Motion Picture Industry: Torture Porn

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Recommended: Evolution of horror film

Since the beginning of the motion picture in the early 20th century, horror movies have been recognized as a genre of movie for those who seek a good source of thrill and nail-biting entertainment. From the time when horror movies had begun as new and upcoming source of entertainment to the current day, many subcategories of these horror flicks have diverged. Some examples of those subcategories are supernatural, horror-comedies, psychological, suspense, and monsters (Vantrepotte). One of the more prominent types of horror films could be illustrated as a sadistic tortuous blood and gore fest, otherwise known as “torture porn.” The producers and directors in the cinematic world argue that these films have no affect on its viewers and that the torture porn development into Hollywood is simply another way to produce money. For example Eli Roth, the director of the movie Hostel, argues this. Soon after the February 2006 release date, the movie produced roughly $47 million in the box office in the United States alone (Hostel 2006). Though Roth made heaping amounts of money for this film his argument becomes invalid when disputing the resulting psychological effects of its viewers. Groups of people, such as concerned parents, would argue that torture porn is a negative subgenre of the horror category. It can be considered negative due to its psychologically damaging affects on those parent’s children. Although “torture porn” can be viewed as a way to produce more money and as a source of entertainment, it is not a positive development into the cinematic world because of its damaging psychological affects, such as desensitization and violent influence, on its viewers--especially children. The subcategory of torture porn originated as an... ... middle of paper ... ...Inspired Real-Life Crimes." Whatculture.com. What Culture LTD, 5 June 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. Osborn, Andrew. "Scream' Movie Inspires Teenage Girl's Copycat Killer." Rense.com. TheHostPros, 8 Nov. 2001. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. Schwerchel, Lauren. “Will Scary Movies Give me Nightmares?” Greatist.com. Greatists, 31 Oct. 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2014 Smith, Gregory. "Modern Horror Films Reflective of Desensitization to Violence in Audiences." Examiner.com. Examiner, 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. Vantrepotte, Joe. "Top 10 Horror Genre Categories." Filmonic.com. Filmonic, 30 Oct. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. Vineberg, Steve. "How Hollywood Trains Us Not To Recognize Interesting Movies." Chronicle Of Higher Education 45.31 (1999): B9. Academic Search Elite. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. White, James. "The Story Behind Torture Porn." www.totalfilm.com. Total Film, 30 Oct. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.

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