Comments on Simon Strantzas: The nature of fear

;-) You may have to unsubscribe and then resubscr...

2009-12-05T16:24:02.902-05:00

;-)

You may have to unsubscribe and then resubscribe to see the awesome name-change. Oh, how I envy you that first look with virgin eyes...

My RSS feed looks the same as ever, right down to ...

2009-12-05T16:07:13.779-05:00

My RSS feed looks the same as ever, right down to the title. ;-)

I should also add that the concept of the Breach o...

2009-11-26T18:20:06.532-05:00

I should also add that the concept of the Breach or the Intrusion is a vital seed for horror as well. Imbalance and uncertainty is bred in situations where the Out makes its way In.

Simon, Your thoughts on fear are sound and deeply...

2009-11-26T18:18:24.489-05:00

Simon,

Your thoughts on fear are sound and deeply interesting, particularly your notion of the juxtaposition. This post put me in mind of Noel Carroll's book THE PHILOSOPHY OF HORROR in which he describes the "interstitial" as an essential element of art-horror. Crabs, for example, were likely viewed as "repulsive" by early civilizations because they crept somewhere between land animal and sea creature. They scuttled sideways instead of straight ahead or swimming in water. This is one example Carroll gives of how inbetweenness breeds revulsion/horror.

I love the new look, Simon. I'll be back to post m...

2009-11-23T15:27:45.125-05:00

I love the new look, Simon. I'll be back to post my thoughts on fear (which seems to be just about all I do whenever I pipe up online
;-)) very soon.

Hi Mark, Thanks for stopping in! I agree with PA...

2009-11-23T10:54:48.374-05:00

Hi Mark,

Thanks for stopping in!

I agree with PA, though from those I've spoken to it's not the kind of film that works well on the small screen. Everyone who's seen it that way has commented on it being slow. I didn't get that feeling in the theatre, which I imagine has more to do with the communal experience and the lack of interruptions from daily life.

Regarding the ending, if anyone reading this hasn't seen the film but plans to, please avoid the following:

The ending I saw was the one where the body flies at the camera, which was a frightening ending. The police ending I saw online and, though fit better with the preceding story, felt as slow as some have suggested the film to be (incidentally, this is the version those "some" watched). I'd like to see the third very much, though at this point I suspect it's more a rumour than fact, much like the final line of "X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes" that never really was.)

Hey Simon Like the new look! I was really spooke...

2009-11-23T08:43:11.333-05:00

Hey Simon

Like the new look!

I was really spooked by P.A. I found it difficult to get to sleep the night I watched the film. I thought it was great at reawakening the basic level of fear: the unknown horror that's sensed rather than seen.

That said, which ending did you see. I've seen two (there are apparently three) and can't make my mind up about which was most effective.

Mark S.