Monster Mayhem Causing Queasy Stomachs

by Jordan Yerman | January 24, 2008 at 10:43 am
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If Monster Movie Motion Discomfort (MMMD) is your biggest worry, then things are going pretty well...

"Cloverfield" is the first adrenaline-pumping monster hit of the year, bringing in more than $40 million dollars on its opening weekend. The thriller is told from the point of view of five young New Yorkers using their handheld camera. But for some viewers, being "part" of the movie is making them sick -- literally.

One blogger on the popular movie database IMDB.com said, "I had to get up and leave the theater for nearly 20 minutes just to keep from hurling." Other moviegoers have reported being nauseated and dizzy.

Most viewers are unaffected by the film, but for those who are, experts say the problem is in their heads.

"This is a classic case of vertigo," said Dr. Michael G. Stewart, chairman of otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat medicine) at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weil Cornell Medical Center. "You can look around and feel like things are moving, when they aren't."

Should the cinematic experience prove dizzying, it helps to steal a quick glance at the EXIT sign until the queasiness subsides... motion sickness sets in when your eyes and ears are telling you different stories: your ear fluid is stable as you watch the movie, but your eyes are registering the kinetic motion of the camera (Cloverfield is filmed in a series of verité POV shots), and then motion discomfort sets in. Sort of like car sickness, but with opposite inputs.

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kate

An immersive cinematic experience, huh?

This story was created over 3 months ago, the comment thread is now closed.

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