Slasher/torture movies

[Gene L]

This seems to be the latest form of porn on the big screen. I think it is sick, and unconscienceable to make these movies, and I'm afraid of "copycats" trying out some of these things, as they have with other movies.

Are we changing as a society into a Callilgula-like anything goes community? Am I over-reacting to these movies that gratuitously sell sadism? There are two currently out, or so it seems from the advertisements...."Hostel" being one of them.

Maybe I'm over-reacting.

[C-Charlie42]

No it's not just you. I can't watch that crap either.

[Presence]

it does seem like they are cranking them out pretty fast, doesn't it? eh, i'm not a fan of these...though all my friends seem to think I am because I do love a good cheesy zombie flick.

although, i thought 28 weeks later was pretty good, and not cheesy.

i also enjoy older (60's, 70's, 80's) horror movies...The shock factor isn't as it is now, and the effects are laughable. They are entertaining, but don't give you that gut twisting feeling as you watch people get ripped apart in the movies they are making now.

[boardwurx]

Slasher Movies... go to far ??!!

I think that the media portrayal of crimes and horror movies are the easily the biggest "idea mill" for the criminals you guys/gals deal with everyday.

There doesn't seem to be any boundaries anymore. For instance, I have not seen the film "hostel 2"... and don't plan to, but the previews that I have been seeing on TV lead me to believe that a infant or very small child is going to be one of the victims !?!

I am sure that all the officers that write and respond on these forums can tell there share of scary stories... but who wants to start noticing a increase in violent crimes against infants or children?

There should be a rule.. even if it is just a mutually understood "un-written" rule that film companies should follow.

I think that even in a business where shock sells, someone should be stepping back and saying "I think that is a little much."

[Gene L]

it does seem like they are cranking them out pretty fast, doesn't it? eh, i'm not a fan of these...though all my friends seem to think I am because I do love a good cheesy zombie flick.

although, i thought 28 weeks later was pretty good, and not cheesy.

i also enjoy older (60's, 70's, 80's) horror movies...The shock factor isn't as it is now, and the effects are laughable. They are entertaining, but don't give you that gut twisting feeling as you watch people get ripped apart in the movies they are making now.

Zombie movies aren't in the same genre. I like them OK. Some are even funny. And anyway, zombies can't feel pain, are dead, and it's just another form of a video fame where you shoot targets.

"Shaun of the Dead" was hilarious. And most famous of all, "The Night of the Living Dead" wasn't cruel and gratitious.

These movies that glorify pain make me sick.

[GrayPatriot]

I dunno, I thought Hostel was one of the better movies I saw last year. Something I could totally picture happening too...

[concon02]

A lot of people my age are into these movies. They go to see it in the theaters, buy the dvds, whatever. I never got into it. I don't mind blood and guts in a movie when it's tasteful (you know what I mean) but senseless depictions of torture, glorifying it in a way is just sick. It's crazy what will fly in today's society. I'm young so I can't see first hand, but I know enough to know that a lot of what's out there and acceptable today would give people of an older generation a heart attack.

Where will society be in another few decades, or will we even last that long?

[towncop]

I absolutely LOVE these movies. Hostel rocked. Can't wait to see #2. The Saw trilogy was great as well, with 3 being the best, IMHO. I don't see a problem with them actually. Nothing at all. People have had their own ideas and fantasies on how to torture/kill people without seeing it on the big screen for hundreds of years and will continue to do so.

How about Rob Zombie's films - House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects? Those two really kicked butt.

For the fans of the ORIGINAL Halloween movie, Zombie is making a prequel if you will, about what caused the young Michael Myers to do what he did to his sister. Everything I've seen looks good. What makes this even more interesting is the fact that Zombie actually got John Carpenter's blessing to make this film. Can't wait 'til August to see it! Besides ANY movie with Zombie's wife, Sheri Moon Zombie, is worth going to go see. That chick is SMOKIN'!!!

[pujolsfan146]

Add me to the list of people who believe these movies are over the top. When the budget for blood exceeds that of the actors there is a problem.

I do enjoy a great horror movie but it has to be something that is not sick. It seems like hollywood can't produce a horror movie these days that is good and scary and doesn't freak you out with the sick effects of someone being mutilated. With special effects these days it can get pretty graphic.

I watched a few minutes of SAW and had to turn it off. I see enough gore at work. Sure as heck don't want to see it when I am relaxing. Bring back the good scary movies like Poltergeist, Amityville Horror and the like!

[Presence]

I am totally psyched about Zombie's HALLOWEEN flick... I nearly peed my pants when I saw the trailer for it!

Anyway, SAW is gut-twisting... and i can completely understand not wanting to see that stuff when you already see enough of the horrible things people do to each other in real life!!

Hollywood's going a little too far for the shock factor. What happened to the good psychological thrillers? I think the Genre started to change back when Scream came out... but, i thought Scream was really clever and scary... This other stuff is just...shocking. Not in a good way, for me, anyway.

^pujol's, I agree with you! Poltergeist and the like, (the Shining!!, the original Halloween, Friday the 13th...) are where it's at!

I bought this 50 chilling movies pack from amazon, and i'm slowly working my way through it. Some of them get turned off within a few minutes because they are so stupid, but some are awesome. I mean, with a title like "Jesse James meets Frankenstein's Daughter", how can it NOT be good?

Anyway, and whoever made the comment about Shaun of the Dead... I love that movie, it is really clever and funny. thumbs up!

[ThursCo]

Hostel went over the top for me. I was a better person before I saw that movie. The saw movies I could handle, don't ask me why, but hostel was far too much for me.

Zombie films I love. Dawn of the dead, 28 days later, day of the dead, night of the living dead etc. They were all great.

[Gene L]

I think those torture flicks appeal to purient interests. I am reminded that Saddam's oldest son used to watch and particpate in the torture of prisoners.

Sure, it's just a movie. Some movies enlarge a person's humanity, some have no affect, and some lessen it. I see slasher flicks in the last category.

[centralTMC]

I love Saw, but from what I hear it's nothing like the torture stuff in Hostel. I don't like Saw because of the torture scenes, but because of the mind games involved and watching how this guy plans things out. Saw is more of a psychological thriller, and the plot is actually very well thought out.

I heard Hostel is just torture and sex though. The sex part might surprise you, but although I've never seen it, I've been told the first 45 minutes or so is basically porn leading up to the graphic torture. I don't see the appeal in that movie...

[MT Guy]

i'm not a huge fan of these movies, i watch one occasionally. i did see hostel though and thought it was really good and i acutally liked it. i saw saw just the other day for first time, wasnt too bad. i think some movies can go over the top with senseless violence, just like some movies go over the top with senseless nudity and language just for the effect. but when it's part of the movie plot and everything like in hostel, its not too bad.

[Gene L]

I didn't see either of those movies, but movies get you involved. Porn does, I know (used to work vice) and people watch porn and imagine themselves involved in the acts, not just witness to the acts. Imagine is the key here.

No doubt some go home and try them out. This is cool with porn, but not so with torture flicks. They're legal snuff movies, I think, alhtough I've not seen one.

I kinda think of Rome and the Colleseum when I think of these movies. Crowds gathered to see humans slaughtered. And with the watching, the appetite grew so some really horrible things took place. I don't think this informed or enhanced the society of Rome, in fact I think it was one of the crumbling cornerstones that led to its downfall.

A torture flick is the closest we can get to that in this cyber world.