Comments on: Dear America: You Need to Stop Talking During Horror Movies

By: brandmed

brandmed — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 04:10:00 +0000

Amen! I tend to only go to matinees in order to avoid teenagers and people at the movies just to hang out. Still not a sure proof way to avoid them but lower crowds minimize the risk. Like you, I have noticed that horror movies tend to bring out the worst behavior. My theory is that the movies are working on these people. They’re scared and they don’t like that feeling so they talk, laugh, make jokes, etc. to cut the tension. But that’s the point (most of the time) of a horror movie-to make you feel tense! It’s so rude and unexcusable. My wife has gotten up to complain before, but I hate that she has to then miss part of the movie. At least that time, the management did come say something to the people talking (a man there with his son and elderly mother who he had to translate Man of Steel to; by yelling in Spanish to her over the sound of Metropolis being destroyed) and they gave us free passes to another movie. When my friend and I saw The Conjuring at a packed crowd, the group of college-aged kids behind us narrated the entire movie complete with lines like “girl, you better put on your house shoes.” It was so annoying. When I shushed them, they grew louder and acted offended. Nobody wants to listen to your commentary, idiots. Anyway, preach on, brother and I am right there with you.

By: Kirby4Ever

Kirby4Ever — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 02:31:00 +0000

Agree with everything you wrote! I don’t know why I’ve been experiencing this problem more frequently now than ever before. I love going to the movies as well. It’s not just watching a good movie that I enjoy. I really appreciate the entire experience. Whenever I go to the theater with family/friends, as soon as we open the door and I smell the familiar popcorn scent for the first time, I always take a deep breath, smile, and say “I’m home”. It’s the entire experience that I appreciate, even the trailers (which nowadays last what feels like a half hour). My experience while watching a movie greatly impacts my opinion of it, for better or worse. Some of my favorite movies are admittedly not that great from an objective point of view, but if I’m in a particularly good mood or with good company, I’m likely to look back more fondly on a film. In regards to talking during a horror film, teenagers are so concerned with the opinions of their friends that, after getting embarrassed by being caught off guard and probably looking silly jumping or screaming in their seat, they have to joke about it and brush it off to seem cool and funny. What I can’t understand is why people chose to talk in general, during the average movie or even when nothing scary is happening. And what I really don’t understand is why people go on their phones during the movie. I just don’t see how a movie theater has become a popular spot for teenagers to hang out, and by hang out, I mean talk amongst themselves, check their phones, and sometimes even randomly walk around the theater. As you pointed out, it is so expensive to go the movies lately. A ticket, drink and small popcorn is close to $50 (maybe more, in some cases) for one person, let alone a group. How do teens have that much money to pay for something their clearly not invested in. If all you want to do is go somewhere you can hang out, chat and stare at your phone, do you know how many places there are where you can do that for free? You don’t even need to leave your house! Why go to a place where you are specifically supposed to be quiet to talk to friends? There have been some good movies out lately, but when I think of them now, my mind instantly flashes back to feeling annoyed and uncomfortable, focusing on anticipating the audiences’ next movies rather than that of the characters on screen.

By: Robin Manford

Robin Manford — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 19:16:00 +0000

In reply to John Squires. It isn't even just popcorn anymore, though. It's things in PACKETS. That RUSTLE. But for me it hits the nerve of the problem; by providing such things during a film, you are guaranteeing two things: 1) that people will treat the environment more casually. You only have to look at the floor as you leave the cinema screen to see how little regard the patrons have for the venue, and 2) that people will be opening their mouths to shovel crap into them. Once someone's mouth is already open, well, they might as well spout a load of bullshit whilst they're at it, right?

By: John Squires

John Squires — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 19:11:00 +0000

In reply to Robin Manford.

I’ll never understand why popcorn became the official snack of movie theaters – it’s the loudest goddamn food that you can possibly eat. If I do get popcorn at the theater, which is rare, I make sure to eat most of it before the actual movie starts. Because yea, loud chewing and slurping can be as annoying as talking.

By: Robin Manford

Robin Manford — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 19:07:00 +0000

I agree with all of this, and have suffered similarly at numerous screenings, horror and otherwise. In some respects cinemas actively encourage disruptive behaviour by selling snacks. Of course they do it to milk as much revenue from the visitors as possible, but it does alter the mentality of those in attendance. You don’t, afterall, hear people munching popcorn and loudly slurping giant Cokes at the theatre