Why some can and some can't...

[The Bloofer Lady]

Since I have joined this forum, a lot of films have come to my attention that well..would probably make me physically sick to watch. When I look them up on Wikipedia , I am even sorry I read the description. Such films as "A Serbian Film", "Father's Day", "Necromatik"etc. Heck, I can't even watch any of the "Hostel" films.

Yet, many of the members of this forum, who appear to be on my wavelength can watch these. I'm not out to start any discord...I just wonder what's my deal? I can't even handle a preview.

Is it because I am older(57)? A parent and grandmother? (though I've been like this forever). I'm genuinely interested to know why some can watch these type of films and some can't and not out to offend anyone.

[Giganticface]

That's a good question! I think the reasons people enjoy watching horror, gore, dark dramas and exploitative films are broadly varying, and part of a complex psychology. We each have our own tastes, and unique reasons for having the tastes. Students could write dissertations on the topic, and I'm sure they have.

I've been a horror fan my whole life, and also a fan of dark art and music. I'm not sure why. I had a good upbringing, and was successful in academics, athletics, and art. Yet, I still was always doodling violent images and writing disturbing poetry. I don't think I'm a depressive person, but there's definitely something going on there.

So being drawn to the scary stuff seemed engrained in me, whether that be part if my natural brain chemistry, or a product of my environment somehow. But what type of scary stuff is an important distinction, and that's what you're asking about.

I personally cannot stand non-fictional disturbing stuff. I don't enjoy real crime documentaries, stuff like Faces of Death isn't fun for me, and I don't even like watching the news. However, I enjoy watching the most disturbing fictional stuff out there. (Although, I admit, I've yet to see A Serbian Film.)

For most of my horror watching life, I was always mostly drawn to psychological stuff and ghosts, and I have a soft spot for demon possession. But a few years ago, probably with the advent of Hostel, and the tendency for ultraviolence from the rest of the Splat Pack (Saw, Devils Rejects, Hills Have Eyes remake, Wolf Creek), and then discovering New French Extremity (Inside, Martyrs, High Tension), I discovered that watching these films felt almost like a dare, and if I could watch them without averting my eyes, it was titillating. Take it a step further, to the exploitative stuff you mentioned, and Cannibal Holocaust, The Human Centipede, etc., and each film is like an exhausting experience that sticks with you for a while afterwards.

I'm not sure I can fully explain why, but I believe I enjoy these films because a) I know they're not real, and b) they make me feel something I would never (hopefully ever) feel in real life, and "getting through it" feels almost like an accomplishment, and that I survived a traumatic experience. It's a theory, anyway. ::smile::

I'm curious to hear other people's views!

[horcrux2007]

I honestly have no idea why I like gory movies. I guess they just entertain me?
As for movies like A Serbian Film, I'd only watch those for a reaction or something on my channel. I usually never watch those movies again.

[Sculpt]

Interesting question, Bloofer Lady. And thanks, Gigan, I know what you mean.

I honestly have no idea why I like gory movies. I guess they just entertain me?
As for movies like A Serbian Film, I'd only watch those for a reaction or something on my channel. I usually never watch those movies again.
Horcrux, I didn't understand what you said in bold. What does it mean 'you'd only watch for a reaction', and 'or something on my channel'?

[horcrux2007]

Interesting question, Bloofer Lady. And thanks, Gigan, I know what you mean.


Horcrux, I didn't understand what you said in bold. What does it mean 'you'd only watch for a reaction', and 'or something on my channel'?

My youtube channel. I should have clarified.

[Sculpt]

Oh ok, thx. And you mean the reaction people post to your channel?

[horcrux2007]

Oh ok, thx. And you mean the reaction people post to your channel?

It's a video of me watching a movie usually notorious for it being really scary, bloody, disturbing, or disgusting.

[Angra]

I'm a horror nut, I watch everything hyped.

But i'm not a fan of cruel movies. I don't appreciate being disturbed by a movie.

[hammerfan]

I'm not a fan of what I call "slice-n-dice" movies. Movies like Hostel, Saw, etc. I prefer movies that have creatures, or poltergeists, or the occult....or something along those lines.

[horcrux2007]

I'm not a fan of what I call "slice-n-dice" movies. Movies like Hostel, Saw, etc. I prefer movies that have creatures, or poltergeists, or the occult....or something along those lines.

I like both. I'm a fan of lots of gore and supernatural gore-free movies.

[DeadbeatAtDawn]

I love films that disturb. I like gory, filthy depraved story's. I love underground films because there are no rules. Indie directors get to put out their stories and dreams without the middle man saying, you can't show this, that's not acceptable. I still love mainstream horror and will check out films like The Conjuring and truly love the classics. For me, the gory and sick subject matters fascinate me, I like seeing how far they can go. I love practical effects.

They give me disturbing feelings, inside me, I like how that feels.

[The Bloofer Lady]

I like both. I'm a fan of lots of gore and supernatural gore-free movies.

I don't have a problem with gore, blood and guts. Its more when people are being tortured or anything involving children suffering. Jason, Freddy and Michael...they're all fictional and though they kill people, its just not as disturbing. Why? I don't know. Maybe because it seems like it couldn't really happen? But it could. Anyone could put a weird mask and run amok through a summer camp.

Oddly enough, I also feel people that can watch these films to be real horror "aficionados". A bit like what Gigantic said, to be able to sit through the whole film not batting an eye, like a dare.

[The Bloofer Lady]

I love films that disturb. I like gory, filthy depraved story's. I love underground films because there are no rules. Indie directors get to put out their stories and dreams without the middle man saying, you can't show this, that's not acceptable. I still love mainstream horror and will check out films like The Conjuring and truly love the classics. For me, the gory and sick subject matters fascinate me, I like seeing how far they can go. I love practical effects.

They give me disturbing feelings, inside me, I like how that feels.

Yes, yes,yes!.. This is what I want to understand!

[horcrux2007]

Movies like The Human Centipede and A Serbian Film don't disturb me. I forget about them within an hour. Those are the movies that aim to shock with visuals.

Movies like Pontypool and Hard Candy disturb me greatly. I'll think about them days after the viewing. Those aim to disturb with just the ideas.

[Baron Von Marlon]

Movies like The Human Centipede and A Serbian Film don't disturb me. I forget about them within an hour. Those are the movies that aim to shock with visuals.

Movies like Pontypool and Hard Candy disturb me greatly. I'll think about them days after the viewing. Those aim to disturb with just the ideas.

I'm a bit of the other way around.

I know films like Human Centipede and A Serbian Movie will make me sick in a psychological way. That's why I avoid them.
Because when I can see it, my brain will register it differently than reading it or hearing someone talk about it. Then I start thinking about it...

Hard Candy didn't disturb me. It stayed with me but without any discomfort.
Hadn't had any problems with the Saw series. Maybe because the gore was more over the top?

In the end, I think everything depends on your personal view.
Everybody has different fears and find different things disgusting.
I had an aunt who had no problem crushing big nasty spiders.
But when a little field mouse got inside she started screaming, went away and would let someone else take care of it.

[horcrux2007]

I'm a bit of the other way around.

I know films like Human Centipede and A Serbian Movie will make me sick in a psychological way. That's why I avoid them.
Because when I can see it, my brain will register it differently than reading it or hearing someone talk about it. Then I start thinking about it...

Hard Candy didn't disturb me. It stayed with me but without any discomfort.
Hadn't had any problems with the Saw series. Maybe because the gore was more over the top?

In the end, I think everything depends on your personal view.
Everybody has different fears and find different things disgusting.
I had an aunt who had no problem crushing big nasty spiders.
But when a little field mouse got inside she started screaming, went away and would let someone else take care of it.
I suppose it's because when I know a movie is trying to shock me, then I know it's just a movie, but when it's the premise or tone, I forget it's just a movie, and I get lost in the film.

[newb]

The gore doesn't bother me but I would much rather see a horror movie with atmosphere .....that's what really floats my boat.Re-Animator is a movie that I feel has both. Dead Alive is another over the top gore movie that's just a lot of fun.

And yeah.....for some reason people who know that I like horror movies always want to show me the most vile real life shit on the internet. I can not watch real violence . It disturbs me greatly and will stay with me for days.

[horcrux2007]

The gore doesn't bother me but I would much rather see a horror movie with atmosphere .....that's what really floats my boat.Re-Animator is a movie that I feel has both. Dead Alive is another over the top gore movie that's just a lot of fun.

And yeah.....for some reason people who know that I like horror movies always want to show me the most vile real life shit on the internet. I can not watch real violence . It disturbs me greatly and will stay with me for days.

People always assume that I like dead cats and stuff, and I'm thinking where did you get that assumption? I don't how what I'd do without my babies.

[Baron Von Marlon]

People always assume that I like dead cats and stuff, and I'm thinking where did you get that assumption? I don't how what I'd do without my babies.

That's another thing.
I'll get sick easier from watching animals* suffer than humans.

*insects, spiders and fish not included

[horcrux2007]

That's another thing.
I'll get sick easier from watching animals* suffer than humans.

*insects, spiders and fish not included

Me too. I can't stand an animal getting hurt.

[ChronoGrl]

I'm a horror nut, I watch everything hyped.

But i'm not a fan of cruel movies. I don't appreciate being disturbed by a movie.

And yeah.....for some reason people who know that I like horror movies always want to show me the most vile real life shit on the internet. I can not watch real violence . It disturbs me greatly and will stay with me for days.

That's another thing.
I'll get sick easier from watching animals* suffer than humans.

*insects, spiders and fish not included


Ditto... Ditto... And ditto...

I can't watch rape, torture, or exploitation... They will disturb me and keep me up for DAYS!

That being said, I always read discussions around these movies - Reviews, feedback... Because I like absorbing the culture and world around horror movies - what's out, what's hot - Trends and reactions within horror fans and in movie-watchers in general - I can only peer into it through reading posts on here, for example, but can't watch a Serbian Film by myself.

And as for "real life" violence/death - Oy, I can barely bring myself to watch The Act of Killing, let alone smut like Faces of Death...

I think it comes down to I actively avoid movies that I know will disturb me and make me unhappy. Martyrs took me by surprise and I don't want that to happen again...

[Damn Heathen]

I have no horror filter. Depravity and torture are inherently horrific and should therefore be embraced as aspects of the artform. I do however have an artistic sensibility that precludes any horror movie that disrespects the medium. Medium first, subject second.

[Sculpt]

I have no horror filter. Depravity and torture are inherently horrific and should therefore be embraced as aspects of the artform. I do however have an artistic sensibility that precludes any horror movie that disrespects the medium. Medium first, subject second.
You have me curious, what's one horror movie that has disrespected the medium?

[Damn Heathen]

You have me curious, what's one horror movie that has disrespected the medium?Saw III

[Siemelle]

I think everyone hit on some of the things I would have said regarding the appeal of these films. Some of it is actually just for fun because some of the over-the-top gore and splatter is very hard to take seriously especially when the movie is absurd all the way around. Another point that was given was that I like facing all the horrible things in this form because I sure as heck can't stomach it in any other. I found it very interesting that a few people had the same stance as I do - I can sit there and watch blood and gore all day long, but if you show me something real then I may lose my lunch. My family used to make fun of me, "You can sit there and watch a person's throat get slit, but you see an ambulance on the side of the road and you are reaching for your gum so you don't vomit. You don't make sense." In a way, it makes sense because I know what's on screen isn't real, isn't final. I don't know that when I pass a car wreck or what-have-you. One other thing I would say about the appeal is that I, personally, kind find beauty in very, very dark disturbing things. Some of what is displayed on screen - color choice, camera angles, actor expressions, etc. - can be breathtaking in that depiction of horror, pain, and death. I know it sounds awful, but there is a perverse beauty to some of it.

[Kandarian Demon]

My main interest in horror movies have always been the paranormal type story lines, but I've always loved gore as we see it in movies such as Re-Animator, Evil Dead, Braindead and so on... stick someone with a needle and they lose enough blood for 3 people. That kind of stuff doesn't bother me.

I do however find it more and more difficult to watch movies involving detailed, realistic torture. Especially after chronic pain entered my life... now I avoid that kind of movies almost completely. I find that I regret it every time I watch one, and struggle to erase the images from my mind. That kind of movies are not nescesarily GORY as such, though.

[MichaelMyers]

Witnessing horror, like riding a roller coaster, stimulates a chemical in our brain that is a mixture of both danger (fear of violent death) and pleasure (our personal safety). Some find their comfort zone (e.g., Hammer horror, the Aliens franchise) and stick with it while others need their thrill constantly ratcheted up like a drug addict.

Eventually the supernatural may not satisfy their craving and they may expand to the smut and torture horror films you describe (as well as less savory mediums) to get a "fix."

[MichaelMyers]

Saw III

Scary Movie also comes to mind.

[Damn Heathen]

Witnessing horror, like riding a roller coaster, stimulates a chemical in our brain that is a mixture of both danger (fear of violent death) and pleasure (our personal safety). Some find their comfort zone (e.g., Hammer horror, the Aliens franchise) and stick with it while others need their thrill constantly ratcheted up like a drug addict.

Eventually the supernatural may not satisfy their craving and they may expand to the smut and torture horror films you describe (as well as less savory mediums) to get a "fix."Yeah, that sums up my formative horror years. Now, I'm a compleat junkhead searching for horror bits in everything from indie underground sleaze to mundane cartoons. All day, every day. It's amazing I find time to workout five times a week (while watching horror movies of course).

[MichaelMyers]

Yeah, that sums up my formative horror years. Now, I'm a compleat junkhead searching for horror bits in everything from indie underground sleaze to mundane cartoons. All day, every day. It's amazing I find time to workout five times a week (while watching horror movies of course).

Must stay fit for the impending zombie apocalypse. HDC salutes you.