Fear in Film: Of Mice and Rats

I watched a video in researching this article that showed a group of individuals placing a fake rat in the receptacle of a vending machine. Then the laughter started when they caught people’s responses on film. The trouble is for those who have Musophobia there is nothing funny about the instant adrenaline rush and elevated heart rates.

Many films will show mice in a sympathetic context. Tom and Jerry would be an example of this. Most people view the mouse Jerry as the creature you can most sympathize with. The Pixar movie Ratatouille shows a lovable rat named Remy who just wants the freedom to pursue life apart from the trash and filth so associated with his kind.

Softselling Fear

It is not uncommon for Hollywood to find ways to soften the impact of what is feared most. This is why millions of Americans went to see Ratatouille and millions more watch reruns of Tom and Jerry.

You will find clips from Hollywood productions that include rats and mice in this post. None will start automatically and we do not suggest that those who fear rats and mice should watch these clips. They are placed here to help those reading up on the subject to get a feel for the context in which the musophobe may find themselves.

The Darker Side

An alternate plan in Hollywood is to take a fear and use film to amplify that fear. This is demonstrated in a couple of films in from the early 1970’s (Willard and Ben). In 2003 a film based on Willard was brought to the big screen featuring film veteran Crispin Glover.

In the case of these films there is a stark reminder of the fear many have of rodents.

Again, view these clips only if you do not current have a fear of rodents.

The Importance of Film in Phobia

The job of Hollywood writers and producers is to engage an audience with intriguing story lines and compelling cinematography. There are many instances in which seasons of personal anxiety can cause some individuals to become especially prone to the visual images of film that in one context are meaningless, yet become an overwhelming fear when given enough time to develop in the mind of the individual.

This many not be the intent of filmmakers and yet even actors can be traumatized to a degree from the stories they help to create.

The Perfect Fear Mechanism

Most of us love a good story. We might even remember wanting to hear scary stories as a child, yet somewhere along the line the simple stories of fear become somehow more real than we may want. This is why some people can not watch certain films, or if they do they will not watch them a second time. The combination of suspenseful music, special effects and a creative mind can help convey the sense of fear characters in the film might be experiencing – for some their fear becomes personal.

Fear becomes its own trap. That’s when help is needed, and should be sought.

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