That's some scary shit...

I was reading an interesting post on the blog to end all blogs , and the commentary regarding scary movies struck a chord (not only because the comment from Ms. Mac was about me). Her comment about The Ring is totally true.

We have a litle stream that runs alongside our house and I need to cross it to get to the bus stop in the mornings - and I go to work early enough for it to be still dark when I'm leaving. As you know, the whole water theme in the movie is because she was entombed in the well, and everyday when I walked across the trickling stream to get to the bus stop, I nearly shat myself! It is totally ridiculous, I know, but I couldn't help it - it went on for more than a week.

You know how there is always that rational half (or some other fraction - depending on the individual) that says to you "Now now, don't be silly, it's just a movie, nothing to be frightened of." That person is often helpful, but The Ring managed to obliterate that voice in my head, and this meant that every time I went over the bridge, I was peeing my pants. I know he was talking to me (Mr Rational Man - he is a man in my head) but I couldn't hear him over the sound of my own screams!

Now all the purists out there say that the Japanese version is better and blah blah.... I will just have to admit that the Hollywood version worked on me. If the original is scarier, you can stick it up your jumper. I can't afford the bladder accidents on the way to the office.

What a wuss huh? The same thing happened to me when I watched the original (only the original) Nightmare on Elm Street . It came out when I was about 14 (yes - 21 years ago) and for its time, it was a scary movie! Often I would be the last one in bed and would be left to put the dog out so it could do its business before it went to bed in the laundry. So I'd be standing at the back door in the dark, waiting for the dog to finish up and the Freddy song would start playing in my head. You know "1,2 Freddy's comin' for you. 3, 4 better lock your door.." I always ended up shit-scared and whistling for the dog to hurry up. Thankfully, Mr Rational Man would always come along and calm me down, or die trying as Freddy slashed his (and my) guts open with that supercool glove. See that kids can get that now as a Halloween Costume?

At present, I am re-reading Salem's Lot - what a frickin' great book. This was the first Stephen King book I ever read and I think I was about 12 when I read it. I scared the piss out of myself reading this one late into the night. There are a lot of comments on Amazon that the fact that you know it is a vampire book spoils it a little. I disagree, the fact that I know what's coming doesn't detract from the thrills one bit. The story is probably the best vampire story ever and even this very morning, the first thing that crossed my mind when I set foot on the gravel path to the bridge and the bus stop was "I wonder if vampires are still around when the sun is so close to rising? No they probably prefer not to take the chance - I'll be fine."

Better get back to work.

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