Angelfire powered by Cable & Wireless

Death and Dying in Film

• The horror of personality.
• The horror of Armageddon.
• The horror of the demonic.

• Dead helping the living.
• Going into the light.
• Death as a peaceful ending.
• Dying a "good death."
• Terminal illness and virus scares.
• Love connection.
• Death is still seen as frightening.

  ---

  
  

  Changes in the Role of the Dead.

  
  
  
  • Meet Joe Black- Living helping dead, dead helping living.
  • The Sixth Sense- Living helping dead, dead helping living.
  • Stir of Echoes- Living helping dead.
  • What Dreams May Come- Dead helping dead.
  • Ghost- Living helping dead, dead helping living.
  • What Lies Beneath- Living helping dead, dead helping living.

  ---

  
  

  Reasoning Behind the New Genre.

  
  
  Some possible reasons to explain this new trend are:
  • Millennium fears.
  • The end of the Cold War.
  • The aging of society.

  ---

  
  

  Predictions for Post 9-11 Movies.

  
  
  After the September 11th tragedy, we predict that death in movies will change. We think that there will be:
  • More psychics.
  • More lost spirits.
  • More heroic deaths.
  • People dying for others, or for a greater cause.
  • A focus on terrorism including suicide bombers.
  • Natural, tame deaths.

  ---

  
  
  
  

  Related Links

  Dr. Kearl's site on Death in the Mass Media
  Take the Zener Card test and measure your psychic ability
  Make your own will online
  Summary of Carrie
  Summary of What Dreams May Come
  Summary of Ghost
  Summary of All Dogs go to Heaven
  Summary of Field of Dreams
  Summary of Always
  Summary of Ghost Dad
  Summary of City of Angels
  Summary of Meet Joe Black
  Summary of Jack Frost
  Summary of The Gift
  Summary of Stir of Echoes
  Summary of What Lies Beneath
  Summary of Final Destination
  Summary of The Sixth Sense