This writer recently watched the horror film “Weapons.” The story is centered around a community that loses a whole classroom of students but one. As the movie continues, suspects come and go and families grow restless. However, the “who” in this movie isn’t as important as their ending is. Spoiler alert: the bad guy gets what they deserve. Karma saved this film and it definitely won’t be the last.
Psychological Treat
The film “Carrie” from 1976 is a well-known example of this phenomenon. The protagonist is bullied and harassed throughout her childhood and teenage years. When she suddenly gets demonic-like powers, she uses them to physically punish her abusers. Like in “Weapons,” the antagonists meet an extreme, violent end.
For most of the plot, the audience is forced to watch Carrie get bullied. It’s expected that the audience wants the abusers to feel the same pain she did. Based on the idea “an eye for an eye,” the ending is satisfying because the abuse comes full circle. Our brains do not need to do much work here. We see evil people, they are punished, we feel good.
Movies can be reflections of society. Seeing the “bad guy” get punished for his behavior is mentally satisfying. As an audience, we secretly yearn for those moments. It’s very simple: karma reaffirms our belief that society will take action when it needs to.
Movie Magic?
What happens when the karma is all a film has? Take the “John Wick” franchise for example. (No, this writer isn’t hating on it.) The entire premise of it is that Keanu Reeves is avenging his dead dog and stolen car. While those are arguably valuable, this writer argues that the story could’ve ended after one two-hour session.
Yet, there are four movies of John Wick going around eliminating people. Yes, one can argue they’re the “bad guys,” but that’s it. The franchise relies on the idea that there will always be a karma-starving audience. Without karma, John Wick would just be another retired hitman.
Get Physical
From what this writer has seen, movies with karma tend to use it in a physical sense. Take what happened to President Coin in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2,” or any antagonist in the “Kill Bill” franchise or even Regina George’s injury in “Mean Girls.” With the popularity of these films, it seems something about body karma just works.
Maybe it’s built into us as the audience. It’s a never-ending cycle that spans across genres. We take a bite of karma, and no matter how good the film is, we’ll keep watching for another taste.
What do you think about movie karma? Let us know @VALLEYMag on Instagram!
Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?
Lovely site! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am taking your feeds also
Together with everything which seems to be developing throughout this specific subject material, your viewpoints happen to be quite radical. Having said that, I am sorry, but I do not give credence to your entire suggestion, all be it radical none the less. It would seem to everyone that your comments are actually not completely validated and in simple fact you are your self not totally certain of the point. In any event I did enjoy reading it.
What i don’t realize is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you might be right now. You’re so intelligent. You realize thus significantly relating to this subject, produced me personally consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. Always maintain it up!
Whats up! I simply wish to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you could have here on this post. I will likely be coming again to your weblog for more soon.
Great tremendous issues here. I am very happy to see your article. Thanks a lot and i’m having a look forward to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
I consider something really special in this site.
I would like to express my appreciation to this writer just for rescuing me from this issue. Just after surfing around through the search engines and seeing recommendations which are not beneficial, I believed my life was well over. Being alive devoid of the solutions to the issues you’ve solved all through your good posting is a critical case, and the ones that would have badly affected my career if I hadn’t encountered your web site. That know-how and kindness in dealing with everything was priceless. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I had not discovered such a solution like this. I am able to at this time relish my future. Thanks for your time so much for your specialized and effective help. I won’t be reluctant to endorse your blog to any person who needs care about this subject matter.
You could definitely see your skills in the paintings you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart. “If the grass is greener in the other fellow’s yard – let him worry about cutting it.” by Fred Allen.
I love assembling utile info, this post has got me even more info! .