Horror films

[starrylizard]

I'm sure there is a name for the particular genre of horror, but I don't know it. But what the heck is with these horror movies that have no plot other than to create a situation in which (often completely innocent) people are made helpless and tortured by psychopathic bullies.

What does it say about our society that we condone such movies as cinema and what does it say about our society that there is a definite and very strong market for these movies?

I'm honestly confused and appalled by them. Perhaps this makes me weak and overly sympathetic, but I don't even begin to understand people getting off on the torture other human beings.

They had an interview on the radio the other day with the lead actress in a new Australian movie in which a guy turns her down when asked to be her date to the prom, so she and her father (who are in an incestuous relationship) kidnap said guy and torture him. As far as I could ascertain, that was the entire plot. I had to turn off the radio, but not before they discussed how it was for the actress to put herself in a role where, among many other things, she pins the guys penis to a chair and lobotomises him with an electric drill. She enjoyed it by the way.

I actually still feel ill thinking about the radio interview 2 days later, hence this post.

If someone can explain it to me in a rational way, can explain why they or others watch this kind of thing...? I just honestly don't understand and I'm glad I've never been taken to watch something like this.

I know I have an incredibly low tolerance for violence in film/TV unless there is a good/evil trope to go with it. I am more than aware of that.

This isn't an incrimination on anyone who watches said horror films, it is an honest line of inquiry. Why?

Comments

[pdragon76.livejournal.com]

I've written a fair bit of what could probably be described as "torture-porn"...Blind Spot was fourteen chapters of not much else. *facepalm*

Clearly, I have a kink for the genre. That being said, films like Saw and Wolf Creek, among others, categorically do not interest me. I haven't seen a single Saw movie, and Wolf Creek left me utterly bored and cold.

I think, for me, the kink needs to be supported by an attachment and connection with the characters, the comfort side of the equation, and some extreeeeeemely specific factors in play when it comes to the torture. Put it this way -- you could rip Sam Winchester down to studs and I wouldn't bat an eyelid, but flick Dean in the ear and my pants ignite. Or you could exact the same suffering on them both, and I would yawn over Sam's pain but wear the rewind button off the remote over Dean's. Kinks are as many and varied as the people who have them. And despite being a Dean!torture!whore, there's a great deal of Dean!torture in fanfic that squicks me because it fails to hit my particular kinks in the particular fashion I require to get ignition.

Maybe for some people, pure pain for pain's sake is enough to get them off. Not enough to get me off, but each to their own. *shrugs*

Kinda like Wincest. It ain't my bag, but if it flies your kite, it flies your kite. Who knows where the underpants smoulders come from? Not I. )

But not even Dean Winchester getting his penis pinned to a chair would be alright with me. Ewww. No, thank you.