MovieChat Forums > The Black Phone (2022) Discussion > Again, really wanted to see this, but I ...

Again, really wanted to see this, but I can't for one reason!

posted 3 months ago by CodyXBrenda (326)
2 replies | jump to latest

It's one thing to have a horror film where people are being stabbed, gutted, butchered, or decapitated by a silent masked killer. At least that shit is played for "campyness" and isn't meant to be 100% realistic. I mean the killer is always immortal and comes back for dozens of sequels. However, when the film constants of innocent children being pummeled by bullies and abusive parents, that's where it crosses the line for me. I can tolerate the brutal kills from the hands of Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Chucky, Ghostface, and Art the Clown. What I cannot tolerate is physical violence from the hands of bullies and bad parents and when the kids getting beat up are innocent and didn't even fucking deserve it! That shit is not okay, nor is it fun to watch! You cannot get any enjoyment out of that shit. There's no "carnage candy", it's a fucking miserable ass time that only sadists would enjoy!

[–] AndyAce83 (68) 3 months ago

The film was good. Your loss.

[–] CodyXBrenda (326) 3 months ago

I'm not saying the film is bad because of certain scenes. I'm just saying that people like Roger Ebert used to get all butthurt about slasher violence back in the 80s yet nobody complains about physical violence involving minors!

It looks really good but I cannot watch for it for one reason; physical violence against kids, from the hands of bullies and bad parents. Making those who witnessed it, very fucking annoyed!

This is what ruined the opening to IT: Chapter Two; and yes, I'm aware that the homophobic attack is also in the 1986 novel, but the scene in Chapter Two was handled so poorly, in contrast to the novel! Regardless, the brutal beatings are just played for "shock factor" and not true horror. Generally, you want to see horror to be scared, not offended by brutal violence from the hands of sadistic bullies/brutes or bad parents!

If I wanted to watch a movie with brutal ass beatings, I'd watch something like Fight Club, The Karate Kid, or Gran Torino. You know, a movie where the whole point is about "fighting and standing up for yourself" and not being a "pussy" about it while also having a point for the plot, instead of not giving a fuck to where the perpetrators responsible for the beatings get off, Scott free because "life is unfair"! In other words: wasting the audience's time and having an excuse to use the "Karma Houdini" trope!