Here’s a bizarre incident that happened in Lancaster, CA over the past weekend during a packed screening of SHUTTER ISLAND. A man was stabbed in the neck with a meat thermometer after he exchanged some words with a woman who was talking on her cell phone during the screening. The attackers were two men who were with the women. The victim is currently in a coma, but expected to have a slow and promising recovery. The perpetrators are still at large. Here’s a KTLA news story about this heinous attack with purported security camera footage of the victim and the attackers before the screening.

I am sure this is coicidence, but movie-going attacks have occurred during other horror and thriller film screenings. Here’s a quick rundown:

- February 24, 2008: A crazed man who “hears voices” attacks two people with a knife and hammer during a screening of the horror film THE SIGNAL, a film about a radio signal that makes people become homicidal maniacs.

- Last fall, Lars Von Trier’s gothic horror film ANTICHRIST was purportedly causing people to have seizures. One such person had a panic attack in a New York Theater. A couple people vomited during the film’s premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.If you have not seen ANTICHRIST I urge you to. You won’t like it but it’s definitely an experience. It mindfucked me for months…. Check out the trailer:

- In 1994, during a screening of SCHINDLER’S LIST, a depressed man shot a woman in front of him to “test God” and “protect the Jews”

- During the 1973 release of THE EXORCIST, which is chock full of urban legends, the death toll in the Georgetown area rose considerably. This was the setting and location of the film.

There are so many more of these stories over the years. But in the words of Marshall MacLuhan, is “the medium the message?” Are right-winged politicians and soccer moms correct as to say violent movies cause deviant behavior? Or is this all a coincidence, snowballed into urban myth?Probably.

But, then again, who brings a meat thermometer to the movies?

The notion of carrying a meat thermometer to the movies is just odd. Why bring it? I am sure this story will eventually become an urban legend. Like the man with the hook for a hand. Ten years from now, some Lancaster teens are going to be talking about The Man with a Meat Thermometer for a Hand around the camp fire….

One final note: When I saw ANTICHRIST in Cannes last year, the reaction was pretty outrageous. I think a fight even broke out. Mob mentality? I think bloody ejaculate and talking foxes will get to you eventually. Seriously, readers, you should check out the film.

Another film with similar reaction was WHAT IS IT? written and directed by Marty McFly’s dad, Crispin Glover. The guy is totally out there. You’ll see what I mean after watching two minutes of this: Imagine 100 people together in a darkened room watching this film; someone’s bound to go crazy.