RoboCop: How Much is Too Much?

In this quintessential 80s film, set in a crime-ridden Detroit in the near future, RoboCop focuses on a police officer who is brutally murdered and consequently re-created as a super-human cyborg known as "RoboCop".  In  RoboCop, the director, Paul Verhoeven is gratuitously reliant on violence and gore. It could arguably be one of the gruesome movies of its time. Many critics consider it to be purely superficial gore, while others see it as necessary to the plot. In my opinion, the film borders between both extremes. For example, when Murphy is torn into streamers by gunshots is a bit excessive. However, if a person had been shot up many times by shotguns, I am sure they would look something close to that of Murphy’s remains. Here, the gore can be justified for both instances. We need to see the carnage but the extent of the images border on self-indulgent.

While it has moments where it is gory for the sake of being gory, it isn't completely without reason. If the audience didn’t see Murphy get viciously massacred, the audience would not feel as connected to the character when he takes part in his acts of vengeance. However, with incorporation of various elements other than intense violence, connections and bridges can be formed between the viewer and the protagonist. Seeing is believing at times and to believe that a cyborg vigilante could be created, the audience needs to see the extent of the violence. There is a point, though, when increased brutality doesn't add any intrinsic value.

Even though the plot is inventive for its time, the excessive violence, campy nature and unwarranted gore makes it a solely profit-making movie, lacking artistic value. Regardless of living in a world where violence is socially acceptable, I had issues watching scenes like Murphy's murder. However, when you watch the murder of the negative forces being killed, the audience can’t help but feel happy because we tend to root for the hero, if RoboCop can be considered that. We are constantly privy to such brutal and graphic images whether it is in the news, video games, or film. It has made us drones to the world and we will eventually think of violence and brutality as second nature; it won’t be out of character for anyone.