By Matthew Wagner, Education Director
lifelines@paprolife.org
I have a confession to make.
I don’t like “horror films.” When I was young, I remember being grossed out and unable to sleep because of the scene in one of the Pee-wee Herman movies (I’m not even sure which it was) in which one character’s head spins backwards and it is making a scary face. I won’t see the new Jurassic Park movie because I have no desire to view the bloody images that I’m afraid will be on display.
That being said, I am looking forward to the nationwide release on October 12, 2018 of Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer, the long-anticipated movie about the “house of horrors” run by Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell.
How do I justify the juxtaposition of my opposition to gory movies and my interest in Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer? I spoke at great length with coproducer, and 2018 Celebrate Life Banquet speaker, Ann McElhinney this year about the movie. One of the points she emphasized was the producer’s focus on staying true to the nature of the story, while not sensationalizing and over-exaggerating the graphic aspect of it. The filmmakers wanted to tell the story of Gosnell’s victims to as broad an audience as possible, as evidenced by the PG-13 rating the film has been given. Coproducer Phelim McAleer recently told Lifenews.com in an interview “…We want to make a film that people want to go and see. And in there’s the truth, and it’s up to people to take that and run with it.”
I want to reassure all of those who shy away from gore as I do that Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer will not confront anyone with horrific bloody images or gory descriptions that were part of everyday business in Gosnell’s “house of horrors” in Philadelphia. The story of Gosnell is provocative enough without being sensationalized. I look forward to seeing each of you at the theater October 12th, and then again at the 2018 Celebrate Life Banquet on October 18th!!!