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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be sickened by the level of violence and gore in horror films these days?

292 replies

dontmeanto · 13/05/2013 16:41

...and the sheer volume of them??

DP and I went to hire a film Saturday night as a treat and couldn't believe just how many of these films were on the New Arrivals shelves.

Various plots on abduction, torture, force, maiming, etc.

I guess I just don't get why people are entertained by these films? I find them disturbing at best and absolutely disgusting at worst.

I just don't want those types of things in my head, and I worry there's a generation out there that will in some way become desensitised to this level of violence by making these films "cool" to watch with friends.

I remember being shocked by Scream when I was a teen, but these now are a billion times worse!

AIBU?

OP posts:
Fakebook · 14/05/2013 11:11

Schro, forget the popcorn, lets "play a little game". You have 10 seconds to unlock the bomb I've attached to your head with the key I've hidden inside your left kidney, or else your brains will explode all over AIBU. Your time starts now!

Morloth · 14/05/2013 11:11

Knives are no good Fakebook, do you actually know how to knife fight?

In horror movies people always go for the knives.

This is a mistake. What you want is something long, hard and heavy Wink. A poker, a chair leg, something that doesn't require any finesse or skill. Possibly a small knife that the bad guy doesn't know you have. Waving a big knife around is likely to result in a chopped off head.

I have to stop actually, I think Schro might be onto something with the concern for claig's mental health which probably means I should not be poking her.

claig · 14/05/2013 11:13

'And don't you think that if this was all real "they" would just get on with the violence and brutality? Why would they even give a toss if we were de-sensitised to it, surely that's counter productive if they're wanting to go the whole way with torture and killing a violence.'

They can't do that. That is not how the world works. If they tried that, then there would be resistance, people would wake up. That is why they want to acclimatise people to it by assaulting the senses amd altering minds by a constant stream of ever more detailed and realistic gore. Before they can achieve their goals, they have to desensitise people, to break their boundaries and break their will.

GetOrfMoiLand · 14/05/2013 11:14

The violence prevalent in films today is different to what was around in the 80s. For instance compare the first Terminator film to the later ones - the first one people were just shot and killed, and in later ones purposefully the films were not as violent in such a graphic way. Loads of shoot 'em up films in the 80s where the random violence looks quite shocking today.

Yet, I cannot remember when I was a kid the torture porn type movies. Something like Hostel or Saw - I cannot imagine why people would watch something so unremittingly grim.

I think there seems to be more sexual violence as well - even if shown 'mildly'. For instance CSI or Criminal Minds. Always seem to have a semi naked woman dead on a mortuary slab. And some of the storylines border on titilating imo. And that is a mainstream tv show.

I can cope with violent films and TV if it has a comedy/comic book type element (I don't know what that says about me) - I wouldn't watch a gory horror but quite happily sit there laughing at terrible films like Final Destination, and Quentin Tarantino films I think are wonderful despite being blood soaked.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 14/05/2013 11:15

Ohhh Saw stylee. I'm gross enough that I am sure I would do it. Blush

Morloth I thought it was hilarious last night but the more I see on this thread, the more obvious it seems that Claig has a severe problem with paranoia.

We take the OFRS thread with a pinch of salt while we are shitting it, this is different.

Fakebook · 14/05/2013 11:18

Morloth, I have barbecue skewers? I could hide them in my sleeves and poke eyes with them? I don't know how to knife fight, but I've watched Scream a few times and I think I've perfected the stabbing motion. Just need to put it into practise now Wink

claig · 14/05/2013 11:18

I have no problem with paranoia, just as Orwell didn't have either.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 14/05/2013 11:18

I've never watched this stuff - a good Hitchcock is my limit.

Rarely watch any 18 certificate film as extreme violence seems to be mandatory.
DH and I joke that we'd like more sex and less violence in our viewing Smile
But sex only seems to be "allowed" these days if it's accompanied by some pretty serious violence too.

Basically give me a film where the characters are well observed, the script is well written, and as a bonus there's some gentle romance, and I'll be happy.
Seems I'm in the minority though Sad

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 14/05/2013 11:19

Claig It's pretty apparent that you do. You should really speak to someone about this as it is not normal to immerse yourself in conspiracies like this.

Morloth · 14/05/2013 11:21

Hmmm not sure about skewers.

I do wonder where people's rage and/or survival instincts go in those movies.

Either attempt to leave the building or inflict as much pain as possible on the baddy.

Don't fuck around in your undies screaming.

claig · 14/05/2013 11:22

Schro, forgive me if I ignore your considered diagnosis, as it seems plain that you are not as aware as you think you are, since you don't understand why these violent films and computer games are now so prolific.

claig · 14/05/2013 11:23

sorry, that should be
so prolific and horrific

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 14/05/2013 11:23

Yes, it's me who has a problem because I don't believe that men in suits that Orwell wrote about in his fictional book 1948 are against us all and trying to de-sensitise us using movies and games that a bloody massive amount of people are against anyway.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 14/05/2013 11:24

Morloth It's when they run up the stairs that annoys the hell out of me, into the bathroom with a shite lock and no window and a nail file or something. Hmm

claig · 14/05/2013 11:25

'Seems I'm in the minority though'

Juggling, your are in the majority. The gore fans are in the minority.

claig · 14/05/2013 11:26

'Yes, it's me who has a problem because'

That is the least of your problems.

aldiwhore · 14/05/2013 11:28

Gore films were extraordinarily popular and plentiful in the 70's and 80's - but they were banned, and prohibition made them even more popular.

My DH is a gore fan, he's a passive, chilled out gentle person. As a kid he was interested in how they made things look so real, and that was part of the challenge for film makers, especially once the use of animals was banned (rightly).

Mostly, the films of the 70's and 80's were shite, apart from a few very good ones (still sick though, and for me, thoroughly enjoyable) but no less grusome than those of today. In many ways, some of them were sicker.

It is fantasy. And as long as people understand the difference between fantasy and reality, they are perfectly harmless, in fact they may actually serve a purpose... I always feel a bit better when someone I don't 'like' gets it in a movie, it doesn't mean I wish the same on actual people.

When the fantasy/reality lines get blurred things get messy, but I don't think it's about 'desensitising' people so they think it's okay, it's more that these films can give those with reality rage, certain mental illnesses or damage (lack of real community, lack of prospects, lack of self worth)ideas. Take away the films, and the gore, people wouldn't suddenly murder people naicely, they would just use their imagination rather than film reference.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 14/05/2013 11:29

You really shouldn't part quote. It's fucking annoying and done simply to make it look like you are in the right.

If you're going to enter into a discussion like this with wild claims then at least give a decent argument and quote full statements and not just the parts you like.

Very Daily Mail.

claig · 14/05/2013 11:30

'Very Daily Mail.'

Thank you for the compliment. That is my favourite newspaper.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 14/05/2013 11:31

Well that explains a lot.

GetOrfMoiLand · 14/05/2013 11:31

I suppose though aldi that the gory films in the 70s and 80s were not so mainstream as the torture porn films of today. And everything is far easier to access now - expect getting hold of a video of a gory film in the early 80s was reasonably difficult. Mind you instant access is not just a problem for violence is it.

My daughter plays Call of Duty - I was actually expecting that to be a lot more gory than it actually is.

Original poster
dontmeanto · 14/05/2013 11:32

Oh jesus.

OP posts:
claig · 14/05/2013 11:35

This is a report on Call of Duty in the Mail

"In the most controversial scene, the player is a CIA operative who has infiltrated a Russian terror group involved in a gun attack on an airport.

In order to protect his cover, the agent can join in the slaughter of civilians.
The scene has been compared to last year's Mumbai terror attacks. The level is prefaced with a warning and an option to skip it, but many are disgusted at its inclusion.

Keith Vaz MP, the chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, said he was 'absolutely shocked' that the game contained such scenes of 'brutality'.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226588/Call-Duty-Political-storm-brutal-video-game-allows-killing-civilians-airport-massacre.html

I think Keith Vaz is right.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 14/05/2013 11:36

I don't read the Mail, not gullible enough to believe a word that is written in it.

claig · 14/05/2013 11:38

'I don't read the Mail, not gullible enough to believe a word that is written in it.'

But you enjoy watching horror gore movies instead.

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