmes in years, gotta love zombies!

aldiwhore · 29/12/2011 11:41

Supurly I'm not one to blame any kind of film for the wrongdoings of society, whether a romcom or horror. Its a different argument entirely, this is about people who LIKE horror being fucked up.

We are not.

Those who LIKE romcoms, are not fucked up either I suppose. They're not all lonely and bitter singletons who haven't achieved the apartment, career or pletherer of attractive happy friends. Likewise, I am not about to take my chainsaw out of the shed and make artwork out of my neighbour's buttocks.

Its a very lame thing to point the finger at the entertainment industry for all of society's ills. Horror films didn't even exist 200 yrs ago, when I'm pretty sure there were some very sick individuals doing very sick things and probably blaming pagans.

Horror films do not normalise extreme violence. Though they may give someone who has leaning towards violence a few ideas.

Same with bloody romcoms.

Neither are real.

Conflugenglugen · 29/12/2011 11:44

I enjoy horror movies (not slasher porn), and I'm a wee bit fucked up. Can't prove a connection though. Xmas Grin

DoMeDon · 29/12/2011 11:46

YANBU

notveryinventive · 29/12/2011 11:47

I dont think of films like Saw, hostel etc as horror films, but more gore films. They're not scarey just gross. Saw isnt just about torture though, its about people not helping themselves or others.

Ive seen all final destination films and quite enjoy them, the best one was definately the last, but that was because the end of the film made me go "oh" and I didnt expect it.

YANBU to not like it, but YABU to judge those that do. Some I like, some not as much. I cant watch those where the main character doesnt come out on top though.

I do wonder about the people who come up with the ideas esp the human catepillar Hmm

Moominsarescary · 29/12/2011 11:48

ledkr they are real don't you know, the zombies will take over the world

I also like 28days/weeks later, couldn't go out for a cigarette on my own after though incase everyone had suddenly developed rage without me noticing

Does anyone know when the walking dead starts again, think it's feb

notveryinventive · 29/12/2011 11:51

I also love Rom-coms too, and musicals.

I must totally be fucked up for liking horrors and rom-coms Grin

annoyingdevil · 29/12/2011 11:52

Funny, I think exactly the same thing about people that watch rom/coms.

I love horror films, but then I'm probably on the spectrum so maybe that has something to do with it.

pictish · 29/12/2011 11:59

What has being on the spectrum got to do with it?