The Film Chasers
“two is better than one,” said the horror-thriller combo you’re planning to watch at night
A shot of a strong alcoholic beverage, like Jäger, is usually followed by something sweet, like soft drinks or beer. Similarly, whenever I watch intense films, like Se7en (1995), I always follow them up with a more relaxed one, like Friends With Money (2006). These follow-ups help me take in the strong stuff — like a cold ginger beer does — and I like to call them film chasers.
A lot of people would close their eyes or peep between their fingers when something gory is on, like the Lasik eye surgery scene in Final Destination 5 (2011). I, on the other hand, find my greatest life stressors among chase scenes — all kinds of them — from Angelina Jolie driving in the freeway with her head down in Salt (2010) to Teresa Palmer escaping her creepy, obsessive abductor in Berlin Syndrome (2017). They make me panic a lot, but I’ve also learned to appreciate the art behind them. An effective chase scene is not simply about the running, catching, exploding and bleeding; they need to have their own story arc. We once analyzed action films, like Die Hard (1988), for a film class, and I learned that chase scenes don’t happen out of the blue. They start with a set-up that introduces everyone’s role — the antagonists and protagonist — then, they are followed by a build-up that helps the viewers get familiar with the architecture of the setting, like how Extraction (2020) first showed how yellow and dusty it is in Bangladesh before gunning down about three hundred men. After that, the viewers are ready for the climax with probably some ingenuity towards the end. There’s an entire blueprint of how it’s done and it’s a masterpiece. On top of how they lay down the narrative, there’s also the inventive camerawork, stunts and visual effects. In this way, no matter how badly I react to horror, thriller and action films, I simply can’t say no to them because they’re just so damn good.
Insidious (2010) is one of the few horror films that does not rely on jumps cares, and plants fear from its amazing back story and narrative. The Conjuring (2013) is good, too, especially when it comes to setting the mood, and the fact that it is based on a true story adds up to its charisma. The only reason I made it through The Conjuring 2 (2016) is because I learned to take a film chaser afterwards. Liquor chasers are different for people, while some don’t even bother taking one at all. The same goes with film chasers — sometimes you need them, sometimes you don’t. To best describe them, they are the films that put you at ease or bring you comfort. Film chasers are the chill pills that put your heart rate and headspace back to normal. Not everyone reacts the same way upon seeing The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), so there may be a need for a dose of 50 First Dates (2004) or Roman Holiday (1953). Film chasers are also a great way to discover new comfort films or just films in general. The other week, I saw The Invitation (2016) at one in the morning on Netflix, and there was no way I could put myself in a peaceful slumber after all that violence, so I decided to scout for a new film to watch. I stumbled on The Dictator (2012) by Larry Charles, and it gave me some of the best laughs I’ve had in a long time at two thirty in the morning while the rest of my family were in a deep sleep next door. There’s so many amazing films I discovered as a film chaser, such as Captain Fantastic (2016) and Bewitched (2005). Stanley Kubrick‘s The Shining (1980) made me nervous for about two thirds of its run time that I had to take two film chasers afterwards. With that, I was able to add Morning Glory (2010) and Aloha (2015) to my film list.
Horror and thriller films aren’t the strict pairs of film chasers, as they can also be helpful when it comes to dealing with unpleasant or frustrating endings. Spoiler alert: Romeo and Juliet die. I’ve seen Franco Zeffirelli (1968), Baz Luhrmann (1996) and Carlo Carlei (2013) versions and even read the play by William Shakespeare. Somehow, I still keep hoping that the ending would change. Taylor Swift’s Love Story is the only thing that keeps me going at this point — at least someone thought of writing a song about Romeo and Juliet with an alternatively pleasant ending. Gut-wrenching endings, especially those that include animal deaths, require high dosages of film chasers. In case you’re planning to see any Romeo and Juliet adaptation or an animal drama film soon, I would recommend Crazy Stupid Love (2011) or Meet Bill (2007) as a chaser.
A cold bottle of beer and can of soda just hit differently after a long stressful day at school or work. In the same way, taking a film chaser is a good way of treating your immensely fried brain. So, if you’re extremely exhausted, stressed out or just completely done, go watch a film that will split your sides or help you doze off at night.
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