I have been discussing scary books and movies with some people. I mentioned the novel The Shining as a very creepy novel (though I noted that 1984, with its realistic relevance is perhaps even scarier), and I talked about several creepy movies. Over the past few days we have examined the art of creating suspense and fear in literature and film.
For a coveted spot in the What I Hate (Usually) hall of fame, right above the name Science Guy (winner of the "I used to comment but am now too lazy and/or unable to challenge Aristos" award), post a comment about your scariest read or view. Don't just name it, but tell how it got to you. I'm not concerned if it "grossed you out," but if it really disturbed you on a higher level (e.g. the orginal version of "The Omen.").
Well maybe if you got your hands off your joystick and actually posted something worthwhile to read once in a while I would have a comment.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, the book that freaked me out the most in my life was "Watchers" by Dean Koontz. I lived out on a farm and quite often I would have to walk out to the barn at night. It was spooky on its own without the thought that a super-intelligent crazed genetically-enhanced oragutan was going to attack me and rip out my eyes. After reading that it took me a while before I wouldn't panic to have to go out there.
Murdock:
ReplyDeleteYou idiot. The XBox 360 doesn't have a joystick.
That being said, "Watchers" also creeped me out. I remember reading Stephen King books non-stop in 7th grade. By the time that I was in 8th grade, I had read them all. I turned next to Koontz. I enjoyed "The Servants of Twilight" the most. It was, to my recollection, the first novel that I read in a single day. I followed it up with "Phantoms" a few days earlier, which I also read in one sitting. Next came "Watchers," which thrilled me, but I soon became disappointed in Koontz and wandered a bit throughout the genre. "Nathaniel" by John Saul scared the hell out of me, but I found myself returning to King whenever he published a new one. Still, if you happenen to check out King's latest paperback, "Cell," you'll discover that while he has great potential to excite, he has a matching power to disappoint.
I am not a scary movie fan. Maybe, it’s because I just don’t get scared watching a movie. There are a few movies however that have elicited from me some of the emotions or reactions that are often associated with scary movies.
ReplyDeleteGenuine surprise: The “jump out of your seat” reaction was produced from me by the movie “Wait Until Dark” (1967) staring Audrey Hepburn. When the dead guy suddenly comes back to life and attacks (again) the blind heroine the audience (and my) reaction was classic “gotcha”.
Raw emotion: This one goes to “The Deer Hunter” (1978) staring Robert De Niro. This drama is dark and sullen. I couldn’t stop thinking about the movie for days after seeing it. It left an empty feeling in my stomach. You knew much of the movie could have been true, and maybe was, but you hoped it wasn’t. Of all the Viet Nam movies this one got to me. The loss of hope and desperation depicted showed mankind at its lowest level. There was no happy ending and you didn’t even walk away with a sense that better days were to come.
Head turner: The only time I ever turned my head away from a movie, so as not to watch what was on the screen, was during “The Passion of Christ” (2004) directed by Mel Gibson. It was during the flogging of Christ that I looked away. It was just too realistic for me to continue to watch. I got through the crucifixion but the flogging scene was more than I wanted to endure.
Who said anything about an Xbox?
ReplyDelete