From the NY Times
"In Bad Times, Moviegoers turn to Singing and Sawing"
The second surprise at the weekend box office was the strength of an escapist film at the opposite thematic extreme: "Saw V" sold an estimated $30.5 million in tickets at North American theaters, according to the tracking firm Media by Numbers. The horror thriller, built around a serial killer named Jigsaw, sold about $6 million in tickets in limited overseas release.
Horror franchises typically crater in popularity once past their third installment. "Friday the 13th" and "Halloween" were limping considerably by their fifth sequels. But "Saw" has shown remarkable staying power, especially considering the harsh criticism the franchise has endured from advocacy groups concerned about its brand of exploitive graphic violence, or torture porn.
"It is clear that there is plenty of blood yet to give," said Tom Ortenberg, president of theatrical films for Lionsgate, the studio behind the "Saw" films.
Mr. Ortenberg noted that the franchise had surpassed the cumulative domestic box-office tally for the nine "Halloween" movies and would surpass the cumulative take for the 11 "Friday the 13th" films in the coming days. Those statistics, however, are not adjusted for inflation.
"High School Musical 3" and "Saw V" took first and second place at the weekend box office. "Max Payne," a Fox action-thriller based on the video game, was No. 3 with $7.6 million (for a new total of $29.7 million), while Disney's "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" sold $6.9 million ($78.1 million). "Pride and Glory," a Warner Brothers crime drama, opened in fifth place with $6.3 million.
Prof Elam comment
Manystocks are already selling for less than book value. From a socionomic viewpoint the interest in horror and gore is not surrising, the markets are the very reflection of that sour mood. While there are always horror movies around, the success of Saws, and its repeat success over Disney fare speaks volumes about the mood of the public.
Lon Chaney brought Dracula to modern times during the 1930s. True Blood which I have mentioned here before is a smash success on HBO. Frank Langella ramped up the sexual angle for Dracula in 1979 as the Dow sank and the US endured a second oil embargo. The story on the screen matched the mood of the public then as now.
In a different vein, screwball comedies are also a staple fare of the Depression. Cary Grant gained his fame in films such as Bringing up Baby with Kate Hepburn. The purpose is to take the public's mind off the dreary news. This explains the success of extravagant musicals staged by Busby Berkley and the success Fred Astaire had at the time. Poor liked to watch the rich folks at play, and dream.
Clint Eastwood's latest which hits Friday, the Changeling, features a mother recovering a kidnapped child, but is it her child. Again the tragedy and puzzlement on the screen reflects the inability of politicians, economists, and everyone else to explain what is going on.
Professor Elam 
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