Well, it has to be noted (again) that FRANKENSTEIN, DRACULA, FREAKS, THE
MUMMY, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, THE BLACK CAT, THE RAVEN and about a dozen
others in the 30s were then considered "extreme horror" with many states
attempting to cut and ban them (and we are talking the USA) with many
succeeding at both.
The fact that Clark Gable said "damn" in GWTW was a major big deal
because of the censorship and moral climate of the day.
Society is always looking for an external reason to blame for its ills.
It has been movies before. It has been comics, pulp magazines, movies
again, video games, television, movies again in the form of videotapes,
etc, etc.
Erik's point is well-made (again). I'd probably choose to watch KANE
again right now rather than TCM. But tomorrow night I might prefer to
watch RE-ANIMATOR again than GWTW again. All four mentioned films
deliver what they promise to.
A few weeks back, I showed PSYCHO to a 35 year old who had NEVER seen it
- ever - and had probably never seen another horror film. It still
worked, i.e. they were scared, they jumped, they were creeped out by
that last shot of Norman.
In 1960, PSYCHO was considered "extreme" by many critics and many of the
public. The box office was huge. It was considered so extreme that
Australian censors made significant cuts for Paramount to even get it
released here with the then toughest rating of SUITABLE ONLY FOR ADULTS.
THE BIRDS also had cuts to get passed by the Australian censors.
Just a few short years later, almost an entire sequence was eliminated
from TORN CURTAN (the murder in the farmhouse) to get a NOT SUITABLE FOR
CHILDREN rating (because SOA would have damaged the box office)... why?
Because it was considered TOO EXTREME.
And the point is.... "extreme" is subjective.
Phil
Erik wrote:
People watch horror films the same reason some people ride roller
coasters,
or skydive, or watch a sappy tearjerker: it gives them an emotional
stimulus
they enjoy receiving. It's not for everyone.
Tastes are different, and "positive contributions" may be one thing to
you
and another to I. I'll take Tobe Hooper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre over
Citizen Kane any day of the week. Re-Animator trounces Gone With the
Wind in
my house. Am I supposed to feel somewhat less of a movie fan because
of my
tastes in cinema? Is the fact that I own Cannibal Holocaust supposed
to make
me a sick, depraved prevert, regardless of how "normal" my life is?
I think not. What floats your boat may not work for me, bunky. Such is
the
beauty of choice.
Cheers,
Erik
----- Original Message -----
From: "JOHN REID Vintage Movie Memorabilia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 9:03 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] HOSTILE TOWARD HOSTEL
I have never been able to understand the fascination with extreme horror
films or the motivation of those who make them. Perhaps it is just the
cheap
thrill or a perverted form of shock value but it is all a mystery to
me. I
believe that, despite what some sociologists might claim, there is a
direct
correlation between violence in movies and the many violent and horrific
crimes that seem to occur daily. I guess those who make these films will
make money from them but it is a pity that they cannot direct their
talents
into making films that can make a positive contribution.
JOHN REID VINTAGE MOVIE MEMORABILIA
PO Box 92
Palm Beach
Qld 4221
Australia
Website: www.moviemem.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Edwards Cinema Arts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] HOSTILE TOWARD HOSTEL
Erik is correct of course, most most notably in his last two paras of
his post.
I probably won't see HOSTEL unless it's as a freebie on DVD down the
track.
I haven't bothered to see remakes of DAWN OF THE DEAD or TCM either.
It's a matter of choice. I can think of a dozen movies that I would
choose head of eitehr of these to watch given the amount of fre rtime I
have to watch movies these days.
But it has nothing to do with content, although perhaps subject matter
is an issue in making a choice, preferring an "emotional adrenalin
rush"
to a more "visceral adrenalin rush". I like films that disturb me
emotionmally and promote thought about "difficult" emotions over films
that really just make me choke with a gag reflex....
but.... in past there were films like NOTLD DEAD, DAWN OF THE DEAD,
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, HALLOWEEN, NIKGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, etc,
etc... and they all received similar commenatry at the time of their
release as films like HOSTEL and SAW receive today.
I'm re-reading David Skal's excellent book THE MONSTER SHOW....
essential reading for serious horror fans as are all of David's
books.... and guess what? The contemporary 1932 critical quotes to
FREAKS and MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE could almost be identical, just by
replacing 'FEAKS' with 'HOSTEL'.
So much of this stuff has to do with changing sensibilities and the
need
every few years for film makers to "revolt" against the kind of
creeping
conservatism that permeates through politics and society and into
popular arts (like film). Why do you think American independent film
makers did such a huge cage rattel in the late 1960s, apart from
protesting another commercially-driven war?
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and HOSTEL are likely coming out of the same school
in some ways... the school of WAKE-UP film making. They may achieve a
different aesthetic and through different means, but at least they are
honest in their (quite diverse) intentions/methods, unlike something
like THE PASSION, which was a gorehound movie masquerading as an
uplifting spiritual experience.
Phil
Erik wrote:
I was in attendance at a screening with Eli Roth in Texas not to long
ago, and while I didn't care for Hostel (or Roth's work in general) I
for one am thankful that hard-core (not in the pornographic sense that
many attatch to the word) horror is making a comeback.
I cut my teeth on the Golden Age of Slasher Films during the late 70's
to the mid 80's and as of late, the genre has become so PC,
watered-down and weak-kneed by catering to the PG-13 teeny-bopper
crowd (as the recent glut of crap with Kevin Williamson's name
attached to it attests) that I thank my bloody stars that a film like
Hostel is even seeing the light of day, much less getting national
distribution. This is nothing more then a drive-in flick at best, and
it's #1 opening was a welcome sight to this ol' gorehound's jaded
retinas.
I'm not delving into the "bad movies/bad tv debate" as it's pointless
here. I'm outnumbered and will surely get trounced by those with more
time (and by those much wordier then I) to make their case.
I'm also thankful *I* am the one deciding what I watch, and not
someone who thinks *they* know what's good or bad.
If it's offensive don't watch.
Cheers,
Erik
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