Horror: Has it changed us for the worst?

It's not that we've grown accustomed. The taboo factor of real death will always be a draw for a lot of people, especially since it's rarely, if ever, shown to us in the mainstream. I don't seek out real death though, I hate that shit.

In terms of THE HILLS HAVE EYES, I have to hazard a guess as I haven't seen it, but it seems that in such a film, a restrained rape scene may upset the flow of the violence of the narrative. Many filmmakers are less enthuasiastic to tackle rape because of the controversy around movies that have shown it in the past, and the sensitivity of the subject in this modern culture. I suppose for some, this might be another example of Hollywood pulling its vicious side back and, to put it bluntly, pussying out, as it has done so often recently.

Of course, I haven't seen the movie and as such haven't read much of the thread much, so that's a guess. Does horror numb us? I can only answer personally, and no, it hasn't numbed me. If anything, action movies have numbed me. I've seen footage of real people being shot, and it seems less shocking because we've seen it done constantly in movies before. People treat horror movies as this sinister blotch on society that make people lust for snuff movies like a vampire for blood, but as far as I'm concerned, the nasty action movie genre is far, far worse.

No, it hasn't affected me at all. I can watch the nastiest, most gruesome stuff as long as it's confined in a movie and, therefore, not real. Obviously I appreciate realistic effects (Hills delivered on this greatly) but in the back of my mind there's this little spot that says "That's not real" so it doesn't totally effect me.

Real life? One drop of blood makes me queezy. I can't bear to see real-life violence or gore or anything. I honestly think that people who've grown "bored" with horror movies and actively seek out the real stuff because they've gotten numb (i.e. the Faces of Death people), well, those people are screwed up.

On the contrary, I eat FEWER people now than I did before I saw Ghoulies.

Depends on what you mean by "...For the worst". Have I become desensitzed to horror over the years, looking for nastier "fixes". Personally, yes I have. In turn though, between "violent" video games and horror films, I'm a much calmer person. Born with a prediliction towards violence, both those genres, along with partipating in the more violent of sports, have been outlets for the darker side of my personality, and it's likely without them that violence would have manifested itself in far worse ways. I've always been amused by people spouting out about video games and films causing violent behaviour in children/teenagers, since it has always had the exact opposite effect on me. That's certainly not saying that is the norm, but as one of the exceptions, I'm vehemently opposed to the censorship, either self appointed or governmentally, of either genre.

I think it CAN alter you (short term at least) if you subject yourself to the most extreme elements of the genre day in and day out. In college I took a Horror Genre class taught by Bruce Kawin. The guy knows his stuff. So for four days a week *screenings included* we were subjected to non-stop Horror Films. Not just your garden variety Freddy though....twisted recreations of the war atrocities of Unit 731. Stan Brakhage's Autopsy (real autopsy footage he made into a short), books about Ed Gein, Holocaust. Pretty much non-stop stimuli for an entire semester. I can honestly say it screwed with my head.

That being said...after the class completed and I was able to distance myself from Horror day in and day out I really didn't see any long term effects besides a better understanding of the genre. My wife says I am morbid but she is just a pu$$y.

But that's real stuff, which is the whole point. It's whether or not the unreal can affect you.

No cinematic merit than the violence? Come on now. It's got a lot more going for it than that- it was one of the first movies to shoot in that realistic style and try to convince people it was a doc.

Good question about horror though. I don't think horror movies have changed me in any way though- I've always been interested in dark stuff... and used to be obsessed with death as a child. And I might be more desensitized to gore because of the things I watch but movies like the Guinea Pig series and shit, even some asian ghost stories creep me out.

And forget about real life violence. It still sickens me. Although I can't say I don't have a morbid curiousity about it.... I'll check Ogrish every once in a while until I can't take it anymore.

I haven't seen The Hills Have Eyes, neither have I heard this specific complaint. But I can tell you that in my opinion, all unwanted, forced sex scenes should be portrayed as ugly and horrific as possible.

"Irréversible" handles that quite nicely. And the violent aftermath as well.

Foremath?

As someone who unashamedly doesn't get the whole gore/splatter thing, I can't help but wonder where the allure lies - on any level. So - genuine question - what is it about gore? What is appealing about the hardcore, bloody evisceration of human flesh as entertainment? Could someone have a go at explaining it?

I'm not particularly into the whole splatter thing either - especially, I've noticed, since becoming a parent - but I did watch Day of the Dead again for the first time in years just the other day, and that's a seriously gory film. Real guts and gore stuff. And it's great. Because the bloody violence accentuates the tone and style of the movie. It's a nasty, bleak film and the moments of flesh-ripping underscore that. Of course, it's also a well made and intelligent film, so that helps. I've no real interest in stuff like Cannibal Holocaust, because there doesn't seem to be any real thought behind it beyond the gross out.

It's rollercoaster cinema - and not in that dumb "two thumbs up" blockbuster sense. It's the feeling of seeing something that staggers or shocks you, that makes you wonder if you'll make it to the end of the ride. Like how The Aristocrats is for comedy, it's important to test your boundaries once in a while. To be confronted by something outside your comfort zone.

And, in the case of Braindead, it's fucking hilarious.

That movie was sick, twisted, and funny as hell. On topic, the gore in that movie gets way absurd, and wouldn't affect the remotely sane. But I do think that the reactions to horror movies depend solely on the current state of a person's mind and maturity. Like all other art forms, movies don't evoke a single response to all involved, but certainly can have a major effect on the feeble. Horror is probrably the most scrutinized, since it is the most savage, and it can fuck people up big time. Which is cool, but you gotta know where to draw the line between reality and fiction.

I'm with Dan on this one. I used to be a total gore-hound when I was younger but as I've gotten older (and become a parent) I've noticed that gore for the sake of gore is just boring and I have no interest in it, but if it's part of a larger thing and is well made and the gore and violence serves a purpose, I can appreciate it as part of the larger experience.

Ta for the answer, Dan. Forgot about Braindead - I guess I would regard that as comedy-gore. Kind of 'Black Knight getting arms and legs cut off' gore. Its the glee a certain type of person takes in genuinely upsetting, nasty, violent gore that utterly perplexes me. I was at a loss one day a few years ago and decided to go to the movies on my own. Nothing really tickled my fancy, but being a sci-fi buff, I decided to give this new film 'Event Horizon' a try. Say no more. Anyway, and please believe me when I say this is not an exaggeration, there was a dude sat next but one chair to me who began rubbing his thighs and moaning 'Yeah yeeaaaah' whenever any of the visions of hell showed up. I kid you not. It actually made me feel sicker than the gratuitous bilge I had to force myself to watch on screen. This is the type of person I have serious difficulty getting my head around. People who love gore, people who obsess over gore and how it is achieved, people who get genuinely excited when they hear a film is particularly gory etc. What the fuck is that?

I agree that an element of gore can certainly add weight to a scene, and improve it - as you rightly point out, given context, it can be shockingly effective - its the gratuitous, masturbatory splatter that I can't reconcile with any normal human being. There. I said it. They're freaks. Or twelve.

I believe the word is 'mentalist.' Or 'Fabfunk.'

Wasn't it Todd Solondz who said his movies aren't for the people who actually like them?

I think that the gore factor is a much greater aspect in mainstream horror films nowadays, the reason being that people are not responding to old school scare tactics. For instance in Scilence of the Lambs it was the first meeting between Starling and Lector that was truely chilling,,and not the gorey, bloody scene where Lectors escapes his holding cell, by biting off the coppers tongue.

As with most things, there is only so far you can take gorey scenes and that is why it is becoming more extreame, mosre disgusting as there is simpley not point in repeating the same scenes over and over.

They are the sort of people who have not learnt the difference between more and better. The sort that think being able to down a bottle of whiskey is cooler than passing out after half. I doubt many of these poeple are actually homicidal freaks, more just immature - they haven't what they actually want and so have to judge things on external criteria like quantity and extremity.

Yes the real stuff was used as the intro and the rest of the semester was spent with many of the items mentioned in this thread.

Where have we come down on this? I wanna say that beyond an appreciation of the genre and the ability to be able to view gore, splatter, or other fantastically horrific elements (more?) critically I don't think it would really cause any alterations.

Reactions to real world stimuli occur because...like Charlie said...those are real things happening to real people.

I think horror can only be beneficial, and far better for us than the usual insincerity of canned non-horror Hollywood. When decapitations are simulated, it may be troubling for a young kid, but not as much as the assumption that a good looking 35 year old dipshit that lives with his parents and a wanton, well-off prostitute dedicated to deceiving him deserve love.

I disagree. Hos and geeks deserve love more than children deserve to watch executions.

Odd couples are less troubling than murder. IMO.