Is what you CAN'T see really more scary?

Cafe Society
81

Elvis: I guess we’ll just have to “agree to disagree” on this one. Glowing red eyes just do not scare me as much as a well-rendered werewolf (unless, of course, I’ve already been shown the werewolf earlier in the film, and can therefore picture what the glowing eyes represent).

In the two versions you describe, each with the same buildup, suspense, and denoument, give me the one that actually shows the monster every time, assuming the monster is well rendered. If it’s a crappy-looking monster, however, I agree that showing only the eyes would be much scarier.

I guess where we really differ in opinion is that I think that filmmakers actually can produce a monster that is every bit (if not more) scary as I can imagine on my own, whereas you are convinced that your imagination is far superior to anything that could be shown to you. I certainly can’t dispute your powers of imagination. Again, though, I’m very glad that mine are not so well developed. When I hear a noise in the middle of the night, my first thought is, “Stupid cat!” and not “Oh no – it’s some hideous and nameless monster the likes of which I’ve never seen before and that is far scarier than anything I could ever see in real life!”

I wonder, though, whether this whole “what I can imagine is scarier than anything I’ve seen or could be shown” thing applies to emotions other than fear? If, for example, you get hungry and start thinking about what you want for dinner, do you think about a particularly good dinner you’ve had in the past or a specific food, or do you instead find yourself imagining some wonderful, incredibly tasty food that is 100 time better than anything a chef could ever prepare for you in real life? Or (and I apologize for getting crude), if you are the sort prone to sexual fantasies, do you fantasize about real people you either know or have seen (in movies, magazines, etc.), or do you instead fantasize about idealized, imaginary women 100 times sexier than any woman you have ever seen before or could ever possibly be shown?

Personally, I hunger for food I’ve tasted before, fantasize about women I’ve seen before, and have nightmares about monsters I’ve actually been shown. I also imagine driving very specific sports cars, for that matter, and not fantasy vehicles made out of whole cloth.

Again, though, that’s just me.

Barry

82

On reflection, that last part wasn’t as clear as I meant it to be. Let me put it this way:

You believe that you can imagine something far scarier than anything that can be shown you, correct?

Do you also believe that you can imagine food that is far tastier than anything you have ever eaten?

Do you also believe that you can imagine a woman far sexier than any woman you have ever seen?

Do you also believe you can imagine a sports car far cooler than any you have ever seen?

Do you believe that is air you are breathing? (Sorry, couldn’t resist ;))

Now, your answer to these questions may very well be “yes” in each case. If not, however, I have to ask what makes you so much more imaginative when it comes to being scared?

Barry

83

This is an interesting thread and something I’ve often thought about.

However, it seems to me that really, we migt all be talking about two separate things. If you will, I posit that there might be two different kinds of fear: fear of the unknown and fear of a tangible thing.

I think perhaps it’s possible to consider these emotions as separate and distinct, not in competition with one another. Even in the example used earlier of Jurassic Park, prior to T Rex’s appearance, the audience feels the first emotion, fear of the unknown. We know something’s out there, we’ve seen evidence of it, we even know it’s approaching. I think it’s appropriate to call this anxiety or anticipation. Once T Rex comes into view, we’re onto a whole new emotion.

To me, it’s sort of comparable to talking about a rollercoaster ride. The first emotion is what you feel while you’re climbing the hill, the second is the rush you feel on the way down.

I think it might be unnecessary to turn these two emotions against each other and try to figure out which is more compelling. Rather, it might be more useful to see the two as partners, as potentially equal counterparts.

Anyway, it’s interesting to think about. I love being scared by movies. Too bad my wife hates it, I might get to enjoy it more.

84

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I can indeed imagine monsters scarier than those seen in most horror films, if only because in my imagination they aren’t obviously Claymation/guys in a costumes/Muppets/CGI. I haven’t seen any werewolf movies in the past couple of years, but I know I can imagine a better werewolf than anything in any movie I’ve ever seen (and I’ve got an ex who was a fan of werewolf flicks, so I’ve seen a lot). But I don’t think the point of “what you can’t see is scarier” is really “I can imagine a specific, convincing, scary werewolf better than special effects can create”. I think it’s usually “what you can’t see is scarier because your imagination often does not provide you with a specific image of the monster, and even if it does you can’t be sure if that image is correct or if the truth is really something more terrible or unexpected”. This is, as others have mentioned, a form of Fear of the Unknown.

You seem to think the Known is just as, if not even more, scary than the Unknown, and perhaps that is true of things that are pure fantasy anyway (when it comes to werewolves vs. unseen supernatural monsters, in the end both are imaginary), but I do not think it is true in real life. You may think it would be terrible to have a doctor tell you that you’ve been having those awful headaches because you’re suffering from a massive brain tumor, but I’ll tell you what’s worse – finding out that those awful headaches are neurological in origin, but they don’t really know what’s causing them yet so they’re going to have to run some more tests and get back to you. At least they can do something about most brain tumors these days, and even if they can’t at least you’ll know to get your affairs in order and say goodbye to everyone. But there’s nothing that can be done about a problem that does not yet have a diagnosis.

When it comes to the Known, either you deal with it or it kills you, and either way you know your problems will be over soon enough. With the Unknown, you don’t even know what you’re up against.

Oh, just for fun:

Yes, of course. I’m rather surprised that you think you cannot. My daydreams involving sexy women are always based on women I know or at least have seen, but they’re certainly much sexier in my imagination than they are in real life. Otherwise, what’s the point? If my real life were full of beautiful women willing to have sex with me whenever I wanted I wouldn’t need to use my imagination!

85

Yes. This is true for me. When my imagination frightens me, I don’t see something specific. I see a vague shape that I know represents something terrible even though I cannot see it clearly.