Horror Films Booming In Gloomy Economy

Horror films are increasing in popularity and some experts claim it is because of the gloomy economic times. There are four new cinema scaries released this month while dedicated horror festivals are booming across the country.
Eli Roth, producer of The Last Exorcism - which is released in the UK this weekend - said "Horror is always popular... people want a good smart, scary story," he said. He is a member of the Hollywood "splat pack" - a group of film makers renowned for their love of horror - and said films in the genre are increasingly sophisticated, often with a wider message. "Now there is a feeling that evil is on the rise. “There is this feeling that there is evil out there and we have to do everything to fight it."
Another trend is for viewers to watch this kind of Films in the company of others. Horror festivals are growing in popularity. Last weekend 27,000 people descended on London for FrightFest which exhibited 40 scary films. Over Halloween, thousands will convene in Manchester for Grimm Up North to watch movies, play games and even walk like zombies.
Cultural historians say that nail-biting, hide-behind-the-sofa films traditionally do well when the country is in an economic depression. Simeon Halligan, Director of Grimm Up North, said: "One of the reasons horror and fantasy are very popular at the moment is because in a recession people throw themselves into escapism, when reality is hard work.”Horror reflects a sense of anger and frustration at a society that is not doing so well."

Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) In the past, horror films were not as complex as they are now.
b) People do not share their like for horror.
c) Horror festivals are not just going to the cinema.
d) Some people have studied the connection between crisis and horror films success.

Question 2 Answer these questions in your own words with information from the text:

a) What two trends does the text mention as far as horror stories are concerned?
b) Why are people so keen on horror films at the moment?

Question 3 Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:

a) famous (par.2)
b) To meet (par.3)
c) To progress(par.4)

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning

a) They have released four new scaries this month.
Four ………
b) Horror movies are increasing in popularity because of the economic recession.
If there were …..
c) In a recession people throw themselves into escapism when reality is hard work.
Mr. Halligan said that ……

Question 5 Write a short essay (120 to 150 words) on the following topic:

What can you do to escape from reality?

Horror Films Booming In Gloomy Economy

Horror films are increasing in popularity and some experts claim it is because of the gloomy economic times. There are four new cinema scaries released this month while dedicated horror festivals are booming across the country.
Eli Roth, producer of The Last Exorcism - which is released in the UK this weekend - said "Horror is always popular... people want a good smart, scary story," he said. He is a member of the Hollywood "splat pack" - a group of film makers renowned for their love of horror - and said films in the genre are increasingly sophisticated, often with a wider message. "Now there is a feeling that evil is on the rise. “There is this feeling that there is evil out there and we have to do everything to fight it."
Another trend is for viewers to watch this kind of Films in the company of others. Horror festivals are growing in popularity. Last weekend 27,000 people descended on London for FrightFest which exhibited 40 scary films. Over Halloween, thousands will convene in Manchester for Grimm Up North to watch movies, play games and even walk like zombies.
Cultural historians say that nail-biting, hide-behind-the-sofa films traditionally do well when the country is in an economic depression. Simeon Halligan, Director of Grimm Up North, said: "One of the reasons horror and fantasy are very popular at the moment is because in a recession people throw themselves into escapism, when reality is hard work.”Horror reflects a sense of anger and frustration at a society that is not doing so well."

Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) In the past, horror films were not as complex as they are now.
b) People do not share their like for horror.
c) Horror festivals are not just going to the cinema.
d) Some people have studied the connection between crisis and horror films success.

Question 2 Answer these questions in your own words with information from the text:

a) What two trends does the text mention as far as horror stories are concerned?
b) Why are people so keen on horror films at the moment?

Question 3 Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:

a) famous (par.2)
b) To meet (par.3)
c) To progress(par.4)

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning

a) They have released four new scaries this month.
Four ………
b) Horror movies are increasing in popularity because of the economic recession.
If there were …..
c) In a recession people throw themselves into escapism when reality is hard work.
Mr. Halligan said that ……

Question 5 Write a short essay (120 to 150 words) on the following topic:

What can you do to escape from reality?

Horror Films Booming In Gloomy Economy

KEY

Question 1

a) True. films in the genre are increasingly sophisticated, often with a wider message.
b) False. Another trend is for viewers to watch this kind of Films in the company of others.
c) True. thousands will convene in Manchester Grimm Up North to watch movies, play games and even walk like zombies.
d) True. Cultural historians say that nail-biting, hide-behind-the-sofa films traditionally do well when the country is in an economic depression.

Question 2

a) There is a trend to watch more and more horror films, which convey the idea that those who see the film could fight against evil themselves. Besides, people tend to watch these films together with many more people in shows where they can enjoy other activities related to horror.
b) When people go to the cinema to watch horror movies, they try to forget about the bad economic situation they are going through. so as not to feel angry and frustrated.


Question 3

a) renowned
b) to convene
c) to do well

Question 4

a) Four new scaries have been released this month.
b) If there were not an economic recession, horror movies wouldn’t be increasing in popularity.
c) Mr. Halligan said that in a recession people threw themselves into escapism when reality was hard work./ people throw themselves into escapism when reality is hard work.

Horror Films Booming In Gloomy Economy

KEY

Question 1

a) True. films in the genre are increasingly sophisticated, often with a wider message.
b) False. Another trend is for viewers to watch this kind of Films in the company of others.
c) True. thousands will convene in Manchester Grimm Up North to watch movies, play games and even walk like zombies.
d) True. Cultural historians say that nail-biting, hide-behind-the-sofa films traditionally do well when the country is in an economic depression.

Question 2

a) There is a trend to watch more and more horror films, which convey the idea that those who see the film could fight against evil themselves. Besides, people tend to watch these films together with many more people in shows where they can enjoy other activities related to horror.
b) When people go to the cinema to watch horror movies, they try to forget about the bad economic situation they are going through. so as not to feel angry and frustrated.


Question 3

a) renowned
b) to convene
c) to do well

Question 4

a) Four new scaries have been released this month.
b) If there were not an economic recession, horror movies wouldn’t be increasing in popularity.
c) Mr. Halligan said that in a recession people threw themselves into escapism when reality was hard work./ people throw themselves into escapism when reality is hard work.

Thousands of kids are calling for drivers to slow down on the roads.

A survey by the charity BRAKE found that around half of nine to 13-year-olds have had a near-miss while walking or cycling on roads.
Most children said that cars go 'too fast'. Brake wants a 20mph speed limit introduced in all areas close to houses and schools.
The survey also found one in 10 children in Scotland has been hit on the road by a car or a bike.
A spokesperson for Brake said: "One of the best ways we can do this is to slow down to 20 miles per hour or below around schools and homes."
Last year the government said there had been a 57% drop in the number of children being killed on Britain's roads since the 1990s, and it's aiming to halve that number again by 2020.

Are these sentences TRUE or FALSE?

1. Thousands of children want car drivers to drive faster.
2. The charity BRAKE has organised a survey.
3. The survey found that all nine to 13-year-olds have had near-misses while walking on roads.
4. Brake wants a 60mph speed limit around schools.
5. The survey found that one in 10 children in Scotland has been hit on the road by a car or a bike.
6. The government said there was a rise in the number of children being killed on the roads in Britain last year.
7. There has been a drop of 57% in the number of children being killed on roads in Britain since the 1990s.
8. The government wants to double the number of deaths on the roads.

Try our quiz on road safety

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4440000/newsid_4445500/4445532.stm

Match the words to the definitions

spokesperson looking at the opinions, behaviour, etc., of people by asking them questions
speed limit a situation in which something almost hits something else
halve the fastest rate at which you are allowed to drive in an area
survey to put something into use for the first time
drop someone who is chosen by a group or organisation to speak officially to the public for them
near-miss a reduction in the amount or level of something
introduced intending; wanting to
aiming reducing something by half or dividing something into two equal pieces

Thousands of kids are calling for drivers to slow down on the roads.

A survey by the charity BRAKE found that around half of nine to 13-year-olds have had a near-miss while walking or cycling on roads.
Most children said that cars go 'too fast'. Brake wants a 20mph speed limit introduced in all areas close to houses and schools.
The survey also found one in 10 children in Scotland has been hit on the road by a car or a bike.
A spokesperson for Brake said: "One of the best ways we can do this is to slow down to 20 miles per hour or below around schools and homes."
Last year the government said there had been a 57% drop in the number of children being killed on Britain's roads since the 1990s, and it's aiming to halve that number again by 2020.

Are these sentences TRUE or FALSE?

1. Thousands of children want car drivers to drive faster.
2. The charity BRAKE has organised a survey.
3. The survey found that all nine to 13-year-olds have had near-misses while walking on roads.
4. Brake wants a 60mph speed limit around schools.
5. The survey found that one in 10 children in Scotland has been hit on the road by a car or a bike.
6. The government said there was a rise in the number of children being killed on the roads in Britain last year.
7. There has been a drop of 57% in the number of children being killed on roads in Britain since the 1990s.
8. The government wants to double the number of deaths on the roads.

Try our quiz on road safety

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4440000/newsid_4445500/4445532.stm

Match the words to the definitions

spokesperson looking at the opinions, behaviour, etc., of people by asking them questions
speed limit a situation in which something almost hits something else
halve the fastest rate at which you are allowed to drive in an area
survey to put something into use for the first time
drop someone who is chosen by a group or organisation to speak officially to the public for them
near-miss a reduction in the amount or level of something
introduced intending; wanting to
aiming reducing something by half or dividing something into two equal pieces

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