Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig, Charles Solomon, and Wade Major review this week’s new movie releases including “Ice Age: Collision Course” “Star Trek Beyond,” “Lights Out,” “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” and more. We'll also talk with filmmaker Rich Fox and fear sociologist Margee Kerr about the psychological attraction to fear and consensual trauma. TGI-FilmWeek!
FilmWeek: ‘Ice Age: Collision Course,’ ‘Lights Out,’ ‘Star Trek Beyond’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig, Charles Solomon, and Wade Major review this week’s new movie releases including the latest “Ice Age” animated feature; the latest “Star Trek” with Chris Pine as Captain Kirk; a horror in wide release called “LightsOut;” plus “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie,” and more.
TGI-FilmWeek!
Wade's Hits
- " Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie "
- " One Night Only "
- " Summertime "
- " The President "
- " Indian Point "
Claudia's Hits
- " One Night Only "
- " Summertime "
- " The President "
- " Indian Point "
Charles' Hits
- " Phantom Boy "
Mixed Reviews
- Claudia: " Lights Out "
- Charles: " Indian Point "
This Week's Misses
- Claudia and Wade: " Star Trek Beyond "
- Wade, Claudia and Charles: " Ice Age: Collision Course "
- Claudia: " Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie "
Guests:
Wade Major , Film Critic for KPCC and host for IGN’s DigiGods.com
Claudia Puig, Film Critic for KPCC and "The Wrap;" she tweets from
Charles Solomon , Film Critic for KPCC and Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Horror immersion tours featured in new documentary 'The Blackout Experiments'
Opening at select cinemas this weekend, "The Blackout Experiments" follows several extreme thrill seekers who participate in an "immersive horror" experience called Blackout.
The events happen sporadically in Los Angeles and New York. Participants are subjected to scary, intense, and disorienting activities. There has even been waterboarding, forced nudity, and enough violence that some participants later called it torture instead of a thrill.
Some tours similar to Blackout are less sadistic but will "kidnap" participants who have to meet a series of challenges in the city.
So why would people want to immerse themselves in a found-footage film?
Margee Kerr is a sociologist who studies human response to fear. She says some thrill seekers may feel a self-esteem boost because they’ve confronted their fear and survived. Others may have had highly stimulating experiences, such as former soldiers who have to acclimate back to civilian life.
They may feel the need to do these excursions simply because normality bores them. There are also genetic factors that come into play, such as dopamine deficiency. This can make people more comfortable with uncertainty and motivate them to thrill seek. Thrill seeking is also culturally defined. People in the U.S. are more motivated to be scared than someone in a third-world country, but not without a controlled environment.
What are your thoughts on this phenomenon?
Guests:
Rich Fox, Filmmaker, “ The Blackout Experiments ”
Margee Kerr , sociologist specializing in the science of fear and author of “ Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fea r ” (Public Affairs, 2015)