Matt Smith The Times Culture – I used to go to a local video shop and get erotic thrillers like Basic Instinct… films now are being dumbed down by trigger warnings

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Straight-talking Matt Smith has shared his dislike for trigger warnings on movies nowadays.

The actor, 41, said he used to walk into local video shops and get erotic thrillers, like Basic Instinct, to enjoy the scare-factor of the film – but now worries movies and programmes are being dialled down.

Matt claims the point of a ‘thriller’ or an ‘uncomfortable’ watch has been taken away through trigger warnings.

He told The Times: ‘I worry everything’s being dialled and dumbed down. We’re telling audiences they’re going to be scared before they’ve watched something.’

The House Of Dragons star added: ‘Ah, trigger warnings — the tedious modern idea that adults cannot cope with being upset by art. Isn’t being shocked, surprised, stirred the point?

Straight-talking Matt Smith, 41, has shared his dislike for trigger warnings on movies nowadays

The actor said he used to walk into local video shops and get erotic thrillers, like Basic Instinct, to enjoy the scare-factor of the film - but now worries movies and programmes are being dialled down

The actor said he used to walk into local video shops and get erotic thrillers, like Basic Instinct, to enjoy the scare-factor of the film – but now worries movies and programmes are being dialled down

‘Too much policing of stories and being afraid to bring them out because a climate is a certain way is a shame. I’m not sure I’m on board with trigger warnings.’

In May, Matt revealed that when he was offered the leading role in Doctor Who, he almost turned it down. 

He told Variety magazine: ‘Briefly. But my agent, very quickly, was like, “You’re doing it.” Thank God’.

Matt played the Eleventh Doctor from 2010 to 2013 alongside Amy Pond (Karen Gillan). 

He began with an appearance at the conclusion of The End of Time, continuing from The Eleventh Hour to The Time of the Doctor. 

He also appeared as the Doctor in the 2010 two-part storyline Death Of The Doctor for the Doctor Who spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures and in a cameo in the 2014 episode Deep Breath. 

Matt has starred in many hit TV shows across his successful acting career including the Game Of Thrones spin off show The House Of Dragons. 

House Of The Dragon follows the feud between Queen Alicent Hightower and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen as they vie for who will eventually rule from the Iron Throne.

Matt claims the point of a 'thriller' or an 'uncomfortable' watch has been taken away through trigger warnings (pictured in 2022)

Matt claims the point of a ‘thriller’ or an ‘uncomfortable’ watch has been taken away through trigger warnings (pictured in 2022)

In May, Matt revealed that when he was offered the leading role in Doctor Who, he almost turned it down

In May, Matt revealed that when he was offered the leading role in Doctor Who, he almost turned it down 

The eight episode second season will debuted on Max on June 16. Season one of House Of The Dragon premiered on August 21, 2022.

The first episode drew major ratings as it earned a whopping 10million viewers which lead to the season 2 renewal within just week of the premiere episode.

Each of the House of the Dragon Season 1 episodes averaged 29 million viewers in the U.S.

The series is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood novels.

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