What popped your HORROR CHERRY?
December 8th 2006 03:01
Excuse me if I’m getting a little personal, but it has to be done. We’ve all seen young blood before, so don’t be shy … Go on, spill your guts.
I’ve been into horror since puberty, all through adolescence, into young adulthood, and well beyond. As a kid however it is less clear as to when my taste for blood was actually spilt and the hairs on my spine began to bristle with enthusiasm.
I remember watching television in England when I was about six years old, a grim and haunting movie about the evacuation of a city due to some kind of plague or pestilence, and the plight which befell a particular family. For the life of me I can’t remember anymore, except that the horror of it and the mood and tone has stayed with me ever since, lurking somewhere in the murky shadows in the back of my mind.
Around the same time on television was the classic B movie Them! (1954) about giant ants mutated from an atomic test in the desert. There was something very creepy about the movie with its black and white images, those insectoid feelers sprouting up over the top of the sand dunes. I’ve seen the film once since then, many years ago, and to my disappointment found that it had dated horribly. It was about as scary as an ant scurrying along the kitchen bench.
I distinctly remember TV spots for Halloween (1978) when I was around ten years old. Now, that looked scary; dimly-lit scenes, prowling camerawork, creepy-as-all-hell music, that jack-o-lantern grinning like a demon, and a deep voice stating “The Night He Came Home …” I knew there was no way in hell I’d be seeing that film, despite a subversive demon seed in my stomach having being sown. Halloween was adult horror. I was still a kid. Be patient.
The following year I went to see a flick at the opulent Majestic Theatre. A huge long promotional mural graced one wall as you walked toward the auditorium: a huge monstrous decaying face emerging from the horizon with the words “When There’s No More Room In Hell The Dead Will Walk The Earth” above it. And below; “Zombies: Dawn of the Dead … R18 - contains frequent episodes of graphic violence.” Yikes! Was that eye-catching and chilling promotional art or what?! And just when I thought Halloween had looked adult and taboo …
I mentioned in an earlier post about my memories of watching videos as a young adolescent. Among these early sessions of watching “adult” movies on my friend’s parent’s built-like-a-tank top-loading VCR machine, was probably my first modern horror flick. The old classic horrors from the 60s and earlier didn’t have much of an impact on me as a pre-pubescent, probably because they screened late at night, way past my bedtime.
It wasn’t long before opportunity presented itself. The fast-growing video store phenomenon had become a very popular place for recreational indulgence. In Wellington, NZ, there was the ever-expanding United Video on Courtenay Place. This was a haven for all sorts of nefarious horror titles, which did not carry restrictive classifications (not then anyhow).
Some titles I would stare at but never had the balls to hire out. The video cover for Dario Argento’s Suspiria (1977) showing darkness surrounding the body of a woman hanging by the neck, her nightgown streaked in blood and the tagline “Never Again Will You Feel Safe In The Dark.” That was off-limits for quite awhile. It carried an aura of taboo.
My mates and I did bite the bullet eventually. Around the age of 12 we hired out The Deer Hunter (1978), Alien (1979), Scum (1979) and Dressed to Kill (1980). None of these films are traditional horror flicks, but each, in their own way, demanded attention with their overt horror tones, whether it’s the war-as-hell, the monster-in-space, the brutality-of-borstal, or the psycho-sexual thriller. These were dark, violent, adult horror movies.
These viewings are my earliest, strongest memories of the potency of the modern horror movie. But they were watched in the safe confines of a friend’s living room; with control over the lighting, parental presence and an image a tenth of the size, so I’m not sure if they count officially as popping my horror cherry.
A year later, and with the same friend whose parents owned the VCR, I made the jump to the bold cinema experience. This involved lying at the box office; the movie was Halloween II (1981), and was rated R16 (no one under 16 admitted). We were 13.
For genuinely purist purposes, I guess Halloween II was the movie that popped my horror cherry. That was the legitimate cinema experience. A few months later my friend and I saw The Thing (1982). We were so sure this particular film would be a profound and seminal experience we insisted an adult (my friend’s father) accompany us to make sure there was no chance we’d get refused at the box office.
How’s that for horror savvy?
* images on this page were taken from the following wikipedia pages:
Halloween II, Dawn of the Dead, and Dressed to Kill
They are licensed from the GNU Free Document License
I remember watching television in England when I was about six years old, a grim and haunting movie about the evacuation of a city due to some kind of plague or pestilence, and the plight which befell a particular family. For the life of me I can’t remember anymore, except that the horror of it and the mood and tone has stayed with me ever since, lurking somewhere in the murky shadows in the back of my mind.
Around the same time on television was the classic B movie Them! (1954) about giant ants mutated from an atomic test in the desert. There was something very creepy about the movie with its black and white images, those insectoid feelers sprouting up over the top of the sand dunes. I’ve seen the film once since then, many years ago, and to my disappointment found that it had dated horribly. It was about as scary as an ant scurrying along the kitchen bench.
The following year I went to see a flick at the opulent Majestic Theatre. A huge long promotional mural graced one wall as you walked toward the auditorium: a huge monstrous decaying face emerging from the horizon with the words “When There’s No More Room In Hell The Dead Will Walk The Earth” above it. And below; “Zombies: Dawn of the Dead … R18 - contains frequent episodes of graphic violence.” Yikes! Was that eye-catching and chilling promotional art or what?! And just when I thought Halloween had looked adult and taboo …
I mentioned in an earlier post about my memories of watching videos as a young adolescent. Among these early sessions of watching “adult” movies on my friend’s parent’s built-like-a-tank top-loading VCR machine, was probably my first modern horror flick. The old classic horrors from the 60s and earlier didn’t have much of an impact on me as a pre-pubescent, probably because they screened late at night, way past my bedtime.
Some titles I would stare at but never had the balls to hire out. The video cover for Dario Argento’s Suspiria (1977) showing darkness surrounding the body of a woman hanging by the neck, her nightgown streaked in blood and the tagline “Never Again Will You Feel Safe In The Dark.” That was off-limits for quite awhile. It carried an aura of taboo.
These viewings are my earliest, strongest memories of the potency of the modern horror movie. But they were watched in the safe confines of a friend’s living room; with control over the lighting, parental presence and an image a tenth of the size, so I’m not sure if they count officially as popping my horror cherry.
A year later, and with the same friend whose parents owned the VCR, I made the jump to the bold cinema experience. This involved lying at the box office; the movie was Halloween II (1981), and was rated R16 (no one under 16 admitted). We were 13.
For genuinely purist purposes, I guess Halloween II was the movie that popped my horror cherry. That was the legitimate cinema experience. A few months later my friend and I saw The Thing (1982). We were so sure this particular film would be a profound and seminal experience we insisted an adult (my friend’s father) accompany us to make sure there was no chance we’d get refused at the box office.
How’s that for horror savvy?
* images on this page were taken from the following wikipedia pages:
Halloween II, Dawn of the Dead, and Dressed to Kill
They are licensed from the GNU Free Document License
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Comment by Hope
Gifted Parenting
Freelance For Life
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
horror movies are a primal force not to be taken lightly. They push buttons some of us would prefer to leave untouched ... but in doing so provide a release, a "purge" which would otherwise remain bottled-up. This "purge" is about confronting fear within safe confines.
Horror movies are a necessary evil.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
I have vague memories of being in Europe when I was three, holidaying with the family, and seeing a movie with killer plants in it. Don't know if it was Day of the Triffids or what, because I haven't seen it since. Actually that trip was full of some quite scary experiences, including some relatives who owned a pair of huge dogs that I thought were grizzly bears. Much to my horror, they were allowed in the house.
A bit later when I was maybe seven, I was left alone at home with my schizophrenic uncle, a scary enough experience in itself, let me tell you. He subjected me to what I think was one of the Creepshow movies, despite my protestations. It had three stories: one about a killer wooden Indian, one about a deadly oil slick, and one I can't remember. For weeks I couldn't go swimming at school for fear of the oil slick. Sometime after this I also saw the first Terminator movie. Something about the stop-motion cyborg at the end still haunts me, its unnatural movements much scarier than the slick effects of the sequel.
I also had a lot of trouble sleeping around this time, due to incredibly vivid nightmares.
Shit, this has turned into a therapy session. Still, while I had a pretty weird childhood, I think horror movies helped me to cope with that. I was always drawn to monsters and mythology as a kid. I loved cartoons like the Groovie Ghoulies and shows like the Addam's Family and the Munsters, then graduated to more adult entertainment when I was in my mid-late teens.
I think my first true horror experience was renting out the video of Nightbreed, based on Clive Barker's Cabal. As with your giant ant movie, this was rather dissapointing when I saw it again. After that it was a serious Friday 13th fixation, helped by the late night screening of the films sometime in the late '90s. I got out anyhting I could from our pisspoor local video store: Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer, Demons (I & II), the Halloween films (all except the original because they didn't have it), Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and heaps more. I've been a horror buff ever since.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
cheers for the great comments!
I, too, rememeber seeing the 1981 TV mini-series of Day of the Triffids (perhaps this is what you saw, although there is an original 1962 movie), and it was creepy!
You saw Creepshow 2, which has the sensational episode "The Raft" based on a brilliant Stephen King short story, but overall the original Creepshow is better.
The Terminator is one of my favourite films, up in my Top 20 or 30. And I totally agree, the Stan Winston created stop-motion SFX of the skeletal robot at the end is much creepier than any CGI version!! This is why the Sinbad movies were so cool with Ray Harryhausen's extraordinary stop-motion creature FX!
Did you ever see The 7th Voyage of Sinbad or Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger? Great stuff!
I'm a fan of selected Friday the 13th movies, my faves are the first and fourth (The Final Chapter). I'd love to see an uncut version of XI: Jason Lives, as I know a lot of great effects stuff was cut out, plus it has some cool cinematography.
Demons, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw, Henry ... all sensational stuff to get your teeth into! Well done!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I'm not going to modify my original post, because I don't want to disrupt its infernal rhythm, but I wanted to add that there was another cinematic experience which had a strong impact on me, and that was Poltergeist (1981). I saw it with a friend, aged about 11, and as I have already mentioned in a previous post, after the screening we had to house-sit his folks place, and we scared ourselves silly talking about the scary moments in the film, like the clown at the end of the bed! However Poltergeist wasn't an "adult" horror movie (it was rated PG), so I'm adding it as a post-post.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I think my first horror film was Polgergeist as well. That had quite a strong effect on me and still don't like clowns and looking under my bed.....
Tracy
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
years later I discovered Poltergeist was directed by Tobe Hooper of Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame. Although apparently Speilberg did a lot of backseat driving ....
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I didn't know that, gosh. I didn't see Texas Chainsaw Massacre but my older sister did and I know from my mum's horrified reaction to my dad watching it with her that it was very gory. My dad got into a lot of trouble for that one especially when my sister started having nightmares. I don't think I will see it, think I have the general gist already. Interesting that Spielberg was involved.....I'm still getting over Jaws which we discussed in one of my earlier posts....
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Tobe Hooper is the credited director of Poltergeist, but Speilberg, who produced, was apparently on set everyday and rumour has it that he called a lot of the shots.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
That's interesting that the most graphic part of the film is its title...maybe I will see it one day...I can handle films with suspenceful atmospheres rather than oodles of blood being splattered all over the joint. Aha, so Speilberg called a lot of the shots...he's a busy bloke, got his fingers in all sorts of pies...(sorry about that cliche)..
Comment by Whatever
Cinema of Australia
First horror movie that I can remember, probably would have been Scream when I was 14. A little late, but my folks are the sheltering types. Does Gremlins count? It scared the pants off me
Comment by Damo
Fantastic Voyage. A total creepout for a young kid.
Also followed up with The Ghost of Frankenstein. The first time I say a cinema brain throbbing away. Read the book years later and understood its true power of slow churning horror.
Only thing that has really pushed my buttons lately was Event Horizon. I like the concepts of an unseen horror.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
One Halloween, we had another sleepover and watched Nightmare on Elm St 1 &2 and Friday The 13th, while my parents were at a friends place. Somewhere around 1am, my dad started banging on the sliding glass door beside the couch because he'd forgotten his keys! We all nearly die of heart attacks, while he almost died laughing.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Sisi
Comment by LaurenD
I also did not sleep for 2 weeks after seeing 'The Exorcist' for the first time. Not a good pick for 12 year olds.
LaurenD
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
The Exorcist was the popper for me... it was the first and last horror movie I ever saw on the big screen.
I saw the original with subliminals and it took me three and a half years to get over it and sleep properly... *l-ing ol, now* ... it scared the hell out of me... I must have a low threshold for horror... barking dogs at night made my skin crawl for years too...
Lilla...
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
you're a young 'un alright! Scream was your first, huh? You've got some catchin' up to do! lol
Lauren,
Yeah, Magic rocks!
And Lauren and Lilla,
as does The Exorcist, hands down.
Comment by suitably*wounded
Eternal Days; Author: Illness, M.
And to whet my appetite, I had those made-for-TV movies that would come on once I got home from school.... like The House on Greenapple Road (which I have no recall at all of now, except for blood smeared on a freezer) and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, which is still incredibly creepy with its shrunken head-like creature monsters. I also loved the original Helter Skelter that came out in '76, although I'm not certain how much that qualifies in this category.
Other than all those, I'm a little remiss on what I saw on my own, alone, first run. I do know that I got my hands on The Exorcist as soon as I lived alone and I never missed any kind of mini-series (or special, for that matter) that could conceivably scare the living daylights outta me. =)
Lovely question. A perfect 10 from the American judges.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
My firsts would have to be Freddy...the first Nightmare on Elm Street...
Then Chucky...God, I loved Chucky.
I like funny horror. They really do me in.
And Poltergeist...I think I must have been about 8 for all of these...
Freddy is still one of my all-time favs....and Johnny was as cute as ever back then!
Interesting that the female lead in it went on to do 'Sleepwalkers,' (which I love!! Love, love, love that movie) and Twin Peaks...
(She must have a thing for horror elements)
K.L.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
These movies are still great fun.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
are you talking about Madchen Amick? The gorgeous auburn (or was she brunette?) from Twin Peaks and Sleepwalkers? What else did she do??
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
Yes, that's her name!!
Couldn't think of it...
(She varies in her auburness, brunetteness...)
I'm afraid that's all I'm good for...except for such 80's flicks like 'Don't Tell Her It's Me,' as that Kyle guy's sometimes girlfriend (and he, too, was in Twin Peaks!! I loved him in TP)...I'm sure there were various others she's done....but as for horrors, that's all I'm good for!!
Hollywood is really a small town, isn't it??
K.L.
Comment by Spoon
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
You can read my review on Xtro here ...
cheers!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Spoon
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Spoon
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Werewolf wanabe
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I didn't see American Werewolf in Paris, it looked dreadful (and I was warned not to).
Van Helsing was terrible I might add.
Haven't seen Disturbia.
Coppola's Dracula (I'm assuming you're referring to that version) is very flawed (why oh why did he cast Keanu Reeves?!), but looks fabulous (you can't go wrong with Monica Bellucci as one of Dracula's vamps)