By Ezra Stead
The Skin I Live In, Spain, 2011
Written and Directed by Pedro Almodovar
Based on the Novel Tarantula by Thierry Jonquet
Many are the times I’ve noticed over the years, and always to my (at least) mild irritation, the tendency of moviegoers to attend horror films in large groups of friends. This is presumably to numb the impact of the events onscreen, using the familiar “safety in numbers†approach to ward off all that scary stuff they all presumably paid to see in the first place. As if this weren’t bad enough, these unnecessarily large moviegoing groups (the number is usually at least four, and often they’ll take up an entire row of seats) feel the need to laugh at some of the scariest moments, or perhaps at the reactions of the most squeamish and easily frightened member of their troop to said moments. In case you were unaware, this is precisely the wrong way to see a horror film; it is akin to seeing a comedy alone and covering one’s ears during all the funny parts. In fact, it is far worse than that, because it actively distracts and undercuts the film’s impact for the rest of the audience. After all, it’s pretty hard to be sufficiently frightened by something at which people are audibly giggling nervously all around you. This is why I generally prefer to see horror movies by myself, late at night, in a dark room at home. Read More
Market Playground
Story Boart Art