‘Tis the Season

Crunching across the yard that I do not rake reminds me of all that I love about this time of year. Yes, yes, yes, I love all the stereotypical things about fall: pumpkin spice everything, fall colors, fall clothes, and the list goes on and on and on. Still, what I love most about fall (and in particular, what I love most about Halloween) is horror movies!

Now, I know horror movies can be enjoyed any time of year, but I always associate horror movie countdowns and marathons with Halloween. In general, horror movies engender strong opinions. Folks either hate them or love them. I have found a few people who can take them or leave them, but those folks are rare and non-committal (and they probably do have strong opinions but will not voice them, which is weak). I have always been in the horror-movie-loving camp.

As someone who has a good memory and latches onto details, I find horror movies leave their impression on me…for weeks! I guess my earliest “horror” movie was Ghost Busters. The ghost in the library scene haunted me and not just that library! Despite the scary thoughts, I still wanted more.

By middle school, I started watching real horror movies. Poltergeist on VHS offered some thrills, and I still cannot believe that movie was PG-rated. The only part in that movie that got under my skin (pun intended!) was when the guy peeled his face off in the bathroom. Now, that’s exfoliation! That scene gave me the willies, and I would think about it while trying to fall asleep, which I do not recommend. Oh, and possessed toys are bad. Stay away from possessed toys!

Over the years, I’ve indulged in ghost stories, slasher tales, demon exorcisms, monster invasions, zombie holocausts, and torture porn. Ghost stories still win out as my all-time favorite type of horror movie with stories such as The Others, The Changeling, The Sixth Sense, The Shining, The Amityville Horror, The Conjuring, The Ring, and yes, Poltergeist. Torture porn like Saw and Wolf Creek rank at the bottom of my list. Watching people being torn limb from limb or experiencing psychological trauma at the hands of a psycho fails to appeal to my desire for mystery and supernatural influence (plus, that stuff could really happen).

Of the horror movies I have watched in my adult life, one stands out as the master of terror: The Ring. After viewing The Ring (American version), I slept with the lights on for weeks. Every time I looked toward my bedroom door, which I always kept open, I expected to see Samara twitch-walking into my room. The mere thought of the videotape content from that movie sent chills up my spine. Something about the techniques of sound and color in that film permeated my waking and sleeping thoughts. I watched the Japanese original, Ringu, but it didn’t feel as scary. No horror movie prior to The Ring had left such an impression, and so far, no horror movies since then have had the same effect. I don’t know if it was just the right moment in time for me or if others felt that way about the film. I did learn one lesson from the movie: nothing good comes out of a well. If you are in a creepy place and see a well, run!

Like The Ring, most horror movies do have good lessons. These are just a few:

• The Conjuring and The Amityville Horror: If you hear something in the basement, don’t go in the basement.
• The Exorcist, The Conjuring, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, etc.: If someone acts possessed, they probably are.
• The Shining: If you turn the corner in a hotel hallway and see creepy twin girls, run!
• Poltergeist: If your home is built on a Native American burial ground, move!
• The Conjuring and Poltergeist: If toys move or talk on their own, run!
• The Changeling and The Shining: If someone rolls a ball to you, run!
• The Others: If something feels creepy, it is.
• The Sixth Sense: If you see dead people, you’ve got trouble.
• Hellraiser: If you get a magic box that conjures really good stuff or really evil stuff, just leave it alone!
• Halloween: If you see a dude in a William Shatner mask, run…oh, and don’t have sex because he’ll kill you.
• The Blair Witch Project: Don’t hang out in the woods!

I love carving Jack-O’-Lanterns, and I refuse to use patterns or special tools. It’s just me, a pumpkin, and kitchen knives.

Through the terror and thrill of horror films, we understand just a little bit more about ourselves. We wonder how we’d deal with such terrifying circumstances. We relive scary scenes in our minds. We remember the people who watched the films with us and when whether we were huddled on the floor during a slumber party, sitting in a dark theater, or relaxing on the couch. We make the memories we come to associate with certain times of year and certain phases of our lives. No other genre of film has made such an impression on me. I doubt I am the only person who feels this way.

Enjoy the horror movie (Halloween) season!