Did you ever lay awake at night as a child, fearing that a dark, menacing monster would jump out and take you into its clutches? I feel like most of us have those defining events that establish our foundational fears (hint back to my last blog post), whether it be spiders, clowns, ghosts, or something silly we found on the internet like the urban legend of the Jersey Devil. I’m not sure if you’re a horror-fan, but the film Poltergeist (1982) certainly contributed both to my fundamental fears at a young age—I think around six years old—but also my life-long love of horror films and thrill.
Image Source: Amazon
In Poltergeist, a seemingly perfect “American Dream” family begins to have some strange happenings, specifically with their younger daughter Carol Anne. Carol Anne is doing some pretty odd things, such as sleepwalking or talking to the TV. Like most other horror plots, the family realizes there is something seriously wrong, and as it (unsurprisingly) turns out, there are ghosts haunting the house that have a significantly strong connection to Carol Anne.
Image Source: MovieBreak
There’s a few stand-out scenes in this movie that I remember vividly even though about 12 years have passed since I watched it.
I find that the most unforgettable scene is the scene where the son has a face-off with a terrifying toy clown that attempts to take him under his bed. For my 6-year-old self, it might have been the most terrifying thing I had ever seen. From that night on, I would check under my bed, fling myself on top, and then curl up into my sheets in fear that a devilish creature would enter my safe space and take me away (to where? I don’t know…).
Image Source: CinemaOnline
Film possesses the power to utilize fictional situations to create real-life fears. That fear of monsters beneath my bed stuck with me for many, many years. And all of it came back to this horrible practical effects scene in Poltergeist. It is so interesting to see how aspects of film incite such strong feelings within humans and shape our behaviors for unknown amounts of time. Every now and then, I still lift the blanket up and take a peek.
Though this movie helped add to my list of fears, what’s interesting is that I loved the thrill of it. It’s a paradox between fear of the unknown and curiosity, and it’s what keeps me coming back to the theater to see any new horror movie that comes out. I didn’t know that as I curled up on the couch with my mom—who happens to be the world’s biggest horror fan—it would both terrify me but also contribute to my lifelong devotion to learning and questioning the world around me.
When we behave in self-reflection, we become more self-aware of our habits and how things in our life have affected us. Can you think of a single event that has caused two contrasting outcomes in your life?
I actually love horror movies and thrillers too! It definitely adds to the many reasons why Halloween is the best time of year. Because of this, I heavily related to this blog post. Seeing Paranormal Activity and the Blair Witch Project made me scared of the dark for years. Still, I am addicted to the thrill and cannot wait for more movies to come out as we approach October. I always find that the scariest films are the ones that can be applied to every day life (aliens and other outlandish creatures never really scared me as much). I would be interested in knowing your favorite horror movie, or if your taste has changed over the years. Overall, great post!