When I was 10, my family went to the Multiplex to see ‘Poltergeist’. I should mention, my sister was only 8. How this movie got a PG rating is beyond me. Anyway, my sister and I spent most of the movie covered by our mother’s coat. My sister was crying and my mother was trying to protect us. That had an adverse effect on me. Since I couldn’t see the screen I had no idea what was going on but that did not deter my ears from hearing. So, as a result, my imagination was required to fill in the details. That is never a good thing. What my mind conjured up was far worse than what was in the film.
That being said, the one scene I did actually see was when the tree attacks young Robbie. It just so happens that on that particular evening there was a thunderstorm and outside my bedroom window there happened to be a cancer-ridden, decrepit tree. Before that evening I never noticed that the tree cast a shadow in my room during thunderstorms. As you can imagine, I did not sleep that evening.
Another film that holds a special place in my amygdala is ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. I watched the film with three other peers. We were trying to keep our cool. We were 14 and freaked out but we weren’t going to let each other know that. There was no high-fiveing. There were no yelps or nervous laughter. We watched in silence. By the end, I figured I’d be alright. It was still daylight out and I had time to shake it off. So, as the wrap up scene played I felt, “C’mon. Let’s roll the credits already.” Then the scene changes to the convertible. I didn’t sleep for weeks.
Well, that’s a start. Share yours.
