Based on a true story

The following article is based on a real thought.

This past week I was able to check out an advanced screening of Zodiac, which for anyone who happens to be an avid reader of my columns (and I know there's six or seven of you), would remember that this was one of my top films to see during the winter quarter.

Long story short, I got the crap scared out of me and thoroughly enjoyed the film. But the thing that I found to be most frightening about the movie, and what probably led me to be curled up in my seat for the entire film, was the fact that this movie was based on real events. So as I sat there watching the Zodiac killer have his way with the victims, I was constantly scared by the notion that this stuff actually happened. Needless to say, I was happy to not have to walk home alone from the HUB.

If there's one thing that Hollywood seems to have done right, it is creating films based on true stories and real events. I believe this makes the film that much better, because it forces the audience to realize the veracity of the situations, no matter how far-fetched it may seem. And if the movie happens to be a horror film, it definitely makes it that much scarier.

Which is why I believe that Hollywood should just start saying every movie is based on a true story. I mean, think about all the horror movies, like the Child's Play and Friday the 13th franchises, that could have been even better had they stamped the "Based on a True Story" logo on them. Think about how many kids would be too terrified to go trick or treating anymore after having to watch the original Halloween.

It would be amazing.

It's not as if Hollywood isn't already throwing around the "True Story" line on a lot of movies already. For instance, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is apparently "inspired by a True Story". So obviously people go into this movie thinking that there was an actual Leatherface who went around chain sawing random people and then wearing the victims' skin. In fact, the "True Story" revolves around a man named Ed Gein, who shot his victims and then wore their skin in hopes of becoming a woman.

Big difference, people. Big difference.

And who could forget the little fiasco known as The Blair Witch Project? They had us all fooled into thinking that those students actually went into the forest, went crazy and were all killed. Not only that, but they did a good job of making us believe it was true. Well, until they had the supposed missing students show up to award shows and such. That kind of ruined the secret.

Finally, think about how easy it would be for Hollywood to slap on the Truth tag to all those movies that take place in the past. With all the advancements in CGI, costume and set design, movies like Gladiator, Troy and every WWI/WWII epic have become so realistic that they might as well be true stories. It's not as if anyone is going to go and look up every name and place to see if its real.

Because in all honesty, who cares if history isn't accurately presented? As long as it's entertaining, it could be as improbable as Miracle. g