5/16/09

I Also Know Who Thrilled Me

My hero, Arbogast, recently posted a terrific piece on the fantastic creatures of film and television that scared him, and probably, ultimately, inspired him to become the sick twisted bastard we know and love today.

After reading Arby's post, I was inspired to think back to those images of the supernatural that kept me up at a night as a young'un. Care to have a peek?

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Behold the alien that freaked me out to no end when I was a kid: This bubble headed creature was featured during the end credits of Star Trek. I used to watch this program with my parents when I was a kid, and I loved it. However, I usually left the room during the final credit roll, because of Mr. Big Head. Oh the nightmares I had of him showing up outside my bedroom window or of him lying in wait for me in the basement ... in fact, looking at his puss now, he still kind of freaks me out.Those fucking flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz: Next to the twister and the talking apple trees, these damn winged simians scared the bejesus out of me as a kid.
Beware of The Blob: Now who is afraid of rolling mound of Jello? Me. I must have been about ten years old when I watched this film on a sunny afternoon in the living room with my dad. That night I asked dad to move my bed away from the vent because I was convinced that The Blob was going to come pouring out of the heat duct on to my sleeping body . Always the prankster, Papa Romano left a big bowl of cherry Jello next to my bed that night. What a guy!
The Crawling Hand: Damn this beast with five fingers! Damn it to hell, I say. When I saw The Crawling Hand late one night on TV, it really got under my skin ... for the longest time I was sure that I'd eventually find the little creep waiting for me in a drawer, or maybe crawling up my shirt when I least expected it. The Exorcist: At the ripe old age of 14, I was pretty sure that I had gotten over my fear of aliens, disembodied hands, blobs and apes on the wing; and then I saw The Exorcist. I am pretty sure I saw this film on Christmas night of 1973. I went with several of my cousins. I was the youngest in the crowd. Having no idea what I was in for, but wanting to be cool like my older relatives, I sat in that theater in Downtown Philadelphia and tried to subdue the chills that were running through me. When I got home that night, I put rosary beads under my pillow, and made sure every light was on in my bedroom. In fact, The Exorcist so screwed with my psyche that I actually started going back to church for a bit (my mother was pleased over this). It actually took me several years to get over the fear that this movie instilled into me; that said, when ever I re-watch this film, it still knocks me for a loop.

4 comments:

Kimberly Lindbergs said...

I enjoyed your list. The blob and disembodied hands really freaked me out when I was a child as well. And who can forget that Star Trek creature? I can remember being equally horrified by his appearance in the ending credits too.

fabulbabe said...

Good, it was not just me who was/still is creeped out by that ghoulish head that shows up in the Star Trek end credits. I've never seen that episode, and still don't want to. I don't know what's so odd about it, but it sure presses my buttons.

Pax Romano said...

Thank you both, now I know I was not the only one traumatized by the big headed alien.

monsterscholar said...

I was afraid of Pinhead even though I never saw Hellraiser as a kid. I still haven't to this day.