Under the Influence?

We’ve all been seated next to people who talk during the movie or in front of someone who just won’t stop kicking the back of your seat. The most you’ll do is maybe give them a nasty look coupled with a loud sigh. I find this usually works but if it doesn’t you just come to accept that it’s part and parcel of being in a public space and you put up with it. Well 43 year old Latvian man decided to speak up and complain about how loudly a fellow audience member was eating his popcorn during a screening of ‘Black Swan’. The 27 year old Police Academy graduate was offended by the complaint directed towards him and, after a short argument, proceeded to shoot and kill the older man.

While this case is obviously extreme it does raise some questions. For example, would this have happened if they had been watching a romantic comedy instead of a psychological thriller? It’s not uncommon for people who might already be suffering from some kind of mental disturbance to be inspired to act violently by watching a movie, a TV show or listening to a song. Perhaps the most famous example is Charles Manson, the notorious serial killer, who said the inspiration behind his killing spree was the White Album by the Beatles.

Also, should there be security checks at cinemas? It would be interesting to know if the staff is instructed to check for weapons or if they receive special training in conflict resolution. The lights had been turned on when the incident happened so you’d think that an observant usher with the proper training could have prevented the situation from escalating and having such a tragic outcome.

Via guardian.co.uk

Under the Influence?