MovieChat Forums > Satan's Playground (2006) Discussion > What's with this annoying trend of pairi...

What's with this annoying trend of pairing of the Jersey Devil and Hell?


I know the word "devil" and "demon" instantly bring to mind some form of the damned or evil in most Western countries, mainly due to the Bible and Biblical mythology, but I think this is absurd. I live about 45 minutes from the Pine Barrens and last time I checked, the word "devil" was used to describe an abomination of nature, a blasphemy against what you would expect to be "normal", something grotesque and revolting in addition to its normal connotations. I don't doubt that Mrs. Leeds (or the legend associated with her) was referring to some kind of infernal creature, but goddamn. I don't mind that they throw in religion, since it's interesting, but most just try to be symbolic for symbolism's sake or go, "OH LOOK SATANISM YOU KNOW THERE"S ONE BAD MOFO HERE". It'd be nice to have a mystery with the Jersey Devil without religious overtones, a Hitchcockian atmosphere, and a kind of "Jaws"-style approach to the creature, showing very little of it but showing enough to revolt and make the audience go "what the hell is up with that thing?" I think focusing on the paranoia felt by many, perhaps a fictional outbreak surpassing the frenzy of the Devil's 1909 visits and adding in the idea of a malformed, ghastly, tall man reported by a ten-year-old in 1951 instead of the usual horse/deer-headed, kangaroo/serpent-bodied, winged, cloven-footed creature would be a great movie. That would be a good novel or short story, too, provided it's paced right and isn't too over-the-top.

What do others who live in New Jersey and/or have the ability to use Google think?

reply

If I remember right, 'The X-Files' did an episode on the New Jersey Devil that wasn't supernatural or religious, but was still quite good.

Anyone who still has faith in humanity has never been to the imdb boards.

reply