TL;DR
Get audio and creator gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
FANGORIA republished Phil Nobile Jr.’s “Monstrous Musings: Put Something Else On,” an essay first published five years earlier. Nobile reflects on how repeatedly watching horror favorites can change their impact and asks whether viewers might leave more room for new films.
FANGORIA has republished Phil Nobile Jr.’s essay “Monstrous Musings: Put Something Else On,” revisiting his argument that repeatedly watching favorite horror films can alter their emotional impact and leave less time for unfamiliar movies. The magazine describes it as a rerun from five years earlier, not a new study or a report of a newly announced film project.
Nobile writes from personal experience as a horror fan who has watched films including “Phantom of the Paradise” and “Dawn of the Dead” so often that he can recall their dialogue, music cues and sound effects. He says additional viewings rarely deepen his appreciation and that he sometimes wishes he could recover the surprise of seeing those movies for the first time.
The essay also cites an informal FANGORIA social-media poll: the magazine says one in five respondents had watched their favorite film more than 50 times, and one respondent claimed to have seen “Jaws” more than 1,500 times. These are self-reported results from a quick social-media poll; the article does not provide its sample size, dates or methodology.
Nobile recounts traveling to Winnipeg in 2019 to report on dedicated fans of “Phantom of the Paradise.” He observed interviewees attending three screenings in 36 hours. He presents that experience without condemning the fans, noting that the film is among the titles he himself has watched repeatedly.
The Trade-Off Between Favorites and Discovery
The essay addresses a familiar choice for film fans: return to a beloved movie or use viewing time to find something unfamiliar. Nobile does not argue that repeat viewings are wrong. Instead, he asks whether constant exposure can make a work feel less potent, and whether taking a break might help preserve the experience of returning to it later.
That question matters because films can serve different purposes: comfort, shared ritual, close study or discovery. The article’s poll suggests that frequent rewatching is common among at least some respondents, but it cannot establish how representative those viewers are. Nobile’s central point is personal and reflective, rather than a finding about audiences as a whole.
His discussion also connects viewing habits to time and age. He writes that people may become more conscious of the limited time available for movies and weigh a familiar favorite against the excitement of a first viewing. He leaves open the possibility that this preference can change with age, when old favorites may function more as treasured memories.
Popular right now
De’Longhi Classic Matte Black Espresso Machine with Milk Frother
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, Onyx Black
Dyson V8 Cyclone Cordless Vacuum
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A Five-Year-Old Essay Revisited
FANGORIA’s introduction identifies the piece as a rerun from five years earlier and says its message remains worth hearing. The supplied report does not give the original publication date, and it does not describe the republication as a response to a current film release, new research or a change in the magazine’s coverage.
The essay’s examples span different experiences of fandom. Nobile recalls the repeat screenings he saw in Winnipeg in 2019, then turns to his own long familiarity with “Phantom of the Paradise” and “Dawn of the Dead.” He describes the pattern as something he understands personally, not as a habit unique to other fans.
He also notes that the rise of home video made it easier for viewers to replay films much as they might listen to a familiar record. In the essay, that access is part of the tension: repeated exposure offers familiarity and comfort, but may shift how a film’s original power is felt.
““I find myself wishing I could undo the familiarity in exchange for the revelatory hit of a new viewing.””
— Phil Nobile Jr., in the FANGORIA essay
What the Poll Cannot Establish
The poll figures in the essay are informal and self-reported. FANGORIA does not supply a respondent count, polling dates, question wording or information about how participants were recruited. The results should not be read as a representative measure of all horror fans.
The essay does not establish that repeated viewings generally diminish enjoyment. Nobile describes his own reaction and raises a question for readers; other fans may find that familiarity deepens their appreciation or provides comfort. The piece also makes no claim that limiting rewatches has a measurable effect on how viewers respond to a film.
FANGORIA’s supplied introduction says the article was rerun from five years earlier but does not provide the exact original publication date. It also gives no stated reason for choosing to republish it at this time.
No Follow-Up Is Announced
The supplied material contains no announced follow-up, new poll or scheduled discussion connected to the rerun. Nobile closes by saying he bought a new 4K transfer of “Dawn of the Dead” but did not watch it immediately or during the week it arrived. He says he wants to restore a sense of occasion around the film and adds that he will report back “in a couple years.”
For now, the development is the republication itself. The article leaves the question of whether to revisit a familiar favorite or try a new film to individual viewers, without prescribing a schedule or claiming that one approach is better for everyone.
Key Questions
What is “Monstrous Musings: Put Something Else On”?
It is a Phil Nobile Jr. essay published by FANGORIA about repeatedly watching favorite horror films and making room for new viewing experiences. The magazine says the article is a rerun from five years earlier.
What did the FANGORIA poll report?
FANGORIA says an informal social-media poll found that one in five respondents had watched their favorite film more than 50 times. The article also recounts one respondent claiming to have seen “Jaws” more than 1,500 times. The poll’s sample size and method are not provided.
Does Nobile say fans should stop rewatching favorite movies?
No. He says he understands the habit and has repeatedly watched films he loves. His essay asks whether moderation can preserve a film’s impact; it does not present a rule against rewatching.
Which films does Nobile discuss?
He writes about “Phantom of the Paradise” and “Dawn of the Dead,” describing how familiar both films have become to him. The essay also mentions a fan who claimed to have watched “Jaws” more than 1,500 times.
Source: fangoria.com
