The Weakening

I don't know about you, but while growing up I spent most Saturday mornings plunked in front of the TV watching cartoons. I'd get up wicked early and, as a child of the late-70s/early-80s, I'd enjoy such classic shows as Super Friends, Scooby-Doo, Hong Kong Fooey, and Josie and the Pussycats (my absolute favorite, whether they were rocking out here or deep in outer space). I'd go out and play, come back inside for Channel 56's Creature Double Feature or Kung Fu Theatre, then head back outside to play. Ah, yes, the good ol' days.

Say what you will, but my love of Saturday mornings has never faded. Not too long ago, one could still partake in the joys of lazy weekend cartoon watching, courtesy of shows like Jackie Chan Adventures, X-Men Evolution, Pepper Ann, and yes, even Pokemon. Sorry to disappoint you, but yeah, I watched Pokemon. Jigglypuff never failed to amuse my simple mind.

I live in a cable-less household, so we rely on regular old network TV to provide. In the last couple of years, though, I've noticed a startling trend: cartoons on Saturday morning are all but obsolete. What's taken their place? Kid's versions of adult shows. There's a kid version of Lost, of Survivor, of Trading fucking Spaces. While I'm a cartoon fan (excuse me, should I say "animation"? Will that give me more cred?), I do realize that Saturday morning TV is no longer my domain- I'm far beyond the target demographic. Maybe kids want their own version of Lost, I don't know. Children are a mystery to me, whilst I do believe that they are the future.

Where am I going with all this, how does it relate to horror movies, and have I lost mind? You may be asking yourself these questions. Well, I'll tell ya. You may have all heard about this by now, but Fox Searchlight has a new division: Fox Atomic. This is the teen division, and they hope to release movies in lots of different genres that will appeal to the younger set. You can read a blurb about it here, at Movie Web.

One of their first releases will be a follow up to the 2002 are they really zombies? I don't care because it's a really good movie anyway hit 28 Days Later. Titled 28 Weeks Later, the film will be a PG-13 production from a company aiming at the teen market. I'll let that sink in for a moment.


I love the idea of horror tailor-made for kids; I sucked that kind of thing up when I was a wee bonny lass. I'm just a bit taken aback- and yes, very very disappointed- that the sequel to one of the best horror movies to come out in recent years (one of Brennon's Beacons of Hope, even) is going to be a PG-13, Goosebumps-o-tized effort. Sigh.