Inara Alarm Clock

I dare say, there are worse things to wake up to on a Friday.

In Defense of Horror

“Of all the things thrown at us by the entertainment industry, I think that the horror genre is the only one that has nothing redemptive to offer.”
 – some douche guy

When I heard the above statement muttered in my presence, I took a disciplined deep breath and let it go; promising myself I would do the passive aggressive thing later and post my retort via the mighty interwebs.  Though I found his statement insulting, it inspired me to undertake this task of composing a humble defense of the misunderstood genre known as horror.

To start, I would like to point out that horror as a general category and style is vast, for it includes an incredibly wide variety of films.  It is likely that the ignoramus individual above was thinking of only a very narrow selection of these works, probably in reaction to the influx of movies known commonly as “torture porn” like Hostel or Wolf Creek rather than that of a psychological thriller such as The Silence of the Lambs.  (Tip: writing off an entire genre without clarification will always make you sound stupid, especially since the concept of a genre is ever expanding and evolving and a worthy discussion topic of its own.) 

For the record, I am not asserting that horror movies are for everyone.  I understand that some folks find them traumatic and uncomfortable, especially for movie watchers who are high empathizers.  (I experience a similar adverse reaction to most “girly” movies and tend to avoid them accordingly.)  On the other hand, I will point out that horror has produced some true masterpieces that are often unfairly overlooked (The Thing, 28 Days Later, and The Shining) both critically for their content as well as the performances of the actors in them.  Multitudes of folks have never seen these great works, simply because they are in the horror section of their local Blockbuster.

Yet the question remains: what do people get out of horror?  Is there indeed something “redemptive” in it?  Indeed, true horror fans tend to watch anything and everything they can get their eyeballs on, despite foreknowledge of the content being utter rubbish. (I do not include myself in this category, though like many I have a weakness for all things zombie.)  Obviously, there are enough general horror lovers in the world that Hollywood continues to churn out even the most depraved teen slasher projects regardless of depth, plot, talent or caliber since they consistently rake in piles of money.


So why do we love them? Why are they important? Depending on the content and atmosphere of the particular film, the reasons can be many, but here are some:

1. Losing control. Our lives can be (happily) bland, routine, and uneventful, but horror movies offer an alternative reality that plays upon our worst fears in a safe environment where we are not required to take any action against it.  In many cases, the hero lives to tell the tale, and on some level we hope we’d react with similar heroism if we found ourselves facing the same terrible scenario.
2. Fear. Seriously folks, who doesn’t like getting a little scared?  I don’t believe I’m alone when I say I loved those haunted house walkthroughs that were put together during Halloween as a kid.  There’s just something about that “fight or flight” reaction that sends the adrenaline rush pumping through your heart and makes limbs tremble.  It possesses you when that masked man wielding a chainsaw in a dark room decides you’re his next victim.  Even if you know it’s just some poor schmuck who thought he’d make a career out of playing for the XFL, you scream anyway.  Why? Well, because it’s just plain fun.
3. Shock Value.  Just when you thought you'd seen it all, WHAM! Someone pushes the envelope a little further, a little sicker, a little crazier, and the ride starts all over again.  Humans appreciate and enjoy creativity, even when it concerns an ugly subject.  We get a charge of energy in the face of the unpleasant, and ride the wave as these things stimulate and access pieces of ourselves that often go untouched.  At times it is as if writers and directors are playing a twisted game of 'Double Dog Dare' by challenging one another to push the envelope just a little more than before.   
4. Hidden Messages. Horror movies have the potential to pack a political or social punch that would otherwise come off as trite or heavy handed.  You have a particularly captivated audience. George A. Romero has demonstrated this with his work, critiquing racism and consumerism through moaning zombies.  Guillermo Del Toro, director of Pan's Labyrinth points out: "Horror has such possibilities. Only here can you create the sublime act of art out of such a vile subject matter.  I have always found poetic images in the most horrific tales."
5. Rite of Passage.  Are you bold enough to sit through Evil Dead II with your eyes open the entire time?    I remember being filled with such pride for being able to view Willow all by myself as a child and not once cover my eyes to peek through my fingers.  In many ways being able to face and deal with the realities and nightmares, real or unreal, is a large part of growing up.  To again quote Del Toro, "There is always this great tension between the innocence of children and the brutality of the real world.  We are always trying to pretend that children live in a perfect world, but in reality many are hurt brutally every day. We must make peace with the dark side."
6. Memorable Moments.  An inept drama or comedy can be painful to endure. An inept horror can pack one moment, one scene, which can prove unforgettable.
7. Community.  Horror is communal. I’d never encourage people talking in a theater, but there is nothing that compares to an involved audience.  Suddenly, a standard horror viewing transforms into an event that is shared, experienced and enhanced by those around you.  A classic example is when I drug Chris to opening night of Snakes On A Plane! and people would hiss excitedly through the quiet moments of the film.

I will never forget the images that terrified me as a child ... images that followed me to the mailbox at the end of our dark driveway, lurked under my bed and even stalked me at the community pool. (And don't pretend Jaws didn't have the same result on you, too!)

Everyone has their own individual nightmares; my best friend hates ghosts and demons, some people don’t like aliens or guys with knives.  As for me, furry creatures with fangs make my skin crawl - I know before seeing any werewolf movie or Kujo that I may want a pillow or a strong hand to hold.

Either way, I can’t quite explain the kind of joy I get out of experiencing such raw emotion through a film - it's not just about "being entertained" - it's being presented with a compelling conflict and having my wits chased and teased by unseemly creatures and mind bending scenarios of depravity and darkness.  Part of it is the thrill of exploring territory I would otherwise never discover on my own, while other times it is like a test to see just how far I can allow myself to go before I must retreat back to my world of comfort, safety and sanity.

I have seen a great deal of evidence that the ability to be "unshockable" is incredibly valuable.  I have met folks with hard, dark pasts; they have seen and lived through things that I struggle to imagine, but I am rarely shocked.  Being able to let them tell their stories, the nightmares which are their reality, and not flinch or shy away brings many comfort.  I may not have been in the trenches with them at any time in my own history, but I have put myself in some dark places through films and books, and can grapple in some meager way with the pain in their lives and attempt (even feebly) to be a part of their healing process.


Many horror films also dare to explore the beauty that can be found in the most unusual places.  Be it a satiric comedy like Fido or a classic like Frankenstein, there is a powerful lesson in looking into the eyes of a "monster" and finding a creature that is lonely and simply wants to be loved.  This ability to look beyond the initial knee-jerk reaction of disgust is tragically rare in people today.



Finally, I hesitate to bust out the "Jesus card" here, but I want to seal the deal.  Christ himself descended into hell (whatever that looked like in reality, none can say) and he faced the deepest nightmare of all: he conquered death itself.  He was mercilessly tortured, he was unjustly hated, he was hunted down and betrayed.


If that's not a horror story with some serious redemptive value, I don't know what is.

Delights at Reception

Tres Anos!

That’s right boys and girls, Chris and I tied the knot three years ago!  I hardly feel like that much time has passed since our wedding – it’s a little nuts to think about the way time flies.  Here are some big event highlights to help convince everyone (including me) that yes, it really has been that long:

YEAR ONE

-         Chris starts at UCSB for his Masters in Computer Science

-         Watched all 9 seasons of The X-Files

-         Megan starts new job at law firm

-         Megan teaches herself to cook

YEAR TWO

-         We both got our M class licenses and a motorcycle

-         Chris started new job at Cogi

-         Obtained our second kitty, Inara

-         Bought condo in Carpinteria together

-         Watched all 7 seasons of The Shield

-         Chris got his black belt in karate

YEAR THREE

-         We were made proud Uncle and Aunt

-         Megan joined local outrigger canoe team

-         Chris started new job with The Trade Desk

-         Megan starts up with a Paralegal program at UCSB

-         Chris completes his Masters in Computer Science at UCSB

Whew!  This year the date kind of snuck up on us.  Chris was so busy finishing up school, and me with paddling, it’s no wonder the time has been zooming by.

For fun, I did a Google search on “Power Couples” to see what popped up.  I guess I should have known better, but the majority of them were movie star pairs like Brangelina, Tomkat, as well as the lovely Obamas.  So then I started thinking of iconic or lesser known couples instead, and thought of what ways Chris are or are not similar.  Here are some things I came up with:

Chris has taught me that being “old fashioned” doesn’t have to mean “outdated” – in fact, it can be downright classy and refreshing.

Constant denial.  Good balance - when one of us wants to believe, the other one is always willing to slap a scientific explanation on top of it.

Neither of us are afraid to get our hands a little dirty, nor are we shy about putting spoiled princess whining in its place.

Oh, the drama!  Unlike Wolverine and Rogue here, we knew what we wanted the first time.

Fortunately Chris and I are both substance abuse free - though I can make the argument that you can have too much orange chicken.

Kicking ass and puppy eyes can go hand in hand.

Stockholm syndrome?  We’re getting good at seeing past the occasional monster morning breath.

Like Brent and Jade here, we’re becoming uncannily good at saying just the right thing.

Is that same old trick still romantic the 3rd time around? Yeah, it is.

I love being continually remind that no, you didn’t “settle” for this one.

Movies of Summer

This past year Chris and I have become increasingly picky about the movies we are willing to see in theaters; it's expensive and incredibly annoying to be disappointed.  We have restricted our film candidates to mostly action movies, where big screens and booming speakers actually add to the experience.  (Not to mention the fact that these films are our hands down favorites.)

The following are the movies that made the cut this summer, and I have scaled my reviews in accordance with my own personal preference.

Iron Man 2
I was delighted by this sequel.  Why? No, not because the fights were bigger, badder, more bad ass (because they were not) but because unlike many sequels, the characters were given a chance to grow.  Their situations had changed, their relationships were strained, and I was delighted to watch it all unfold.  The cast is stellar, as usual, and the effects were fun.

Final Grade: A-
Will I buy it? Likely



Robin Hood
In a word: disappointing.  This is not the story of Robin Hood, but rather the prequel to what may eventually be the Robin Hood story.  Though the cast is top notch, this film morphed into a strange Gladiator/Braveheart historic hybrid that failed at almost everything it was aiming to become.  I was entertained (if you forget the last 15 or so minutes of the film) but left unsatisfied.

Final Grade: B-
Will I buy it? No way




Sex and the City 2
Yes, I saw this without Chris.  Despite the flack this movie got form critics, I quite enjoyed this.  As a fan of the original show, it had all the familiar flair and frivolous fun of the series.  It wasn't deep or serious, and it wasn't supposed to be.  It remedied the issues I had with the first movie by being short, light, entertaining, and made me laugh out loud - like a lunch with old friends.

Final Grade: B+
Will I buy it? No




Predators
I loved the feel of it, the look of it, the sound of it.  This was obviously made by someone who knows and loves the Predator series.  I was incredibly pleased with the cast and story, though I wish there had been a little more "holy crap!" action and creatures.  Generally a solid flick with great re-watchability.

Final Grade: A-
Will I buy it? Yes




Inception
Beautiful effects accompanied with seamless handling of a decently complex plot.  The cast was strong, the action fun and the layers of unique ideas and pseudo philosophy kept the packed theater wide awake.

Final Grade: A-
Will I buy it? Unlikely

Embrace a Geek!

My friend Mike pointed out that the stars have aligned for me today, because not only is it my birthday, it is also "Embrace Your Geekness Day." Apparently this is copyrighted by Wellcat Holidays, and is for people who are "into dungeon games, comic books and doing vampire dress-up," and those who "spend endless hours going strange places on the internet."  It’s also geared to celebrate the “brainy” side of people who love technology.

Some folks apparently embrace the day by communicating via social media rather than talking on the phone or face to face. (Though this may not be anything different than the usual.)

In any case, I think it’s a glorious silly holiday to have on this particularly personal and happy day.  

I have been showered with well wishes and am incredibly grateful to have so many fabulous people in my life!  Thank you, everyone.

Typical Friday