Freeway Tragedy

Flesh for Frankenstein, gore for God? Well, few people would agree but film critic Dave Canfield claims horror is a tool from God. Something to help people get in touch with their deepest emotions of fear and dread.

“If you enjoy watching Jason in Friday the 13th chop a person’s head of with a weedwack and someone else tells you that you need help then I’m hard pressed to suggest that it is that person who needs to see the doctor”, says Canfield.

He’s a full time film critic who specializes in horror. He shares an office with ghosts and goblins. And oh, he also happens to be a born again christian.

Yes, and growing up a christian he was always put down because of his interest in the bizarre and grotesque, but as years passed he learned how great a perspective horror gave him on life and the world around. So these days he travels the country lecturing kids and teenagers about the power of art and culture. And gore.

This particular interview was published in a national christian newspaper in Sweden and needless to say it stirred quite a few emotions. A lot of readers made their voices heard but I enjoyed one e-mail in particular:

“WHY give a loony such as this guy attention and publicity? Ain’t that beyond all stupidity? It was so tasteless that we almost didn’t read it. We are REALLY disappointed that you would publish something of it’s kind.”

Thank you dear readers. If only you knew what tasty quotes the editor cut out!

Published in Dagen, march 2009.
Daily printed newspapper (Sweden).
Circulation: 19.000/day (average 60.000 readers/day).