Paranormal Activity

12

I have written on here about some of the totally execrable, violent films that are out there in the cinemas, available for the public to see. Antichrist and Waz have far, far worse content than any video game. And remember that film violence is far more traumatic because it is imposed on you, at least in games you can take action in response.

Paranormal Activity is one of the most profitable movies ever. It cost just $15,000 to make and has grossed over $100 million. And it is massively disturbing. Specialist horror movie website Bloody Disgusting said the following: “Paranormal Activity is one of the scariest movies of all-time. YOU WILL BE AFFECTED as it’s hard to ignore the imprint it leaves on your psyche. You know it’s fake, and yet, you can’t shake it. Nightmares are guaranteed.“

Now it is being shown in Italy and this is what the Daily Telegraph reports: “Emergency services received dozens of on calls on Saturday from cinema-goers having prolonged panic attacks after watching the film. The most severe case was that of a 14-year-old girl who was brought into hospital “in a state of paralysis”, an emergency services spokesman said.”

So what I want to know is where is Keith Vaz when you want him? How he can have the temerity to criticise a video game yet is not denouncing this film to Parliament is totally beyond me.

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12 Comments


  1. So Bruce, why are video games the frequent target for attacks and not the latest slasher flicks? This is purely anecdotal, but most games I’ve seen do not come close to the gratuitous violence/torture in these films. Are they just willfully ignorant that games do not contain as much violence/sex/drugs/etc. when compared to other forms of media?


  2. Maybe the problem is it is a really dull film that takes forever to get going…I was almost in a state of paralysis from the mind numbingly boring garbage it is 🙂 Just me opinion 😛


  3. @Benjamin

    This is my point. It is because the politicians and journalists who attack games are ignorant. They don’t know what they are talking about.


  4. The excuse I have heard a few times is that games deserve harsher criticism because you are actively engaging in the violence instead of just being a passive observer.

    I don’t agree with this. I think this excuse is just a cover for ignorance but I have heard it used a number of times.


  5. @JenniferRuth.
    You are right, the exact opposite is true and I have read psychologist’s research on the subject.
    Movies are more traumatic because the events are imposed on the viewer and the viewer has no way out, they are helpless.
    Games are less traumatic because they are interactive, so the player can react to events.


  6. I think the problem is the powers-that-be think only kids play videogames, whereas movies are watched by people who vote. Won’t somebody think of the children?


  7. @Bruce

    Is that research available online? I’d love to read it.


  8. @JenniferRuth

    It is available online, because that is probably where I read it. However I did not keep the reference.

    There again, it could be in Grand Theft Childhood.


  9. That 14 year old’s parents should be shot.


  11. Give it another 15yrs until my generation “grows up” and assume positions of power, gaming becomes a tool also for education, and gaming becomes as mainstream as TV/Movies etc. and it will all die down. Look at the crtiticism television faced back in the 50’s and 60’s as it became widespread.

    Think its hilarious how the bulk of negative atention press wise comes from the NewsInternational Group, and Murdoch is dying to spend millions on the gaming sector in order to secure a foothold lol.

    Telling small kids fantastical stories like how we all came from some blokes rib is ok, but playing games isn’t. Would rather my future underage kids played GTA4 every day than go sunday school, the long-term damage would probably be less significant.


  12. I think the problem is politics, games are so political yet politicians ignore them, and when they bring it up, its always in a negative way. Its a very unregulated industry in my eyes, I feel politicians should get more involved into the industry but in a more positive way, like supporting indie games companies, the market is so saturated with rubbish that massive companies are pumping out, I was want to see a change.

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