Greater use of murder dialogue in films is a health risk, says study

Researchers found talk of killing is more common even in non-crime films such as 2003's Finding Nemo

- Nicola Davis

Talk of murder is on the rise in films, researchers have found, in a trend they say could pose a health risk to adults and children.

Their study shows that over the past 50 years there has been a small but significant increase in movie characters talking about killing.

"The surprising thing is the increase occurs not just for crime genres, which you would expect because they're violent, but also for non-crime genres," said Brad Bushman, a professor of communication at Ohio State University.

The study team suggested the results might indicate a rise in violent behaviour in cinema and called for the promotion of "mindful consumption and media literacy" to protect vulnerable groups.

Bushman, who co-authored the study, said: "Adults can make their own choices, but I'm especially concerned about children being exposed to violence in the media."

The question of whether on-screen violence has an impact on viewers has been a topic of much debate.