Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Does it Take More to Shock Us Now?

I was watching the news tonight and there was a wee bit about Saw 3, saying how it has taken over 40 million dollars on its opening weekend and has been at #1 on the US charts for 3 weeks. It's looking set to overtake the first two installments in the Saw franchise.

It's interesting... I watched Saw and thought wow, what a movie. But I also cringed and winced and hid behind my hands a few times (you're such a wuss, Marty). I haven't yet managed to watch Saw II. Whenever I'm at the video shop hunting for something to watch, I pause before Saw II and then move on, likewise with Hostel and The Hills Have Eyes. I just can't bring myself to watch them.

I did manage to watch Wolf Creek, but that was the last of these "pseudo-snuff" or "horror-porn" films I've watched (I heard those terms branded about somewhere recently and thought, yeah, that kind of describes them). 'Head on a Stick;' man, what a frightening and cold scene that was.....

I like my horror hidden in shadows. I prefer the more atmospheric movies rather than the shotgun ones. The Others, or The Blair Witch Project - movies where your imagination gets to play in the darkness.

But hey, these explicit films are drawing the crowds. Perhaps this is because our society has become desensitized to violent acts, and it takes more to scare or unsettle us now.

I'm building up to watch The Hills Have Eyes remake though. I remember seeing the original back when I was young; I brought my small tele into the lounge because I was too scared to watch the flick by myself in my bedroom. So I sat the tele on a chair, plugged my headphones in, and scared myself silly! Boy oh boy, that was an experience.

I've heard the remake is pretty good, so I'm determined to see it. I can always hide behind my wife :)

2 comments:

Brian G Ross said...

I watched 'Saw' recently for the first time and thought it was a great little addition to the genre - a clever tale wrapped up in a grisly package. Like you, I have yet to watch the sequel, but I just haven't got around to it.

It's not because I'm a wuss.

:)

Marty Young said...

Heh heh, sure, I believe you :)