Gaaaaaaaaah!!!! DAAAAHHHHKNESS!

[elcamino41383]

I'll admit, I didn't search bar prove this but I highly doubt anyone has made mention of this recently. Here goes:

I'll start by saying, I see a lot of movies per year. 1-2 a week on regular basis. I used to work at the theater I frequent and also am friends with the manager, so I often get in for free. So I decided to go see Devil yesterday (before it was bumped down to a one 9pm showing a day until next week.) It wasn't a BAD movie, also not great. Not nearly as bad as I expected given the guy behind it: M. Night Shyamalan. I know he didn't direct it but he write it and produce it (at least I think he produced it...moving on...) The movie would have been so much better, however, if the best scenes didn't happen in COMPLETE DARKNESS. The hell?

So to get to the point of my post. Why is it that movies have so much that happens in a very dark room, or complete darkness so we just see the aftermath of what happened instead of what REALLY happens? I can understand some do it to tone down violence or whatever to aim for a lower rating, but this happens even in stronger rated movies meant to be violent. I also understand that the whole "in the dark thing" makes it all the more creepy and eerie or what have you for horror movies and such. Why dumb it down so we can't really see what's going on? I'm going to see this movie to SEE someone's imagination at work, not to work my own to say "Oh this probably happened." I know I'm not the only one miffed that this sort of thing happens, but I'm kind of curious as to what fellow escapists think about this sort of thing.

But if this is anything like my first topic (this is only my second) its gonna flop and maybe 6 people will respond. *Fingers crossed* Here's to hoping not so much!

Oh, and be gentle with me please! Haha

Edit: This also applies to action movies where a lot happens in the dark. Not just "scary" movies.

 

[Nohwear]

In most cases, it is scarier when you only see glimpses of the monster and its work. This argument probably does not work to well in this example. However, I think some movies do this to try to break away from gore-fests like Saw. This is why you see the aftermath and not the person dieing horribly.

 

[TerribleAssassin]

It's to leave question as to what did happen and what caused it after it's all happened.

 

[elcamino41383]

In most cases, it is scarier when you only see glimpses of the monster and its work. This argument probably does not work to well in this example. However, I think some movies do this to try to break away from gore-fests like Saw. This is why you see the aftermath and not the person dieing horribly.

I'd much rather see them die horribly...that's exactly what I'm hoping to see! Not enough movies are like Saw with the gore, I think.

It's to leave question as to what did happen and what caused it after it's all happened.

Yes but isn't it so much more satisfying knowing what did what to who and why? Even if it is just Jason cutting up some kids because its Friday the 13th, I get so much more satisfaction seeing it.

 

[Banana Phone Man]

To save money? I don't really know but I wish you could see the stuff happening on the screen as well.

 

[spartan1077]

If you want to see gore fests there is plenty of humane shelters that are looking to give puppies and rabbits away

OT: Horror movies are meant to be scary. By not showing what is happening, the viewer will imagine the worst possible thing in thier head and become more "scared" while A gory movie is nothing like a horror movie. It is only for the shock value and to make you puke.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Horror movies are supposed to be scary. I'm not that scared of some gore or a creepy looking monster. I might jump in my seat when something sudden happens but its not fear, its just surprise. I feel that the best horror movies play off your imagination. They get your mind working going "What was that?", "Wow that's kinda creepy...", "What's going on?", "Is that the monster?" Once the horror is out in the open its loses some of its scariness. You can deal with it, its right there. But how can you defend yourself that you can't even see it? How can you get away from something when you don't know where it is? Darkness in movies allows the director to play off that fear. And when you can't see the horror your imagination can go wild. No matter how horrifying someone else's vision is, it is nothing compared to your own nightmares.

 

[TerribleAssassin]

Yes but isn't it so much more satisfying knowing what did what to who and why? Even if it is just Jason cutting up some kids because its Friday the 13th, I get so much more satisfaction seeing it.

As sadistic as that statement sounds, I can see your point, then again film's like that border on hack and slasher movies, and proper horror films, like the ones that play with your head, usually leave it up to the viewer's imagination..

 

[elcamino41383]

Horror movies are supposed to be scary. I'm not that scared of some gore or a creepy looking monster. I might jump in my seat when something sudden happens but its not fear, its just surprise. I feel that the best horror movies play off your imagination. They get your mind working going "What was that?", "Wow that's kinda creepy...", "What's going on?", "Is that the monster?" Once the horror is out in the open its loses some of its scariness. You can deal with it, its right there. But how can you defend yourself that you can't even see it? How can you get away from something when you don't know where it is? Darkness in movies allows the director to play off that fear. And when you can't see the horror your imagination can go wild. No matter how horrifying someone else's vision is, it is nothing compared to your own nightmares.

I don't know. Personally if I see something horrific happen it plays in my mind better in the future. Obviously doesn't work for everyone.

Yes but isn't it so much more satisfying knowing what did what to who and why? Even if it is just Jason cutting up some kids because its Friday the 13th, I get so much more satisfaction seeing it.

As sadistic as that statement sounds, I can see your point, then again film's like that border on hack and slasher movies, and proper horror films, like the ones that play with your head, usually leave it up to the viewer's imagination..

Yeah, I know it sounds a bit sadistic. Haha. I guess it falls into the whole GTA/Saint's Row sandbox thing. I can't get away with it in real life, (I couldn't bring myself do to stuff like that. My conscience is too strong) then being able to see/do it on a fictional level satisfies that...I guess, sickness? lol

Still think its funny that the few that posted, or any others that read it overlooked that I changed it up a bit to add action sequences in movies too. Being that I forgot to put it in the first place. Oh well, Looks like another dud of a thread for me. Guess I'll stick to replying on others! Lesson learned! d(^.^)b

 

[Ironic Pirate]

In horror movies it makes sense, but I hate when action movies do it. Kick-Ass and Equilibrium come to mind, although I can excuse Equilibrium since there were enough other action scenes to balance it out.

 

[PureChaos]

there seem to be a lot of films where a would be great scene is made too dark, too close up to too quick to see what's going on properly

 

[Jack and Calumon]

In horror movies it makes sense, but I hate when action movies do it. Kick-Ass and Equilibrium come to mind, although I can excuse Equilibrium since there were enough other action scenes to balance it out.

And Kick-Ass didn't? It was one part and it wasn't all in the dark. She had Night Vision and the Strobe. Seriously, taking a first person view and seeing her kill them was great, as were all the other action scenes. What about when she runs down the hallway and kills about 12 dudes in a row? The part where she attacks a room full of people and DECIMATES them all? Or when Big Daddy goes Big badass with a shotgun?

OT: The whole Dark thing is painful in Comedies. If it's too dark to see and they are saying things like:
"That's my foot."
"Who's touching me?"
"If that's not me... then who is it?"

Then they are just repeating what has been done on SO many occasions since probably medieval times. It's stale. Leave it for the Kids Shows. They might like it.

Calumon: I don't like the dark... It's scary.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

In horror movies it makes sense, but I hate when action movies do it. Kick-Ass and Equilibrium come to mind, although I can excuse Equilibrium since there were enough other action scenes to balance it out.

And Kick-Ass didn't? It was one part and it wasn't all in the dark. She had Night Vision and the Strobe. Seriously, taking a first person view and seeing her kill them was great, as were all the other action scenes. What about when she runs down the hallway and kills about 12 dudes in a row? The part where she attacks a room full of people and DECIMATES them all? Or when Big Daddy goes Big badass with a shotgun?

OT: The whole Dark thing is painful in Comedies. If it's too dark to see and they are saying things like:
"That's my foot."
"Who's touching me?"
"If that's not me... then who is it?"

Then they are just repeating what has been done on SO many occasions since probably medieval times. It's stale. Leave it for the Kids Shows. They might like it.

Calumon: I don't like the dark... It's scary.

Yeah, the others were all good, and maybe it was my fault for watching it on a shitty dark TV, but I couldn't see anything throughout the scene. Kind of left a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the movie, although the TV certainly didn't help.

And Equilibrium was made of Action scenes, the bodycount was in the triple digits, which made it easier to accept not seeing one fight.