Talky meat:
All the things people have said they loved about The Inside, I did too. All the things people have just said they didn't like, I liked. Was there anything I didn't like about The Inside? ... thinking ... No.
I look forward to seeing Dexter. I want to see if it bothers me, and how. I tend to like things that give me shudders and creep me out (as opposed to squicking me). I'm intrigued by the idea of a (fictional) serial killer who isn't traumatized and severely fucked-up, just -- what, a well-adjusted sociopath?
I only meant my comments to apply to my own experience.
Oh, Cindy, I know. I just took them as a jumping-off place to explore my own thoughts.
I was asked to soberly believe in her and her damage and how it was being exploited the whole time she was onscreen.
ita, would you expound on this? I'm curious about how you may have seen it differently than I did. I believed in her damage and identified pretty strongly with her, and I didn't get the feeling that she was being exploited (except insofar as Webb was obviously exploiting her, and I didn't feel he was doing her further damage; just the opposite).
it's easier for me to entertain more disturbing ideas in my brain, when they're all wrapped up in a shiny fantasy universe
That's a good point, Cindy. Having a fantasy setting allows another layer of emotional distance, I guess. That works for me too; movies like Saw and Turistas are supposed to be set in the real world, and that's just, as Joss said somewhere, "torture porn". They probably appeal to the same people who watch those Faces of Death videos, which bother me deeply. I want to be able to look at the dark places without feeling like anyone's actually getting hurt. The Inside was just far enough removed from reality that I could fully engage with it and still stay in my comfort zone.
Se7en was disturbing, but great, which is how I think of The Inside.
The only thing that bothered me about Se7en was the final death. It didn't follow the pattern. It was just there for shock value.
This is why I like hanging out with Buffistas. There's no one else I can talk to about all these disturbing things I like!
Se7en had one image that kept me awake the night I saw it.
it's easier for me to entertain more disturbing ideas in my brain, when they're all wrapped up in a shiny fantasy universe
I get this. Usually, though, I just need actors saying stuff writers have written for me to separate it in my head. I can watch some seriously twisted drama and it won't be nearly as disturbing as the news.
That works for me too; movies like Saw and Turistas are supposed to be set in the real world, and that's just, as Joss said somewhere, "torture porn". They probably appeal to the same people who watch those Faces of Death videos, which bother me deeply.
I'm not a fan of faces of death, but damn, do I love torture porn. Show me a guy sawing his own leg off to escape being devoured alive by mutant rats, and I'll show you a bucket o' popcorn and a happy Allyson.
Oh, Cindy, I know. I just took them as a jumping-off place to explore my own thoughts.
A lot of times, I word my opinions more forcefully or broadly than I mean to, so I just wanted to make sure.
I look forward to seeing Dexter. I want to see if it bothers me, and how. I tend to like things that give me shudders and creep me out (as opposed to squicking me). I'm intrigued by the idea of a (fictional) serial killer who isn't traumatized and severely fucked-up, just -- what, a well-adjusted sociopath?
In part, with Dexter, I'm afraid I'll like him, and I don't actually want to do that. I think I have too many internal rules, borders and end zones.
The only thing that bothered me about Se7en was the final death. It didn't follow the pattern. It was just there for shock value.
Was the final death Gwyneth's? The head in the box, right? How did it not follow the pattern?
I'm intrigued by the idea of a (fictional) serial killer who isn't traumatized and severely fucked-up, just -- what, a well-adjusted sociopath?
Heh. Basically. We get flashbacks to his childhood that sort of explain how he became who he is, and there is some trauma in his past, of course, because serial killers don't just come from
nowhere,
but it's...well, it's not like your usual stuff. I'm so thankful he wasn't abused in any way, because that's
always the answer.
Except here.
Dexter is sort of like Pinocchio. He wants to be a real boy.
In part, with Dexter, I'm afraid I'll like him, and I don't actually want to do that.
Heh. You can try not to like him. I suppose it's possible. But the show is so great precisely because you
do
end up liking him. Hell,
rooting
for him.
The only thing that bothered me about Se7en was the final death. It didn't follow the pattern. It was just there for shock value.
It works, though.
I had exactly the same response to Becky as ita describes. Also, I just didn't believe in her, emphasis with her, associate with her or understand her actions. I also thought she was dumb, because of her actions. That said, as the series progressed I thought that improved a lot, and the final episode really nailed her as a likeable character for me.
With regards to The Inside and Saw - I don't see how these differ much in terms of reality. They're both pretty similar settings in many ways. Saw (the first one) is pretty emotionally fucked up. You rarely actually see anything in it (in fact, I'm not sure if you see anything at all). It does, however, follow the emotional side of the 'victims', not the 'bad guy', though. I haven't seen the sequels, but I believe they are rubbish.
Egh, torture porn. I understand how people can get into it, that doesn't bother me, but seeing it would stick on my brain for years.
Anyhoo, the "(fictional) serial killer who isn't traumatized and severely fucked-up, just -- what, a well-adjusted sociopath" is kind of a staple-- I think you could arguably say it about Angelus, Tony Soprano, Omar from The Wire, and probably dozens of others from shows in the last 15 years with a season-long villain.
