Entering into my teen years, I wasn’t much into horror flicks, avoiding them whenever possible. I had those damn visions of Carrie still dancing through my head. I was, however, deeply involved in Stephen King novels, starting with Salem’s Lot and The Shining. I guess reading horrific details was better for me than watching it.
There had been a few outings, though. I remember seeing Alien and staring with my mouth open when that thing pops out of John Hurt’s chest, and then laughing when it squealed as a way to release the tension. I have since grown to love sci-fi horror, especially monster movies like this. I also remember sleeping over at my friend’s house and her making me watch (ugh!) the first Friday the 13th. So stupid and so gross.
But there were two horror films that marked me in my teens. The first one was Halloween. Again, peer pressure led me to the theaters; my boyfriend was desperate to see it, so I dutifully went, knowing I’d hate every second. Then coming home at midnight, I was petrified, sitting in a chair in the living room, convinced Michael Myers was waiting for me in my room – until about 3:00 am when my sister (different sister) came home from work and told me I was being ridiculous. I really never willingly watched another slasher film again. I just hate knives.
The other film was The Exorcist. Perhaps it was fortunate I only saw this one on TV, with commercials, and not in the theater. Just imagine if THIS was my first experience, rather than Carrie. I’d be scarred for life. As it was, watching it on TV still left me terrified. I couldn’t get past how real it was — that could have been ME, a sweet innocent girl, possessed by a demon. I looked at our attic door long and hard for months afterward, relieved we never opened it. There is a very good reason this movie appears on almost everyone’s top 10 horror list. See for yourself:
Speaking of demon movies, there have been a few others that have freaked me out over the years. One was a 1975 movie called Race with the Devil, starring Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Lara Parker and Loretta Swit. They play two couples on vacation together, traveling in a motor home, who inadvertently witness a Satanic ritual in a small town and end up on the run from the worshippers, who seem to be everywhere. Of course, it’s a little dated now, but still creeps me out.
So does The Exorcism of Emily Rose, about a priest on trial for the death of a young woman he tried to perform an exorcism on, but who died while being possessed by six demons anyway. That brought up the whole 3:00 am “witching hour” phenom, when demons are said to be most active as a way to mock the Holy Trinity. After I saw the the movie, I swear I woke up every night at 3:00 am for a solid two weeks.
And then there’s my all-time favorite, the original 1976 The Omen, which I’ve seen a million times and never gets old for me. Something about that little boy’s angelic face hiding the fact he’s Satan’s spawn. Love it.