Horror films began in the late 1930’s with the releases of movies such as Frankenstein and Dracula. Unlike horror films, slasher films use graphic sexual violence to attract audiences. Studies have reported that slasher films often include the mutilation of women in scenes that include sexual content. It has been argued that slasher films have a desensitizing effect, along with modeling and disihibition theories. Slasher films should not be seen by children because it can influence them greatly. An example of the correlation between sex and horror is the film American Psycho.
It is important to know that slasher films often portray sexual aggression. Some have claimed that mixing sex and violence causes viewers, usually male, to associate sex with aggression in their everyday lives. Content analyses provide evidence that females are not the only victims in slasher films. Females are usually seen extremely victimized in slasher films and less attention to females as survivors. Males are more likely to suffer acts of violence than females, but females suffer more sexual violent acts.
Mass communication theories such as desensitization, modeling and dishinibtion apply to mediated sexuality. Exposure to scenes of explicit violence contrast with sexual images is believed to desensitize emotional reactions to film violence. This leads males to become less disturbed by scenes of violence and degradation towards women. Individuals can learn new behaviors from mediated sexuality from slasher films and try to reenact their findings based on the modeling theory. The disinhibition theory states that throughout our lives we have acquired a set of moral and personal ethics. These prohibit use from engaging in a certain behaviors called inhibitions. Becoming in contact with sexual violence in the media we lose these inhibitions and are more likely to engage in these types of behaviors.
In the movie American Psycho, the leading character Patrick Bateman is portrayed as a successful businessman with style and confidence in his appearance. He, unlike the others, finds pleasure in seducing women and killing them after. Death and sexual arousal are what pleases him. There were many instances where Bateman used sexual talk and sexual preference in the movie. For example, he would constantly tell his secretary to wear less clothing and high heels to work. He also said saying such as, get on your knees, bend over, remove your dress, dance for me, and clean your vagina. These were just some of the sexual references Bateman used throughout the movie. He had a power over women in which his good looks and money led him to get what he wanted. All of the sexual acts were performed to women in the movie. Many of the women in the movie appeared to be coerced. Bateman would threaten or force them to have sex. For example, an instance in the movie he put a drugs in the girl’s drinks. After doing so the women finally gave in to do the sexual acts. The violence in the movie included both women and men. On average he killed about 40 people. At the end of the movie took an interesting twist. Bateman never actually killed anyone and these were just visions in his head.
I believe that not everyone should have access to these types of films. Children and teens are the most at risk. Based on the theories I presented earlier kids can be easily influenced by what they see in the media. I think it is important for parents to monitor what movie’s their kids watch. Due to the fact that most of these movies are rated R, adults should be the only one’s watching these films. I was surprised by the amount of sexual references and violence there was in the movie. I strongly believe there is a direct correlation between sex and violence in slasher films. American Psycho is just one example of mediated sexuality and violence.
Based on the knowledge about slasher films it is concluded that women are not the only victims of violence. Social scientists have expressed concern over the negative effects slasher films has on its audiences. Males are less likely to be disturbed by extreme violence towards women. The desensitization, modeling, and dishinibition theory explain why mediated sexuality in movies can influence the public deeply. Children and teens are the most risk to be influenced by the media. The correlation between sex and violence in horror films is portrayed intensely in the movie American Psycho.
