INFJ's and shocking/horrific films, books and media

[Orion]

I have a weird relationship with horrific or shocking films. *Warning~ unfiltered feeling throughput*

I hate horror films. I've been traumatized by many when I was kid and I'm very sensitive to those kinds of things. I find over-glamourised or fetshised violence morally ambiguous (still haven't figured out my true stance of it yet). Slashers, serial killers, monsters, gore fests, exploitation, vampires, ghosts or supernatural... it all scares the shit out of me. I really don't like entertaining the notion, even inside the contextual reality of a 90 minute film, that such things exist.

...but I can't get enough of watching very shocking/violent/disturbing but realistic/non-horror films. I'm really masochistic in this regard.

For example, the new wave of extreme french films in the past ten years like Irreversible, Baise-moi etc. Film makers such as Larry Clark, Michael Haneke, Gaspar Noe, Takashi Miike etc etc, who make films based on extremely shocking aspects of social life, digging into the deepest, darkest parts of sex, crime, corruption- the absolute black holes of morality in humanity. All those kinds of films in one way or another were shocking because they offer a glimpse into the terrifying state of select social, psychological, politcal and economic tornadoes that exist in every society that give birth to really screwed up behavior in individuals and groups! They feel very real, very close to home.

So I know that vampires and monsters don't and never will exist but they fundamentally scare me on a totally different level then non-horror films do that I mentioned above. Here is my reason why, it's mostly irrational and illogical but's it what I suspect is behind the motivation:

• 
  Supernatural or horror film's scare me more because if there was a reality where things like that could exist, then that would pull from under me, a fundamental sense of safety in current reality. I realise this is totally irrational, I just can't word it any other way. It's a very complex set of emotions for me.

• 
  Whereas with films that are shocking because they are examinations (or at least, representations) of human nature in it's most weird/distorted way can be reasoned with. There is a why/when/where rationale to problems and transgression taken by the characters/institution/government.

• 
  In horror films, there is no control over the evil. In non-horror films, to me, there is. There are reasons for everything. For me, I have a strong sense of "how things should/could be to improve things" and shocking non-horror films are a way for me to come to terms with the unbearable aspects of the world and people and figure out solutions. Or at least, desensitive myself to them.

Anyway that's my thought process for it. It probably didn't make any sense and I realise about 1% of people on planet earth are going to relate to this, lol, so...

tl:dr?

What is your relationship to horror and shocking or disturbing films/books/media?
Were you traumatized or very disturbed by something you saw or read when you were young? Describe your experience and how it made you feel

 

[~jet]

I dislike horror as well and get particularly perturbed to see good SCIFI lumped in with horror on store shelves *fume*

 

[AUM]

Funny, I have the same relationship with horror films similar to you Orion. I don't like horror films(specially zombie movies) which depict a very uncertain and barbaric society. After watching these sorts of movies I'm left with the impression of "what if this were true?" How would I handle the situation? This impression can last many weeks even months.

For those of us that have been lucky enough to be born in a place where things looks relatively peaceful, and optimistic, we are left with the question of how those people not living in these exact safe places such as Africa, or very distorted tribes which still do rituals that by today's standards could be considered evil and gruesome manage and survive? Horror movies in this regard gives us a taste that life is not really brushed with pink and roses, that there's some wicked shit going on in this moment, right now.

Horror movies to me sort of represent the archetype of the dark side of the world, where everything is possible.

The two movies that have left a very deep traumatized scar in me are 1.)REC, 2.) 28 weeks later. Those gave me literally, months of horrible nightmares.

 

[IndigoSensor]

I generally dislike movies, and television series. The reason being is I do not like to feel stressed out from watching them, as I become emotionally invested against my will and it takes too much effort to restrain that. What you described is all universally unpleasent to me. The supernatural stuff generally doesn't scare me much at all. However, if the character is in pain in some sort of manner I won't like it because it will cause me too much stress. The emotion from this is completely unnesscery and I do not want to subject myself to such pain that has no benefit to me.

Nope, I'll pass on most film stuff, the negatives from it far outweigh entertainment value to me.

 

[poshlost]

I like noe/haneke, irreversible was almost disturbing, it was beautiful. as for horror/slasher films, I watch them as comedies, with a box of popcorn. light meaningless entertainment.

 

[laurie]

I love horror films and books, especially the really, really scary ones I like being scared by them, because it shows just how well the director/novelist did their job. It's satisfying on their behalf. Plus, it's good fodder for writing emotional/scary scenes.

I watched too many horror films too young, really, all thanks to my two friends who managed to get ahold of things like RING (Japanese version). I used to (and still do) get scared easily, but it's just for fun.
However, I'm only scared by psychological horror (hints of evil ghosts etc.) and not violence. I watched several violent films growing up (thanks, Dad), and so have become completely immune to them (well, the curb-stomp in American History X was still a bit much for me). Not that I'm immune to real life violence. That's a totally different matter (I've recently developed a slight fear of blood).

Overall, I enjoy films or books like that, as long as they're making a good point or are just for fun. If the director/novelist believed any kind of violence was right, I'd never touch their work.

 

[Arsal]

I love horror films.

I've been obsessed with the paranormal for as long as I remember. I've loved watching horror films from a very young age, and they always managed to scare the pants off of me, but something about them kept compelling me to come back; perhaps the challenging aspect of it, or the thrill of feeling an intense emotion. The only time I've withdrawn from watching a film because it was too scary, was "Nightmare on Elm Street", sometime around when I was 8. I've been trying to find things scarier and more disturbing than the previous, ever since then.

I've grown tired of movies, though. I think scary stories are generally much more powerful. The monsters that the imagination conjures up are far, far more powerful than anything you can convey visually.

I dislike gore. I don't have interest, nor the patience for it.

 

[bickelz]

I don't like horror for the sake of horror. I love realistically violent movies or movies that have a very dark, moral point to them.

Some that come to mind...

Black Swan
Requiem for a Dream
Irreversible ([MENTION=1378]Orion[/MENTION], this movie was fucked up)
The Dark Knight (oh yeah, it fits)
The Machinist (wasn't really scary but it had grit)
Casino
The Departed
Many other War movies

 

[TomarctusHU]

I don't watch horror-movies normally, although my class once watched one of the The Saw movies. It wasn't that unbearable... as long as I didn't thought too much about it, and didn't put myself in their body... >_<;;;
I remember one horror film, which I watched in elementary. I don't remember its title, but it was that basic house-built-on-top-of-a-cemetery-and-zombies-come-to-the-surface-after-some-heavy-rain movie. I still remember lots of it, so it might have been a bad idea to watch it that time. XD Although I don't have any latent bad feelings to horror movies.

What I like is books like Battle Royale (Takami Kōshun) or Snakes and Earrings (Kanehara Hitomi).
Especially the second one. It isn't horror, but it is shocking, and disturbing, and it leaved me in thoughts for a while. D:<
Right now I want to read the book '13 Reasons Why'. (once it comes out here. >.<)
Anyone who read these books? Your opinion about them?

 

[AUM]

I don't watch horror-movies normally, although my class once watched one of the The Saw movies. It wasn't that unbearable... as long as I didn't thought too much about it, and didn't put myself in their body... >_<;;;
I remember one horror film, which I watched in elementary. I don't remember its title, but it was that basic house-built-on-top-of-a-cemetery-and-zombies-come-to-the-surface-after-some-heavy-rain movie. I still remember lots of it, so it might have been a bad idea to watch it that time. XD Although I don't have any latent bad feelings to horror movies.

What I like is books like Battle Royale (Takami Kōshun) or Snakes and Earrings (Kanehara Hitomi).
Especially the second one. It isn't horror, but it is shocking, and disturbing, and it leaved me in thoughts for a while. D:<
Right now I want to read the book '13 Reasons Why'. (once it comes out here. >.<)
Anyone who read these books? Your opinion about them?

In what kind of elementary schools do they let kids watch horror movies?

 

[Free Mind]

I generally dislike movies, and television series. The reason being is I do not like to feel stressed out from watching them, as I become emotionally invested against my will and it takes too much effort to restrain that. What you described is all universally unpleasent to me. The supernatural stuff generally doesn't scare me much at all. However, if the character is in pain in some sort of manner I won't like it because it will cause me too much stress. The emotion from this is completely unnesscery and I do not want to subject myself to such pain that has no benefit to me.

Nope, I'll pass on most film stuff, the negatives from it far outweigh entertainment value to me.

This...

The effect films and entertainment has on people is pretty extreme I might add.

 

[kammy]

What is your relationship to horror and shocking or disturbing films/books/media?
Were you traumatized or very disturbed by something you saw or read when you were young? Describe your experience and how it made you feel

For awhile I liked gore, but it made me feel really desensitized so I quit looking at it. The media is disappointing. Horror movies are entertaining, but little more than that. I often dream about zombies but there isn't fear, it is usually a game of survival. Torture or rape is a no-go for me. ​

 

[IndigoSensor]

The effect films and entertainment has on people is pretty extreme I might add.

I actually disagree with this. I would call it mild, at best. I have yet to meet another individual in person who feels the way I do about movies, and series. Entertainment is by no means a bad thing at all, it's just not usually my cup of tea. When I find a movie I like, I really really enjoy it.

 

[Cecilff2]

I don't really care for torture horror(e.g. Saw) or gore horror or horror where the only horror is how ridiculously stupid the main characters are.(Unless you can laugh at how terrible it is)

Suspense is fine, shocking is fine. I like when movies don't make all their characters out to be invincible and anyone can die.

 

[TomarctusHU]

In what kind of elementary schools do they let kids watch horror movies?

Sorry, it was misleading. I did watch it at home, while I was a elementary school student. The other one was in middle school. ^^;

 

[Free Mind]

I actually disagree with this. I would call it mild, at best. I have yet to meet another individual in person who feels the way I do about movies, and series. Entertainment is by no means a bad thing at all, it's just not usually my cup of tea. When I find a movie I like, I really really enjoy it.

I semi agree with this. Just a lot of media and films I am against because certain things they put in it and messages and so on. It's really not my cup of tea either...The part bolded though, I can take it as bad, entertainment can sometimes just be a major distraction. You can have a little and that's ok, but you can also have a lot and that can be pretty damaging. I'm sure you know this. Just throwing it out there.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Horror films and such are just not needed, why create more fear than there already is? Just for purely entertainment purposes? Not a valid reason to make such films...The creativity involved can be astonishing but use the creativity for something 'better' please...

 

[Faye]

For a while I liked them and watched many of them. They didn't really disturb me very much. It is kind of like watching porn, which is why it is called gore porn. At least, that is the case for slashers.

For things involving supernatural or whatever, I actually do like those.

I am able to distance myself from what I am seeing entirely though- I know it is not real and cannot be real.

 

[Arsal]

[MENTION=3379]Free Mind[/MENTION],

"Horror films and such are just not needed"
In whose opinion?

"why create more fear than there already is?"
Because people enjoy it. It's simple entertainment for people who enjoy watching these movies and are the fans of the genre. If you don't enjoy it, the movie is not for you and you are not the target audience.

"Just for purely entertainment purposes? Not a valid reason to make such films..."
What would be a valid reason, then, in your opinion?

What would be a valid reason to make any film, for that matter?

"The creativity involved can be astonishing but use the creativity for something 'better' please..."
This is entirely subjective.

 

[Free Mind]

[MENTION=3538]Arsal[/MENTION]

I was just giving my opinion on what I think is better. Again...entirely my opinion.

"Horror films and such are just not needed"
In whose opinion?

My opinion. xD They are harmless fun to you apparently?

"why create more fear than there already is?"
Because people enjoy it. It's simple entertainment for people who enjoy watching these movies and are the fans of the genre. If you don't enjoy it, the movie is not for you and you are not the target audience.

People also enjoy smoking, drugs, alchol, sadism etc. Just because they enjoy it, doesn't mean it's good for them. I am not speaking for all horror films. But a child gaining a fear of the dark because of a film isn't good if you ask me. Again...there are age restrictions but not many familys follow those, so in that case it's the parents problem. Another example. An 18 year old girl watching a horrible film and gaining a fear even though it is a completely stupid 1. She has this fear and it takes a firm grip on her, just because of a film she finds it hard to go outside now. That's not good is it? It could have never happend if she just didn't watch the horror film.


"Just for purely entertainment purposes? Not a valid reason to make such films..."
What would be a valid reason, then, in your opinion?

What would be a valid reason to make any film, for that matter?

For educational purposes. To create a great meaning to the film that makes the audience think or take a step back from their life and view it another way that's better. That's just 1 example. Again, you could say. "Some people just don't want that, they want action, gore, etc." In my opinion I don't really like that people want all of this action and gore to basically fill a hole in their life, why is there such a need for horrible things? Just for entertainment...If so, I think that's just stupid.

I saw a trailer for a film the other day and it's all about revenge. So many films just create the wrong kindof entertainment if you ask me. Again, my opinion.

 

[Arsal]

My opinion. xD They are harmless fun to you apparently?

Well, yes, given that I've been watching horror movies for a long time and I am, so far, a perfectly functional human being.

I am not speaking for all horror films. But a child gaining a fear of the dark because of a film isn't good if you ask me. Again...there are age restrictions but not many familys follow those, so in that case it's the parents problem. Another example. An 18 year old girl watching a horrible film and gaining a fear even though it is a completely stupid 1. She has this fear and it takes a firm grip on her, just because of a film she finds it hard to go outside now. That's not good is it? It could have never happend if she just didn't watch the horror film.

I see where you're coming from. Alas, it is a matter of choice and I believe people should have the freedom to make choices, as stupid as they may be. If the 18 year old girl willingly chooses to watch a horror film, she is responsible for her actions, despite whatever consequences she has to face afterward. This doesn't mean expression should be limited. People will continue to have varying responses to different modes of expression, but this does not render one any less important than the other. In this context, just because some people dislike horror movies or are easily scared by them, doesn't mean horror movies should not be made at all. There are a good many people who don't dislike horror movies, nor do not suffer from prolonged, adverse psychological effects from them - otherwise, these films would have stopped being made a long time ago.

I saw a trailer for a film the other day and it's all about revenge. So many films just create the wrong kindof entertainment if you ask me. Again, my opinion.

Or maybe just films that don't cater to your taste. That's okay, I'm sure the action movies fans think the same about the deep, moving, artistic films that you are heralding as the only kind of films being worthy of made.

(;