"I believe that Spanish-language films retain beautiful idiosyncrasies that do make them a different experience. . . . American genre movies seem more concerned with the destruction of the body to an almost obsessive detail, giving birth to the sub-genre, torture porn. On the other hand, it seems the concerns of the Spanish or Latin American genre efforts are more concerned with the destruction of the soul." -- Guillermo Del Torro (Director of Pan's Labyrinth)

I read this quote in  Washington Post review of the movie "The Orphanage." I could not agree with Del Torro more, and I think this obsession with destruction of the body cuts down on the quality of horror movies. I'm not trying to bash Tarrentino's liberal use of blood and torture. It does its job of grossing me out and getting me to scream. However, I am no longer affected anymore once I walk out of the theater. (I've become so jaded to on screen gore that it hardly phases me anymore...I think that is the way with most film audiences.)

I believe that the destruction of the soul is much more effective in haunting a viewer. For example, take the movie 28 Weeks Later.  I was watching it with my father one night. The next day he informed me that he had trouble sleeping because he couldn't get certain images out of his head. No, it was not the blood splashed as humans were ripped apart by others infected with the rage virus, nor was it the gruesome apperance of the rage infected humans. Rather it was the images of the military having to kill all the people in the city because they did not know who was affected and who wasn't. You have no choice but to fire on possible survivors of the virus, a group that may include one of your friends. That is an intense emotional image and is more powerful than blood and human flesh being torn apart by rage infested humans.

The other effective aspect to using destruction of the soul as your horror element rather than destruction of the body is the mystery you can keep with destruction of the soul. If your destroying the body you don't have as many choices as to how you can destroy it. Also, in order for it to really be shocking, it must be shown and since its not really happening, the viewer is able to remove himself. However, with destruction of the soul, there are so many more ways to destroy it. Its different for each person - yet the more mysterious the director keeps this, the more powerful it can be. Nothing is as scary on screen as what you come up with in your own mind.

As Desson Thomas states in this review, Guillermo Del Torro's new movie,

"The Orphanage doesn't need special effects to haunt us -- just one delicately disturbing idea: The most powerful ghosts are the ones we create ourselves."

Just this weekend, I was up in the Big Apple visiting my boyfriend. In trying to continue conversation with his father-artist, I asked him whether he painted every day or only when the mood so struck him. He responded that he tried to wake up every day and paint. He usually would paint 4 to 5 times a week because if he did not paint this much his muscles forget how to do it, similar to an athlete who must work out every day to mantain their physical strength. What a logical concept! Obviosuly this concept applies to writing -- how else can you expand your vocabulary, creativity, and storytelling ability unless you write about the simple, menial events that occur in everyday life.          

As an aspiring writer, I have decided to start recording, experimenting, and learning with words. For how can one master something unless you pick it apart piece by piece and begin to understand how it works. Granted I've had an education in English and have recieved top marks in these classes, but all this has achieved is taught me how to write as people are already used to. I want to experiment and improve my creativity and develop something new that shocks and intrigues. For that is the mark of a true creative writer. I want to change the world through what I write.       

The artist's final words also struck a chord within me. He explained that he allotted the same amount of time each day to painting. That way his painting would not become an obsession or an annoyance, but rather a habit. This is how it must be with writing. Of course, there are times when something strikes at you and is so urgent that you have to write it down on the back of a napkin or anywhere so that you will remember and further develop it later.       

  Instead of creating lofty resolutions that will never come true, like going to the gym (yea right) and quitting smoking (not yet..), I resolve that in 2008 I will write every day for 30-60 minutes untill it becomes habit and I have given birth to a new creative ability. Instead of a strong body, I will develop a strong mind. 

Ciao!