The appeal of Torture-Porn and Popcorn?

[Bob The Skutter]

I don't get the appeal of this genre either. I can't fathom how one would enjoy watching a movie where they know going in that (nearly the) whole cast will be brutally murdered only for the sake of graphically depicting said killings on the screen. If you get off on watching that sort of thing or find it funny, there's probably something wrong with your head.

Or maybe they can distinguish movies from real life.
I don't know where you get the idea people are getting off on it, but people do enjoy being scared, disgusted and testing the limits of what they can tolerate. There's nothing wrong with that, unless they're actually harming people to do it.

 

[Rii]

Torture porn holds no appeal for me, and I'm not particularly keen on associating with the kinds of folks who do get off on it.

 

[LutherSloan]

I find it interesting that the rise of the torture porn movies coincides almost exactly with the admission and then seeming acceptance of real torture by the United States against its enemies.

I mean, as awful as he is, Justice Scalia has actually cited the TV show 24 in his arguments (typically in favor of activities that clearly violate federal and international law). That disturbs the hell out of me.

 

[Nick Ryder]

Well the thing that I don't really like with movies like Saw and Hostel is that its basically upping the ante in terms of how "shocking" we can get on screen. Even block buster movies are slowly starting to use a lot of what should have been confined to a horror film. But its more than just the same kinda "torture" the military uses. I don't think we've had reports of any soldiers locking three or four Iraqi terrorists in a cell and chaining their legs together and then telling them, if they saw off their neighbor's leg, they can get out... unless they talk. That's beyond the pale. Even movies like Final Destination, getting chewed up by an escalator or having big things graphically impaled or limps ripped apart in a VERY REALISTIC FASHION.

I don't compare these with the old slasher films which were almost comedies. Even a gorey movie like Grindhouse:Planet Terror was pure cheese. Bodies being ripped into 4 equal parts and limbs coming off at the drop of a hat.

But I seriously wonder about the younger audience that watches these. Sure "OUR" generation turned out okay, but not everyone. I remember enough news reports of kids/teenagers/mentally disturbed young adults getting egged on by some violent movies (and yes I know its no the movie's fault) but its making violent murder, torture, rape almost acceptable and "cool". Plus, what good does it really do anyone? So you get the pants scared off, or you're remembering some brutal thing you saw. People were fainting and passing out during "Passion of the Christ" and that was far far far less brutal than any SAW or Hostel flick. And yet everyone calls the former "basically a snuff film" when SAW and Hostel are basically that too.

 

[T'Baio]

I find it funny how the "torture porn" moniker/meme caught on and how because of it people are conditioned to refer to fans of the genre as people who "get off on it."

No one says that about people who like comedies.

Baaa!

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I find it funny how the "torture porn" moniker/meme caught on and how because of it people are conditioned to refer to fans of the genre as people who "get off on it."

No one says that about people who like comedies.

Baaa!

That's only cos you get off on those stupid comedies... It's sick the way they make people laugh about inappropriate things.

 

[Mistral]

I find the concept of enjoying the mutilation/murder of other humans deeply disturbing. Shows like Saw- I just don't get the appeal. I can watch Saving Private Ryan, disturbing as the beach landing scenes are, because they further the plot. Watching a movie where such savage violence is the plot-I don't see the point. I'm very careful around people who profess to "enjoy" such films-they may have other, equally disturbing viewpoints about other subjects.

 

[JuanBolio]

People have different reactions to seeing this kind of thing, especially if its all staged, fictional, and we know this beforehand. Seeing that kind of cruelty and depravity can stir things inside you you've never felt before, and cause you to think about and react to things you otherwise would never get to.

I don't think most people get off on actually seeing people ripped to shreds (unless that character deserves it), but more likely they get off on the special effects used to make it look real and gruesome, and on the feelings it invokes within them. Then again, I'm sure there are a fair minority of people who actually get some pleasure out of seeing people suffer, real or simulated. This in and of itself isn't evil, so long as they aren't out hurting people and animals to get their kicks.

 

[L1A1 Rocker]

Why do people watch this filth?

I mean people get totally bent of out shape if you say something about medicare, or politics, or about religion.....but Torture-Porn that's ok, it greats, its shocking, it is the latest "cool" thing in cinema.

When I talk about Torture-Porn I don't mean the Hitchcock's movies or the Slashers like Scream.

I'm talking about the likes of the Saw movies, people getting mutilated, burnt, tortured sawed in half....in a typical James Wan flick.

I'm talking about Takeshi Miike's Koroshiya-I, a film with torture and rape scenes, a film so dark, perverted and weird you would expect the director might even be at home right now jerking off to some footage of the Invasion of Nanking

I'm talking about Eli Roth people getting mutilated, burnt, tortured sawed in half....another pre packaged gore fest.

and to a lesser extent Ruggero Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust...since he hasn't done anything like his old horrors in years

what is the appeal in watching this stuff?

Oh come on. You telling me that you don't get a woody from seeing some cum catcher being suspended by nothing but rope wrapped around her tits? That's hot!!

 

[L1A1 Rocker]

I find it funny how the "torture porn" moniker/meme caught on and how because of it people are conditioned to refer to fans of the genre as people who "get off on it."

No one says that about people who like comedies.

Baaa!

"Chloe" is HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kelthaz]

So it's torture porn that's ruining society now, is it? I thought we were still on video games. I need to get with the times.

 

[LeahBoBo]

Then again, I'm sure there are a fair minority of people who actually get some pleasure out of seeing people suffer, real or simulated. This in and of itself isn't evil, so long as they aren't out hurting people and animals to get their kicks.

Right.

 

[Mistral]

Then again, I'm sure there are a fair minority of people who actually get some pleasure out of seeing people suffer, real or simulated. This in and of itself isn't evil, so long as they aren't out hurting people and animals to get their kicks.

Right.

*scratches head* How can feeling pleasure from seeing others suffer not be evil?

 

[Rii]

I find it funny how the "torture porn" moniker/meme caught on and how because of it people are conditioned to refer to fans of the genre as people who "get off on it."

The label contains a judgement and thus serves as convenient shorthand. If you don't like it, feel free to use another one. 'Anatomical edutainment', perhaps.

 

[Lonemagpie]

So it's torture porn that's ruining society now, is it? I thought we were still on video games. I need to get with the times.

Eh? You mean it's not comics?

Er, I mean, Penny Dreadfuls?

Or...

 

[Deckerd]

Then again, I'm sure there are a fair minority of people who actually get some pleasure out of seeing people suffer, real or simulated. This in and of itself isn't evil, so long as they aren't out hurting people and animals to get their kicks.

Right.

*scratches head* How can feeling pleasure from seeing others suffer not be evil?

I knew religion would rear its terrible head in here at some point.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Right.

*scratches head* How can feeling pleasure from seeing others suffer not be evil?

I knew religion would rear its terrible head in here at some point.

Commandment 11. Thou shalt not watch torture porn and Thou shalt berate anyone who does as sick for getting off on it.

I still don't understand this "getting off" thing. It's not like anyone had a quick one off the wrist while watching horror movies.

 

[Deckerd]

Why I'm sure I don't know what you mean, sir.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Why I'm sure I don't know what you mean, sir.

You mean you don't enjoy a quick flick of the bean when watching people being horribly murdered on screen?

 

[Deckerd]

I am partial to runner beans.