Depravity isn't necessarily easy to portray, nor does its portrayal have to be unoriginal.
But too often it feels both cheap and hackneyed, which is why I'm not a huge fan of Saw and Hostel, etc. - there's usually not much to this sort of film or story for me beyond shock value and "can-you-handle-it?" gore-for-gore's sake.
But, still: What better medium than horror to explore man's inhumanity to man?
And why do we look toward horror in the first place if not for a challenge to everyday sensibilities?
Extreme stories like Schow's, which looks at the ever-increasing levels of depravity humans are capable of, are necessary.
We do have to look, and we're not sure we can handle it.
There are bad guys in the world.
And then there are worse guys.
And then there are demons and monsters in the shapes of men.
What makes "Bad Guy Hats" so much better - or worse- than your typical gorefest is that Schow's writing is streamlined and wicked and masterful - bloody, cinematic poetry. You leave the story feeling unsettled, less safe in the world, more watchful.
And isn't that really what you went to horror looking to find?
But too often it feels both cheap and hackneyed, which is why I'm not a huge fan of Saw and Hostel, etc. - there's usually not much to this sort of film or story for me beyond shock value and "can-you-handle-it?" gore-for-gore's sake.
But, still: What better medium than horror to explore man's inhumanity to man?
And why do we look toward horror in the first place if not for a challenge to everyday sensibilities?
Extreme stories like Schow's, which looks at the ever-increasing levels of depravity humans are capable of, are necessary.
We do have to look, and we're not sure we can handle it.
There are bad guys in the world.
And then there are worse guys.
And then there are demons and monsters in the shapes of men.
What makes "Bad Guy Hats" so much better - or worse- than your typical gorefest is that Schow's writing is streamlined and wicked and masterful - bloody, cinematic poetry. You leave the story feeling unsettled, less safe in the world, more watchful.
And isn't that really what you went to horror looking to find?