Post by mikef6 on Nov 8, 2017 21:44:00 GMT
Back in the 1980s and ‘90s in the U.S., there were two famous movie critics (Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert) who had a long running (20 years) TV show where they reviewed the weeks new films. One of the tropes in that era’s horror and thrillers was what Siskel and Ebert considered cheap and objectionable. That would be the placing of children in dangerous situations (the Chuck Norris actioner “Invasion USA” from ’85) and, worse, the killing of children and showing the bodies of dead children (Amityville II: The Possession from ’82).
I have thought about this while doing a watch-through of the new series leading up to the 13th Doctor. It happens in both fan favorites and fan rejections. In the cold opening to “School Reunion” (S.2, Ep. 3) an orphan girl of about six is eaten by the main baddie. In the two-parter Human Nature/Family Of Blood (S.3, Ep.8&9), a young girl of about the same age is killed and possessed by the Family. “Fear Her” is about a child possessed and other children that she has made disappear. A lot of anguish but no deaths. In “Nightmare In Silver” (S.7, Ep. 12), The Doctor takes Clara and her nanny charges to a planet that turns out to be run by Cybermen. A huge battle results and one of the children is taken.
Are there other instances? Is this practice an acceptable means of generating suspense or expressing evil? Is using young children always to be avoided? Whadaya think?
I have thought about this while doing a watch-through of the new series leading up to the 13th Doctor. It happens in both fan favorites and fan rejections. In the cold opening to “School Reunion” (S.2, Ep. 3) an orphan girl of about six is eaten by the main baddie. In the two-parter Human Nature/Family Of Blood (S.3, Ep.8&9), a young girl of about the same age is killed and possessed by the Family. “Fear Her” is about a child possessed and other children that she has made disappear. A lot of anguish but no deaths. In “Nightmare In Silver” (S.7, Ep. 12), The Doctor takes Clara and her nanny charges to a planet that turns out to be run by Cybermen. A huge battle results and one of the children is taken.
Are there other instances? Is this practice an acceptable means of generating suspense or expressing evil? Is using young children always to be avoided? Whadaya think?
