User blog comment:Bountybear/Is gore scary?/@comment-5239282-20140324215036

TL;DR: Good in movies; bad in books. Suppose I'll cover both in a long-ass (and heavily subjective) analysis, though.

I figure so as long as you have a functioning plot and a few likable characters w/ background, you can get away with wanton gore in books. Sympathy is exercised in times of heavy loss -- and if the loss of a family member is heavy on the heart, so much so is the loss of a body member. That said, though, it's only natural you don't get the same reaction from reading than viewing. That's why, when writing myself, I always have to make a point to put as much focus on gore as possible when appropriate. I make certain it's an exercise in bad taste (reference to Pink Flamingos), while constantly reminding the reader that, yes, the exact same heroine you know and love is being tortured with whips and knives -- the same heroine who just lost both her virginity and son in a car accident. Whatever sappy-but-understandable backstory there is, work with it.

I have a theory that it's not nearly as fun reading than it is writing murder and rape. I'm probably right -- how sweet it is to dream up the grisly end of a weak, uneducated male figure who was rescued from bondage by the strong heroine because you reenact it in your head. You visualize the blood vessel bursting because he didn't know how to handle a letter opener -- you have to hope and pray readers have that same reaction (short answer: no). The exact opposite could be true for film-making, though.

I'm a fan of Italian horror from the likes of Argento and Fulci. That's all fine and dandy. But there's a common theme between most Italian horror, exploitation, and torture porn (not just they're stylish as fuck; though they are) -- the explicit content and, unfortunately, the low level of logic. Thankfully, that's where subgenres come in. On any given day, I could enjoy Demons, Nightmare City, and City of the Living Dead. If I wanted something more on the intellectual side, however, I'd choose something a little more like Frailty, The Snowtown Murders, or The Woman. Whereas the former three are criticized for their plot while being incredibly fuckin' fun to watch, the latter three provide much more intellectual fare, while still being enjoyable gory. Ultimately, it rests on personal preference on that day. Though there are few films who feature copious amounts of both stylistic gore and deep plot to satisfy both wants. And that's what I call a masterpiece. And that's my analysis.

Demons I and II are both fuckin' awesome, though.