You clicked on this link because of that picture didn't you? Hahahaha. Well, I can't blame you. If you haven't guessed, that's Sophia Monk topless from the movie The Hills Run Red (review tomorrow). And there's more in the movie of Ms. Monk naked in the film. In the flick, she plays a stripper who helps a group of filmmakers look for a long lost movie. But thats irrelevant. Suffice it to say, she seems to "pop up" naked in the most unlikely of scenes.But let's get to the thighs and breasts of this post. I posed the question, how gratuitous is gratuitous nudity?
Well horror and nudity go hand in hand don't they? If you go into your video store (remember those?) you'll notice that the scifi movies are next to the horror movies. And what's next to the horror movies? Yup, you got it. Porn. It's interesting to note that this set up is intentional as most horror fans do expect to see nudity in their movies. So a walk down the aisle would make it easier to get your fix on all 3 genres?
As much as we like to believe horror has defied the stereotype as in in the same vain as critically acclaimed movies, it's just not the case. We have to come to grips that it's a genre that is loved by a few and scorned by many. Oh yes, the casual moviegoer will go see a horror movie, but it's not to see a brilliant acting performance or a fascinating story. It's sometimes to see mechanical slasher kills and some bouncing C cups.
Could a slasher film be made where a beautiful sexpot didn't get naked? And even if nakedness doesn't occur, I have to count a very revealing Final Girl tank top is nudity as much as full frontal would be. I'm not here to argue the fact that nudity is in a horror movie, I'm trying to point out the instances where it's just plain gratuitous.
And the funny part is I'm all for gratuitous nudity.
It's a staple of the slasher genre and its inserted in almost every pseudo genre of horror. Cannibal, redneck slaughter, yup. Monster attacks movies, yup. Vampire and werewolves in battle, yup to a degree. So what are the instances of gratuitous nudity?
- Obviously gratuitous sex scenes demand nudity
- Shower scenes
- Taking a bath
- Skinny dipping
- Swimming
- Locker rooms
- Slumber parties
- Strip clubs
- Changing clothes
- Massages
- Saunas
- Walking around the house (yup this happens)
- Satanic rituals
- Torture scenes
- Demon nudity
- Hookers
- etc. etc. etc.
Of course, the PG-13-ing by Hollywood to the horror genre has almost made this question irrelevant. We've almost become accustomed to the fact no nudity will appear in the current mass production of Hollywood fluff. Some call this blasphemy. Horror movies need to be Rated R and must have strong sexual content and extreme violence and gore. Others have felt a PG-13 horror movie without the above can be just as good.I want to know what you guys think. Simply put:
1.) How gratuitous is gratuitous nudity? Would you be angry if you didn't see some boobies in a slasher flick? Would somehow more gore and splatter make up for this?
2.) How often do you expect nudity in horror movies? 100% of the time? 75%? 50%? 25% 0%?
3.) Would you go see a Rated R/Unrated film filled with extreme violence, splatter and gore with tons of nudity.....but the film sucks OR would you see a nice, clean PG-13 horror movie that was praised unanimously by horror critics?
The fact that I have both a GORE-ipedia and NUDE-ipedia goes to show that I sincerely believe horror fans expect both and are looking for both these things to happen. So let me know what you think.
If your looking for more nude photos, c'mon just Google it will ya. And for the few of you expecting more Sophia Monk pictures, check back tomorrow. How gratuitous do you think I am?
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As you've already pointed out, nudity has become in many ways associated with the horror genre but I personally don't "expect" anything along these lines when I go see a horror movie. That is, I'm certainly not surprised to see nudity in a horror film but I'm not disappointed by any means if it doesn't show up. First and foremost, I go see horror films to be scared (or for the films to attempt to scare me - it's pretty hard these days).
ReplyDeleteIf the PG-13 horror movie is genuinely scary and good (which very rarely happens), I'd take that over a shitty R-rated one with boobies in it. I can find images and videos of boobies on the internet anytime I want. I want and expect something more than that out of horror.
I hate how "gratuitous nudity" basically means: tits. I don't want to see tits, I'd have no problem with them if there was as much "dudity" as there were boobs/beav. But there rarely is. I don't expect nudity in a horror film, but I roll my eyes if there is.
ReplyDeleteIf a horror film is filled with "extreme violence, splatter and gore" then it cannot suck.
- Zac
I'm not going to try to be classy or ride some horror high horse. If the film is a slasher then it MUST contain at least one "gratuitous" shot of some boobies. Call me a pig... I can take it, but it's a requirement. It's practically written in law. It's like Joe Bob Briggs says - Boobs, Blood, and what the hell was his third "B"? Meh... Who cares...
ReplyDeleteMarc - I think the 3rd B is just boobs again...
ReplyDeleteWhile I always love gratuitous nudity, if it is not contextualized in serious Horror films I find it distracting. I am always willing to accept it in any conventional Slasher, but there are some films that just rely too heavily on T+A when they should have been working on simple things like writing and directing.
ReplyDelete1.) How gratuitous is gratuitous nudity? Would you be angry if you didn't see some boobies in a slasher flick? Would somehow more gore and splatter make up for this?
HOSTEL arguably had the most gratuitous nudity in recent mainstream Horror, and I found it all to be relevant to the plot. Would my opinion of the film have changed if the full frontal had been edited down to implied sexuality? Fuck no. Solid writing makes a film, boobs just make a film awesome.
2.) How often do you expect nudity in horror movies? 100% of the time? 75%? 50%? 25% 0%?
5yrs ago I would have said 75% of the time. Now that I have explored all of the different facets of the genre, I expect nudity in perhaps 10-25% of all Horror films.
3.) Would you go see a Rated R/Unrated film filled with extreme violence, splatter and gore with tons of nudity.....but the film sucks OR would you see a nice, clean PG-13 horror movie that was praised unanimously by horror critics?
Yikes.. Lets face it.. Go see it in theaters? I want a crowd pleaser. When I want to see something serious and contemplative, I will buy it and watch it at home in the silence and comfort of my couch =D