Movie, Game Violence Are Focus in Wake of School Shooting

December 20, 2012

The recent tragic shootings of 20 young children and seven adults have renewed discussions about gun control in the United States. Many say the availability of guns, however, is not the only factor that could trigger a deadly act. Though the industry disputes it, some experts say films glorifying violence and video games rewarding death can be equally lethal, especially in the hands of people with mental health issues.

When Chris Nolan’s film The Dark Knight Rises came out in July, the on-screen death and destruction served as the backdrop to a mass shooting during its premiere in Aurora, Colorado. The shooter, 24-year-old James Holmes, had dyed his hair red to resemble the Batman character, “The Joker.” Holmes killed 12 people and wounded 58.

Production of violent films continued after the massacre.

Hollywood violence

One of them, Andrew Dominik’s graphic drama Killing Them Softly, about a hired gun with feelings, was released late November.

The Hollywood premiere this week of Quentin Tarantino’s bloody western Django Unchained was canceled out of respect for those killed in Connecticut, though the movie will be released.

Criminal defense attorney Rene Sandler said on-screen gunfights can inspire real-life shootings.

“The perpetrator becomes a character, takes on the persona of an aggressive, violent individual or superhero, and in Aurora it’s a perfect example of just that,” she said.