Derren Brown: Fear and Faith

Professional Griefer

The first of a two-part event, Fear and Faith is an extraordinary film looking at what happens when people have the experience of fear removed through the use of a 'powerful new drug.'

C4 tonight at 9:00

Gamayun

Based purely on the title I'm guessing that he will administer a placebo purporting to block fear in timid folk and watch as they suddenly become braver, mainly via his manipulation. Not as bombastic as his Apocalypse show but it might be interesting, the power of persuasion and whatnot.

username123

Its interesting but Im hoping there is a kicker in the end of it, because the effects of placebo are well investigated and documented - so its nothing new.

Professional Griefer

Next week looks interesting...

Sofaspud

I'm a total Derren fanboy but this was weak. The whole thing was very predictable and uninteresting. The only thing I found shocking was that nobody (except one woman) suspected it was a placebo despite Derren's involvement.

I hope it was just a warm up to next week's which sounds like it could be interesting.

username123

Yeah very bland.

I mean, the placebo effect is an interesting thing in itself, but we all know what it is and what it means and tbh, seeing it in action with those people just wasnt all that impressive.

Maybe next weeks will redeem it.

Johnny D. Mudd

I have to admit that I do enjoy Derren Brown's shows and am always interested in the psychology behind it but I felt a little underwhelmed by what was on show tonight. To be honest, I soon as I saw what the show involved I kinda figured it was going to be fairly predictable. I guess that where Derren's shows are concerned, not only is there intrigue about the whole thing but I've always felt that there has always been an element of darkness about the themes he uses. Not so with this particular episode which felt a little underwhelming.

However, I've also had it in the back of my mind that this episode was merely preamble to what is to complete this series and next weeks show looks to be something special indeed. It's not something usually explored in his shows so I'm interested not only in how it'll be set up but also what type of person/people will be utilized.

Duggy747

I thought the shy guy jumping into the middle of a violent fight to stop it was one of the most stupidiest things you could do in that situation.

Otherwise a fairly bland show. Next week might be interesting, reminds me of that show he did years ago were he hypnotised atheists to believe in God.

enfant terrible

Johnny D. Mudd wrote: »

I have to admit that I do enjoy Derren Brown's shows and am always interested in the psychology behind it but I felt a little underwhelmed by what was on show tonight. To be honest, I soon as I saw what the show involved I kinda figured it was going to be fairly predictable. I guess that where Derren's shows are concerned, not only is there intrigue about the whole thing but I've always felt that there has always been an element of darkness about the themes he uses. Not so with this particular episode which felt a little underwhelming.

However, I've also had it in the back of my mind that this episode was merely preamble to what is to complete this series and next weeks show looks to be something special indeed. It's not something usually explored in his shows so I'm interested not only in how it'll be set up but also what type of person/people will be utilized.

I doubt he'll just be making fun of religious people, not really his style.

Johnny D. Mudd

enfant terrible wrote: »

I doubt he'll just be making fun of religious people, not really his style.

No no no, that's not what I was getting at. It seems to me that he'll try and use a placebo effect to supposedly make someone see God (that's what it seems like, I'm pretty dense with this stuff). If that is the case, will he be using someone who has faith and will be more suggestable or will he be using an atheist whose lack of belief will make it much more difficult to make them see God.

Duggy747 wrote: »

I thought the shy guy jumping into the middle of a violent fight to stop it was one of the most stupidiest things you could do in that situation.

Otherwise a fairly bland show. Next week might be interesting, reminds me of that show he did years ago were he hypnotised atheists to believe in God.

Yep, that's what I thought too. Stepping in the middle of a fight is likely to get you a good kicking from two angry rabblers or may even see you get stabbed or otherwise killed. Not smart to do so.

leggo

A few problems:

1) I hope, when Derren met your man afraid of confrontation on the mountain and he turned to walk away while Derren revealed that there would be one more twist, that they at least gave him a lift home when the cameras switched off and didn't leave him walking.

2) Bridges are a really strange thing to be afraid of.

3) It's a pity yer wan wasn't a better singer.

Goldstein

Really enjoying the shows on entertainment and showman grounds alone but he undermines any remaining credability he has every time he takes things too far - putting people to sleep, appearing to magically transforming someone who can't sing into a great singer and performer overnight etc.

The frustrating thing is he doesn't need those gimmicks to make great tv, he already has the basis for genuine and interesting shows.

Johnny D. Mudd

Goldstein wrote: »

Really enjoying the shows on entertainment and showman grounds alone but he undermines any remaining credability he has every time he takes things too far - putting people to sleep, appearing to magically transforming someone who can't sing into a great singer and performer overnight etc.

The frustrating thing is he doesn't need those gimmicks to make great tv, he already has the basis for genuine and interesting shows.

In fairness, as regards that lady, it wasn't about her not being able to sing, it was rather her inability to get herself to sing in front of others and her poor performance originally was due to under-confidence. But yeah, I guess there are elements that stretch credibility but on the whole, he's a great performer.

Thoie

leggo wrote: »

A few problems:


2) Bridges are a really strange thing to be afraid of.

I'd manage the kind of bridge the guy on the show didn't like, but there are other, less solid, bridges that I'm not that keen on. If you're familiar with the cinema on Parnell St, I can't get on that tall, steep escalator going down. If I keep talking to my friends and keep looking up I can manage to go up it, but just can't step onto it going down. Anytime I try I end up standing in the way at the top putting a foot out, then stepping back and generally being a nuisance to everyone else. I take the stairs/lift down these days

dickwod1

I love Derrens live shows in front of a crowd like something wicked this way comes and early ones where he'd get a celeb to pick 1 object in a room and be able to tell what it was and where he faked the womans car crash and she thought she was dead,
But these type shows to me are totally crap and totally fake IMHO like in apocalypse when the two of them were getting into the ambulance and couldnt shut the back door of the ambulance and the ambulance driver had to get out and shut the door for "health and safety reasons" eh there getting chased by "the infected" who cares if the door is shut? ahh the insurance people do,

Puts me right off

Didn't even bother watching this weeks show:(

leggo

Thoie wrote: »

I'd manage the kind of bridge the guy on the show didn't like, but there are other, less solid, bridges that I'm not that keen on. If you're familiar with the cinema on Parnell St, I can't get on that tall, steep escalator going down. If I keep talking to my friends and keep looking up I can manage to go up it, but just can't step onto it going down. Anytime I try I end up standing in the way at the top putting a foot out, then stepping back and generally being a nuisance to everyone else. I take the stairs/lift down these days

That's mad. I have vertigo myself so I get the heights thing. Even watching your man stand on the edge was freaking me out. But the irrational bridges fear...like yeah, if it's shaky or unsteady I get it, but that's just a general fear of dying. I'd never heard of a general fear of bridges before watching this. I guess that's why they're called irrational fears, though!

Goldstein

Placebos are an area that fascinates me and were a fantastic aspect for him to focus on regarding the mental issues/blocks etc. I would have loved to see him try it with someone with a genuine fear of arachnophobia or claustrophobia.

He's doing himself a diservice with the more sensationalistic aspects of the shows - was the "scardycat" fella not curious what Derren Brown was doing waiting for him outside his local pub? He didn't react to him or the camera being there at all? You don't need the bells & whistles, it's great without them Derren!

Syferus

Goldstein wrote: »

Placebos are an area that fascinates me and were a fantastic aspect for him to focus on regarding the mental issues/blocks etc. I would have loved to see him try it with someone with a genuine fear of arachnophobia or claustrophobia.

He's doing himself a diservice with the more sensationalistic aspects of the shows - was the "scardycat" fella not curious what Derren Brown was doing waiting for him outside his local pub? He didn't react to him or the camera being there at all? You don't need the bells & whistles, it's great without them Derren!

Eh? He reacted to it and Derren even told him directly and he put his hands to his mouth.

Interesting show that also did a little good and clearly will segue neatly into the second part.

Duggy747

I wanted to know more about the guy who's Dermatitis stopped after he took the placebo pill. I know it can be aggrevated by stress but nothing was explained as to why it didn't return.

adox

Turned off half way through as thought it was predictable and clumsy.

When Brown is good he's fantastic entertainment, but this like a lot of his stuff, was pure sh1te.

leggo

leggo wrote: »

2) Bridges are a really strange thing to be afraid of.

I've actually met one or two people who had a fear of bridges.

Professional Griefer

Anyone watch it tonight??

It was interesting, still prefer Derrens older stuff, but regards of what he does, I'll watch it.

Busi_Girl08

It was better than last week I thought, interesting concept. The studio bits with the buzzer and the"haunted chair" were a bit filler to me though.

SparklersJo

Ix Deadmau5 wrote: »

Anyone watch it tonight??

It was interesting, still prefer Derrens older stuff, but regards of what he does, I'll watch it.

Same. I thought it was nothing groundbreaking, and not a topic that atheists, agnostics or believers wouldn't have all considered before.

It was quite cool that he could elicit such a profound reaction from Natalie from just a 15min conversation with her, when he didn't even mention God or any particular religious association. That was simple (for him) yet impressive.

As you say though, it's Derren Brown, and I'll watch it

Busi_Girl08 wrote: »

It was better than last week I thought, interesting concept. The studio bits with the buzzer and the"haunted chair" were a bit filler to me though.

Have to slightly disagree there. I thought last weeks one was better. We are all of course aware of the placebo effect, but I was interested to see how incredibly strong it could be, even up to producing a physical response to the placebo, i.e. the guy who no longer got dermatitis. Still though, as I said above, I did think the very strong reaction after 15mins of talking to Natalie in tonights one was very impressive

Uthur

just had a look at this one. i think he saved the best one for last