Liking films others think unacceptable, and the fallout that comes with it.

I had no idea that being a fan of underground extreme cinema had such a stigma attached to it. I had even less of an idea that being a fan of 'The Exorcist' could have other apparent 'Horror fans' call you a Pedophile. Over the last eight or so years, people have been blasted on the internet for saying they like films such as 'A Serbian Film', 'August Underground' and 'A Human Centipede II' to name but a few. Many insults are hurled around to fans of these movies, and I myself have been a target of people who attempt to take the 'Moral High ground' in regards to these films.

It all began around four years ago, for me at least. I was expressing my love for 'The Exorcist', and how it is one of the most ageless horror films in existence that still hold the power to shock and scare to this day, when suddenly someone makes a comment on my thoughts calling me a Pedophile for watching the movie. When I asked why, it all stemmed down to the scene where Regan McNeil masturbates with a crucifix while shouting "Let Jesus fuck you" over and over again.

I was taken aback by such a random outburst. This part of the film, while explicit, was never titillating in the slightest. It is horrific, blasphemous and incredibly shocking. What amazed me more was that this scene was picked out in particular, instead of the more suggestive scenes, such as where Regan/Pazzuzu is attempting to seduce the priests.

'The Exorcist' distances itself from any type of eroticism so greatly, that I really didn't understand where this person was coming from (or the people who joined in with his attack). I understand that these people are perhaps 'Trolls', but I am beginning to doubt that, as this sort of closed-mindedness and unacceptability is becoming all the more prevalent amongst horror fans.The fact that they could not intelligently explain their decision to bestow on me such a label left me with all the information I needed about these so called horror fans.

Another example is 'A Serbian Film'. Yes, it is extreme, but the film has a political message (buried underneath all of the sex and violence at least) that tells how the Serbian government fuck you as soon as you are born (The baby rape scene), while you are alive (the blonde woman) and even after you die (the wife and son of the main protagonist). Admittedly it pushes boundaries, but shouldn't all great art do that? It certainly opened my eyes to some of the things that happen in Serbia, as well as to how closed minded some horror fans can be.

Just because I have viewed the film, and enjoyed it in one way or another, does not mean in any way, shape or form that I support any type of child abuse. I have the intelligence to know the difference between reality and fantasy, and right and wrong. Not at any time in my life will I support anything that promotes or features real life footage of any type of abuse towards another living creature.

If you watch 'The Last House on the Left', do you get called an avid supporter of rape and murder? Do Freddy Fans get called supporters of child molesters and child killers? Do fans of 'Nekromantik' get labelled necrophiliacs? When will the madness end?

Horror has always been about pushing the envelope. It shouldn't be safe. It shouldn't pander to conventions, to political correctness or to what the general public deems offensive or inoffensive. It should shock, disgust and provoke thought. It should give the viewer nightmares, and show them things their wildest imaginations couldn't dream up.

The scariest monster in reality is what humanity will do to their own and to other living creatures. Horror visualizes these acts of depravity, terror and horror and shows them in a form of entertainment. People forget that horror isn't meant to be enjoyed. It is raw, shocking, horrible and should make the viewer sickened and uncomfortable. People are forgetting what real horror is all about. May the underground continue to mutate and bring forth more sickness and depravity, and may us horror fans continue to support the dark side of cinema.

If you find it disturbing, shocking or offensive, then think. The movie has done it''s job.

If you want films that are going to brighten your day, then horror is not the place you should be looking. But if you want to be disgusted, scared, shocked and sickened, you will feel right at home with the rest of us here who enjoy horror as a genre, no matter what the filmmakers throw at us.

I know the title of this article mentions something about fallout of being labelled such things by people, but the fact is there has been none so far. Others, while they may not share the same opinion as myself, are intelligent enough to know that these films are just that. Little slices of darkness and depravity to be consumed time and time again, no matter how abhorrent these films are.

Darkest regards......Dani.