Horror? No thanks.

Last night, I was reading an article in the newest Newsweek (love Newsweek, have a subscription, I feel so educated about the world) about the latest trend in Hollywood being horror movies starring children (i.e. the Omen, Silent Hill, etc). First of all, don't even talk to me about horror movies, I detest them. We're such a gratuitous culture, and horror movies are point #1 for that argument. There is no reason that we should get off on watching hideous torture, mutilation, or in just watching something to be scared out of your mind. You don't think we have enough scary, hideous things in the real world? Try turning on your news at 10:00 each night. About a week ago, in Indianapolis, a bunch of neighbors called 911 because they heard screaming and loud noises. The police came to investigate and found 7 family members shot to death, execution style. How sick is that? And do you not think that the neighbors who heard the screamings as the people next door were pleading for their lives lay awake every night wondering what they could have done differently, and wondering if they'll ever fall asleep again without hearing those screams? But we, as American consumers, will happily fork over $10 to sit and watch people being fake tortured and killed while we munch on popcorn and ju-ju-bees. Hollywood has ramped up the production of horror movies, because they have a consistent audience. I am horrified that we have stooped to this point as a culture. You want to see bodies? Go work in a hospital, where you can see people losing the fight for their lives or for their limbs, or for the ability to walk again every day. Let me assure you, it's not pretty. So what could possibly possess us to want to be scared, to glory in the feelings of the terror of death that some people are actually experiencing as they beg for their lives?
And then, let's add insult to injury. Let's add kids to this sick mix. Because evil kids are scary. It's taking innocence and making it evil. What could be better than that? we say. The director of the Omen is quoted as saying, "I didn't know if anyone would send their kids to an audition to be the son of Satan." Turns out, hundreds of parents did, and the Newsweek ended with the sarcastic comment, "Something moms and dads can be proud of." I was so disgusted that parents would steep so low in the annals of trying to get their kid to be famous that they would pimp them out as the son of Satan, killing and being killed, just for the money in their kids' bank account and a screen credit they can brag about. Yep. I'm not worried that I'll run out of people that will need counseling when my schooling is finished. We are truly sick.