For several thousand years now, watching people die has been a highly successful form of entertainment, inexplicably linking lots of other people's blood with having a good time for all of eternity.

From lions eating Christians in ancient Rome to public executions throughout history, a place of death has been a place to gather.

Now that we're more "civilized," actual public deaths are nowhere to be found. Instead, we have the modern outlet of films and television for our seemingly insatiable blooding. It would seem there is nothing like seeing someone else's blood flowing to really get your own blood pumping.

The fascination with watching death essentially starts early in childhood.

Just think back to those times when we were kids. Remember being curled up in a hall watching that late-night horror flick? We could tell from the music . . . something's going to happen. We put our hand over our eyes, afraid to watch. But we opened our fingers -- just a crack -- so we could watch.

At such a young age, most of us already are acting much like our parents. Seared, but fascinated. We know it's disgusting, but there is something driving us to watch.

If anyone understands this drive, it would be the people in Hollywood.

Filmmakers knew, almost from the very beginning, that showing death, dying or suffering was one way to ensure sales. One of the earliest films made in the United States was, in fact, a short film showing the electrocution of an elephant.

From those meager beginnings, Hollywood producers have broadened their range to-include everything from classy psychological thrillers such as Psycho to all-out bloodfests such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Virtually everyone has paid money primarily to see someone die. And based on the laws of supply and demand, filmmakers have produced quite a few multiple death flicks for the viewing public. Here's just a taste:

-- Faces of Death -- Four of these films exist, each supposedly a little more disgusting than the last. There is absolutely no point in watching the film except to see people die. Footage of actual deaths fill each video.

The fact that four were made essentially proves just how fascinated with death we really are. These films are not worth watching unless you are twisted.

-- Flatliners -- This is fascination with death taken a little too far. The film is an entertaining account of a group of doctors so enthralled by death that they actually kill themselves for short periods of time to experience the afterlife. It's fun, but it ends up as a preachy "confess-your-sins-while-you-can" flick.

-- Reservoir Dogs -- A powerful film, Dogs is an amazing look at a group of criminals after a jewel heist gone bad. More than just death, the film depicts very realistic violence and the horrible aftermath. It's possibly the best film of the '90s, a moving and chilling film.

-- Man Bites Dog -- A weird, funny look at death. This French film is a mock documentary of a film crew following a serial killer. "Humor" ensues as several carmeramen are killed, and "our" serial killer and camera crew run into another serial killer and camera crew. An unusual movie for unusual people. A movie for our times.

-- A Nightmare on Elm Street -- It's really not a bad slasher flick. This film represents most of the slashers of the last 15 years, with little imagination other than a new way to scare the audience It doesn't give a realistic look at death or provide any new insights, but the popularity further proves our love of death.

Not to be outdone, television producers have cranked out several blood n' death shows of their own.

-- "Tales From the Crypt" -- This show is based entirely on an ironic twist at the end and some excess blood and gore. It's kind of interesting, but it's really not that good.

-- "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" -- As an older show, there really isn't much of a chance for gore. Instead, the deaths that are shown or insinuated are quite chilling.

Quite a few people have complained about the excessive violence in films and television, but the-fact is, those movies wouldn't be made if people weren't going to pay to watch them.

It's really no surprise that death sells. People are curious about things they don't understand. From slowing down and staring when you pass an auto accident to watching "Rescue 911," many of us are guilty of this fascination.

It's important to realize that death is not that big a deal. It's going to happen no matter what, so we should just do our best to live for now and not waste time worrying about death. That doesn't mean you should not watch the next Friday the 13th.