I wrote an article about The Dark Knight Rises box office expectations yesterday morning, and I plan to write my review of the film tomorrow. But neither of these things matter right now because a tragedy has taken place in Colorado tonight.

According to reports:

At least 12 people were killed early Friday morning when a masked gunman opened fire at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises. It has been reported that 10 people died at the scene and two others died after being taken to local hospitals. Over 50 other moviegoers, including children, were injured. The incident occurred in the Century 16 Movie Theaters in Aurora, a suburb just east of downtown Denver.

The shooter was reportedly wearing an all black outfit, riot helmet, goggles and bullet-proof vest. Reports have said that the gunman started firing during one of the film’s many action sequences, and that many of the moviegoers did not realize the shots were actually coming from inside the theater. Tear gas also went off inside the theater, and bullets apparently pierced the walls of the auditorium and entered an adjoining theater.

Police have apprehended a 24-year-old male suspect who was found in possession of a gas mask and two firearms with ammunition in his car. The suspect also suggested he may have additional explosives at home. Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said there was no evidence of any additional shooters.

What can be said? My first hope is that we resist the urge to imply any causality on the part of The Dark Knight Rises with this event, as it paints the content as something potentially parasitic, and more importantly undermines the magnitude of the tragedy that has occurred. Anyone who could chalk this up  to anything as simple as storytelling is only succeeding in spreading the very same misappropriated fear and pain that this desperate young man was looking to incite.

If there are correlations to be made, they should be first and foremost under the assumption that the gunman sought to lash out at a decadent society during one of its most decadent pastimes. He too aspired to his own level of decadence, choosing a highly populated showcasing of violence to compliment his own violent act. He wanted to be scary, and he undoubtedly considered this the “coolest” way he could do it. The truth is that this sort of individual is pathetic, and is engaging in the very same behaviors that idealistic comic book films like The Dark Knight Rises are inherently railing against.

The unfortunate reality is, due to the film’s aggressive ideas and subject matter, we will forever struggle to disassociate this event from the film. That said, I believe The Dark Knight Rises is a good movie with many challenging ideas, most of which articulate and allow us to consider (in a highly palatable way) the very social modalities that can lead to this type of tragedy. If you want to go to the movies, please go. Otherwise, we’re letting one asshole ruin things for the rest of us.

My heart goes out to those who will suffer as a result of this tragedy, and please send any links our way of potential charities so that we might help out in any way possible.