Dubbed or Subtitled?

[Richard Stuart]

Do you think horror films in a non-English language work better when they're dubbed or subtitled?

Personally, I think subtitles are more suitable for serious, dark horror films - but something like 'Zombie Lake' is 'better' (more amusing) because of the English dubbing.

[RogueSpear]

I prefer subtitles. I'd rather read a movie than endure horrible dubbing.

[Klownzilla]

After years of watching Godzilla flicks, and other foreign films for that matter, I prefer to watch with subtitles. But I'll admit some of those older dubbed Godzilla movies are fun; the newer ones aren't.

[John Mullets]

Subtitles. Dubbing, even the best of it, is always shitty and distracting. Besides, it's not like a little reading will hurt you.

However, dubbing can make cheesy/silly films even funnier.

[pyscho dude]

I prefer dubbing because subtitles are too annoying and distracting. Yeah some dubbing really sucks and is laughable.

[saintofscars]

A mate of mine who likes Hong Kong films watches with both dubbing and subtitles. He's finds it funny how they never match!!!

I'd rather have subtitles for slow films (gives me something to read) and dubbing for quick ones (don't want to miss anything).

[fevers]

Subtitles are much better and you get the view the original sound effects and voices.


Although if the movie is very out there, dubbing can add to the enjoyment level. :D

So it depends.

[countchocula]

Subtitles, subtitles, subtitles! With dubbing, you miss out on voice inflection, and it's usually done poorly anyway. What's more, it quakes my equilibrium to watch Japanese characters speaking in English. It just doesn't gel. I can forgive vintage Gojira romps, but even they could benefit from subtitles.

[Antonio]

SUBTITLED

[Juice]

Subtitles.

Since I live in Holland, I'm pretty used to them by now and most of the time I don't even have to read them because I can perfectly understand what everybody's saying.

Dubbing is, imo, completely respectless to the director. The guy worked hard on an artwork, and he delivers it when he thinks it's ready. Then, the movie in finished. And the language and voices are part of it.
And what do these assholes do? They take away the sound and just put in their own.

Now, anybody who has seen, for example, the dubbed version of Ringu, has not seen Ringu. Just some kind of a remake. Dubbing is like taking a painting and coloring the sky in a different colour. It's just not the same thing.

[KillerKlown]

Subtitled - I hate seeing the mouths move out of sync.

[Jason13thh]

Subtitled ... all the way however living in Belgium a few films are only available dubbed.
I hope films like Chopping Mall, The Burning and most of the giallos will be available in OV in Belgium ( on DVD's I mean )

[Giselle]

Subtitled


If a movie is dubbed I can't help but watch the mouths and it drives me crazy.

[Tagia_Romero]

Depends on the film really.

[Shockwave]

Subtitled. Easy choice.

[saintofscars]

I heard that a lot of the Italian horror films from the 70's/80's were shot in English (to make more money), even though usually only about one or two cast members could speak English. This meant that the rest of the cast had to be dubbed!!! Gotta love those Italians, they didn't give a shit!

[Cronos]

Subtitled for the smart foreign films, they add to tension and scares IMO as your brain works more instead of shutting off

for the dumber horror films dubs can be very funny

[Ripper1888]

I prefer subtitles myself most of the time when something is dubbed it looks and sounds ridiculous.

[dr_nocturna]

Subtitled. Dubbing foreign movies to me are like colorizing black and white films....it devalues the film for the evil purpose of making the film more marketable. Evil in the sense of seeing the film as mere product as opposed to an artform.

Pleasant Screams-Doc Noc

[Stefania]

In defense of subtitles, which I know is not needed for some Schmoes!

Have you ever seen the dubbing for an Argento or Fulci film?
Udo Kier's dubbing in SUSPIRIA!!
DEMONS , the entire fucking cast!
Or the classic, yet horridly dubbed ZOMBIE.

[Jason Voorhees]

Subtitles. Easily.

[Luke-Abbott]

Subtitles, dubbing just looks amusing which can ruin a serious movie.

[Boba Joe]

I can't stand dubbing so I went with subtitles

[KillerKlown]

Speaking of bad dubbing, have any of the UK schmoes seen the advertisement on TV for vagisil fanny cream?

[Moviefan1234]

Subtitles

[Countess]

For me it depends on the film. I have some that are dubbed and others that are subtitled. For alot of the forign films I'm so happy they're released I'll take what I can get. I love foreign films esp. horror.

[ERIN_LoJ]

Subtitled all the way, although I need to get more used to that even. But nothing's worse than poor dubbing

[martyds761]

Originally posted by Giselle
Subtitled
If a movie is dubbed I can't help but watch the mouths and it drives me crazy. Agreed........

[Xipe Totec]

I prefer subtitles. I want to see the movie the way the director made it, not with some altered soundtrack, wether I understand it or not. Subtitles just cover a little percent of the screen and don`t change the movie itself.

[VincentPrice]

Depends on the film for me. Or actually, where the film is from.

I couldn't stand to watch an Asian film dubbed, and I couldn't stand to watch an Italian film subtitled.

[EVILxxx]

I said depends on the film. Most horror Japanese movies are painful to watch when dubbed but Brotherhood of the Wolf was done superbly.

[EDsoulsurvive*]

i dont usual watch foreign movies so i voted that

but whren i do, i prefer subtitled.

[MickeyKnox]

Subtitled for sure!

[Sickness]

I'll go for subtitled.

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by pyscho dude
I prefer dubbing because subtitles are too annoying and distracting. Yeah some dubbing really sucks and is laughable.

I agree.

[Scully1888]

Has to be subtitles.

Some people say that subtitles are distracting, but I personally think that dubbing is actually more distracting, because you spend a lot of your time seeing how well the voices match their mouths.

The only film I've ever seen dubbed well was Spirited Away.

[Jason13thh]

Subtitles...all the way, I am sorry but you are not a real movie buff if you watch dubbed films (unless you can't do anything else)

[EVILxxx]

Originally posted by Jason13thh
Subtitles...all the way, I am sorry but you are not a real movie buff if you watch dubbed films (unless you can't do anything else)

So by that rationale you can only be a movie buff if you watch foreign films?

[jagged halo]

Anyone for Tenebrae ? :D

[Today Only]

Dubbed is horrible for two reasons

The voice doesnt match the person

The voice usually doesnt have the emotion of the scene.