Matt Smith Says ‘I Worry Everything Is Being Dumbed Down’ by Trigger Warnings: ‘Too Much Policing of Stories Is a Shame’ and ‘Isn’t Being Shocked the Point?’

As a seasoned movie enthusiast who vividly recalls my youthful encounters with provocative films like “Slither,” “Basic Instinct,” and “Disclosure,” I can empathize with Matt Smith‘s sentiments. The very essence of art lies in its ability to provoke, shock, and stir emotions within us, pushing boundaries and challenging our perceptions.


Matt Smith recently expressed his concerns about trigger warnings to The Times of London, stating that he feels the audience is being oversimplified when they are given advance notice and told what emotions to feel. The “House of the Dragon” actor emphasized that the purpose of his recent acting choices is to tell complex moral stories, especially in today’s society.

It’s acceptable for people to feel uneasy or stimulated when viewing art or attending a performance, but it seems like things are becoming overly simplified and sanitized. We’re essentially warning audiences about potential scares before they even experience the work, which I find troubling. Shouldn’t being startled, amazed, or moved be the goal? Over-regulating stories and withholding them due to fear of the current climate is unfortunate. I’m not entirely convinced by the concept of trigger warnings.

When Smith was younger, he often visited a neighborhood video rental store and watched mature movies like “Slither”, “Basic Instinct”, and “Disclosure” – these were all erotic thrillers. However, I was far too young to be viewing such content. In fact, I saw “Friday the 13th” when I was just nine years old. To be honest, that movie left a deep scar on me; it really traumatized me.

Nowadays, it’s common to find content warnings in media before movies or TV shows with sensitive topics such as sexual assault, self-harm, or other graphic material. Unlike general parental advisories (like a TV-MA rating signaling drug use or nudity), these warnings are more specific and may include cautions about cultural stereotypes that might not align with contemporary values of inclusivity and tolerance, like the one AMC gave when they warned viewers that Martin Scorsese’s 1990 film “Goodfellas” contained such inconsistencies.

Earlier this year, EbMaster brought up the ongoing argument about spoiler warnings affecting plot twists for viewers. For instance, Netflix’s ‘Baby Reindeer’ spoiled a surprising assault scene by providing a warning: “This episode contains depictions of sexual violence which some viewers may find distressing.” Similarly, Apple TV+’s ‘Severance’ alerted viewers to an episode cliffhanger with the warning: “The following episode contains a portrayal of self-harm.” Additionally, ‘Better Call Saul,’ streaming on Stan, gave away a major character death by including a suicide hotline number in its warning.

Head over to The Times of London’s website to read Smith’s profile in its entirety.

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2024-09-03 23:48