An Interesting Take on Two Theatrical Experieces

The Exorcist happens to be one of my all time favorite films. A true masterpiece of cinematic storytelling which directors will study a hundred years from now. I’ve had two different theater experiences watching the film which were quite interesting, in that both show the differences in audiences, cities, and cultures. Let me also say that this is a film that SHOULD be seen in a theater with an audience. My first experience was a late night screening at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin Texas on Halloween night several years ago. The crowd was full of thirty to twenty year olds and even came with an intermission of horror music by string quartet music. Austin is a HIGHLY educated college town that is the home of my old film school Alma mater…the University of Texas. During the film the audience was absolutely respectful and quiet. Almost as if they were studying the film. I know that for some of the viewers, this was the first time they saw the film. The only time the crowd laughed was when Father Karras asks to take his whiskey drink from Chris straight. It put a smile on my face seeing this little moment appreciated, as the audience was undergoing exactly what Miller’s character was. At the end of the film everyone applauded and left the theater. It was a fantastic experience. Now let me tell you about a different theatrical experience that was just the opposite. I caught a screening in San Antonio several years ago. Now let me qualify this by saying I know both cities very well. Austin is an artistic hub with a top notch university and intellects. San Antonio is, well…a *beep* hole. It’s a blue collar town, highly uneducated, a murder every night that would put Gotham City to shame, and over 60% hispanic. So, again, it was showing at the local Alamo Drafthouse (the Drafthouse is awesome for those who have never been there). I took a friend and we sat down to two cold beers as I eagerly awaited this film that is such an important piece of cinema. As SOON as the film starts, two young hispanic girls start talking on their phones and laughing disrespectfully. I turned to them and made a “shush” sound hoping they would shut their traps. Well, anybody from San Antonio can tell you that I might as well have tried to part the Red Sea. They continued their juvenile giggling and I noticed other people (mostly hispanics) talking during the film. The Exorcist is NOT a film to be talked through. It has quiet moments marked by shattering loud sounds to catch the audience off guard. I was shocked that these people were so disrespectful (but not really because that is what I expect from a race of people who continually emulate black prison culture…rap music and baggy pants). Let me qualify this by saying that I may be generalizing, but this is MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I’ve lived in Texas Chainsaw country all of my life. Finally, I turned to the two young girls and told them to shut the *beep* up. What happened? They just got louder and more obnoxious. I turned to my friend and asked him to hurry up and finish his beer. This was just a mere twenty minutes into the film. I got up, left, reported the disrespectful little bitches, paid for the beers, and got my money back. Looking back, it was fascinating how a film like The Exorcist can either be a GREAT experience or a NIGHTMARE depending on the audience. Again…we have college students and artists versus young hispanics who will tell you to “*beep* off bitch” if you just make eye contact with them. Luckily, my love for the film never wavered and I still, like Mark Kermode, can watch the film over and over and never get tired of it. Going into that theater in San Antonio, I had no clue that these people would trash a classic. It’s a matter if intellect versus ignorance and stupidity. Unless you live in a college town, we all know how fast America’s youth is falling. When I was twenty it was YES SIR and NO SIR. But, in this age and horrible *beep* like Glee on TV, we have a culture of youth now that not only disrespects the past, but disrespects themselves. If you come to Texas…go straight to Austin and visit. You will love it. Avoid San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, like the plague. My home town is unfortunately San Antonio and our only claim to fame is at least one murder a night (last night as I am writing this we had THREE) and a stupid *beep* basketball team…the San Antonio Spurs/Sucks. I surely hope nobody tries to call me a “racist” about my opinion of hispanic culture. My girl is hispanic, and even she looks down on this disrespectful attitude of today’s youth. I’m not going to get into politics and certainly not trying to be “racist.” It is just a pure crystal reflection of the down fall of America and especially American youth. Want to see Robert De Niro’s leopard robe from Raging Bull? Come to Austin and visit the Harry Ransom Center at UT. Want to see a bunch of latinos on welfare with five illegitimate kids by the time they are twenty five who can barely read or write and will tell you off for nothing at the drop of a hat…come to Suck Antonio.
P.S. I’m planning on moving to Colorado when I get the money together. Most beautiful state I’ve ever seen. I’m done with Texas and it’s stodgy old fashioned conservative ways.