"Paranormal Activity" Scaring the S*** out of Italy!
Granted, I thought Oren Peli's "Paranormal Activity" (Review) was an amazing film, but this is just ridiculous. AFP is reporting that the film, currently being shown in cinemas in Italy, is apparently scaring the s*** out of the Italian populous in that country! In fact, the epidemic is so bad that now politicians, and various Italian watchdog associations are angry and concerned about it's effect on the Italian citizenry. Italy's emergency response service has received a flood of calls from folks in Southern Naples where, quote..."several panic attacks lasting more than half an hour..." took place last Saturday.
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The most serious of all of these apparent panic attacks, was a 14-year old girl who was brought to the hospital in an apparent state of paralysis. Apparently the big deal is the films trailer, which has been running all over television in Italy for the past two weeks, and allegedly terrifying thousands of children. "It's a terrible thing. I took notice because my seven-year-old son told me 'Daddy, I'm scared'," says Ignazio La Russa, Italian Defense Minister. The films effect on children has become so widespread and such a concern that even Alessandra Mussolini, daughter of the Italian fascist dictator who rose to power after World War 1, has voiced her concerns about "Paranormal Activity", and it's quote..."highly distressing content", and the quote..."panic attacks and psychological problems", it was causing amongst Italian youth. "I don't think we can ban 'Paranormal Activity' now," she said. "But surely we need to study how to warn parents of the risks their children are incurring." |
Due to the situation at hand, Italy is currently looking to implement a restricted stamp on the film, similar to the age restriction rating of "R" which the United States, and other countries currently have for hardcore scary or hardcore violent films. Personally, I find this whole thing amusing. A country known for one of the most violent organized crime groups in world history, the Sicilian Mafia...scared out of their wits by an indie horror film? WEIRD...very, very WEIRD. It'll be interesting to see what happens this year when the sequel is released. Depending on when it hits Italy, they might ban it, fearing a repeat of what's happening there now with part 1.
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