The Romance Reviews

Saturday 24 October 2009

Halloween Memories

Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm a big ole chicken when it comes to watching the frightening flicks. Sad, but true, I'm the annoying chick who yells, "Stop! Don't go in there!" or "Look behind you, you silly broad!" I don't know how many movies I've watched with my hand over my eyes, peeking through my fingers. Although I may jump and latch onto my hubby's shirt like it's a life-line, I'm having a blast!
I have a cache of favorites I love to whip out. I think the first movie I watched that gave me the creepies was Disney's adaptation of Washington Irving's, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I loved the goofy Ichabod Crane, his tormentor Brom Bones, and Ichabod's sweetheart Katrina. I'd get the chills every time the Headless Horseman appeared. I can't wait for my kids to get a little older so I can share the classic Disney movie.
In sixth grade, I stayed the night at my BFF's house and her mom let us watch Stephen King's movie, IT. A killer clown, a spooky town, and bone-chilling scenes had me jumping at shadows for months!! I couldn't take a shower without putting a wash cloth over the drain in fear of the Clown popping up to take me down where everything floats! C'mon, I know those of you who have seen the movie probably did the same darn thing! Mr. King is the master of giving people the heebie-jeebies.

I can remember the first time my parents let me watch the original Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis. Oh, my goodness, I was petrified! For months, my folks knew exactly where I was in the house, because I flipped very stinkin' light on, no matter where I went! Plus, I would shut all the blinds. I hated dark windows and STILL DO! Yikes! Nothing freaks me out more than the idea of another person's face looking back at me.
One of my best semesters in college was the Fall of 1999. I had a killer group of friends who lived a couple of complexes away. We were inseparable. Kind of like a country-fried version of Friends. Our favorite thing to do (besides painting town) was movie night. One of the guys picked up The Blair Witch Project. Scatter about the mismatched couches and shag carpet, the ten of us devoured every inch of herky-jerky camera work. By the last frame, we were little more than a jumble of bodies clumped in the center of the room! Boys being boys, they took advantage of our terror and got us good the next morning. I can still hear "Backseat Becky" (long story- and she'd never forgive me! lol) screaming her head off when she opened the front door. The fellas had piled rocks and pines cones on the doorstep- the Blair Witch's calling card. OMG! Good times, good times!
Every scary movie I've seen has a fantastic memory associated with it. I think that's why I'm enamored with this time of year. I'd be lying if I said the hordes of chocolate candies being bandied about doesn't hurt either!
Here's a couple of my other favs: Hocus Pocus, The Sixth Sense, Fear (with hunkie-dunkie Mark Wallburg-oh, he's creepy!) and Signs. LOL I haven't expanded my brag-roll to the bloody hack-and-slashers. Like I said, I'm a wuss!
Now, it's your turn! C'mon on and spill your favorite Halloween tradition or memory! Let's celebrate what holidays are all about. . . bringing people together!

For more on Sarah- check out her blogs : The Lovestruck Novice and Friday Night Writes.


~Sarah Simas~
2009 Golden Gateway Finalist
See What I'm Up To http://thelovestrucknovice.blogspot.com.

10 comments:

Lindsay Townsend said...

Hi Sarah! Super blog! I agree with you about Halloween being a wonderful time to bring people together to celebrate and to resist the dark.

I remember reading 'It' and finding it a very effective chiller.

I also like the ghost stories of MR James.

Happy Halloween!

Tara S Nichols said...

Oooh the Disney version of Sleepy Hollow was a fun but very effective thrill. I DO NOT want to meet that headless horseman in the woods even in the day time!

Sarah Simas said...

Thanks, Lindsay, for having me here today! I love visiting your blog! :o)

I tried reading IT about 10 yrs ago and couldn't finish the darn thing! It was too scary! LOL

I'll have to try MR James. Ghost stories are fun, too. I remember my favorite read as a kid was ghost story book called, "Wait Till Helen Comes." It was so scary! (well, scary 8yr old style! lol) I've been trying to find it and haven't had any luck.

Hi Tara! Yes, I'm right there with you! I wouldn't want to meet him either. BUT I would love to see that area this time of year! I bet it's beautiful.

Kathleen O said...

Oh I was never one for the frigt movies, but I guess I had my first "frightning" experince from the movies, with pics like "Phycio" , I had to make sure the shower curtian was always open when I went into the bathroon and "The Birds", i was terrified of the the seagulls at the cottage after seeing that great Hitichock thriller. And then there was the orginal Texas Chain Saw Massacure.. That one left me jumping everytime I heard the sound of a chainsaw.. Then there wa the queen of the prom "Carrie"..ooohhhh shivvvvvvveeeeeeer... And I too was the one who would be the one screaming out loud in the movie theature...I have never seen any of the Halloween, Friday the 13th or any of those types of movies.. I can't handle them anymore.. The heart aint' what it used to be. I am easily startled...

Kaye Manro said...

Hi Sarah! Very good post. I can so relate to the scary stuff. Anything Steven King scares me to death! I don't usually go in for horror. Then why is one of my best friends--Scott Nicholson--a horror writer?? Good question, lol.

Thanks for reminding us of all things scary.

Happy All Hallows Eve!

Helen Hardt said...

Hi Sarah -- great post! This is my favorite time of the year.

Linda Banche said...

I don't like the slasher movies, either. But I remember Disney's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with fondness. I have to find a DVD of that movie.

Savanna Kougar said...

Sara, great chilling trip down horror movie lane... I get to live a bit vicariously, since I don't watch them. Having incredibly horrible nightmares, afterward, isn't my thing.
The closest I come to horror is the X-files and Buffy and Angel. That's enough for me!

LK Hunsaker said...

I don't watch anything scarier than Sleepy Hollow. That one doesn't bother me. But my church youth group one year (yes, honestly) decided to watch Halloween at our October party. Ah, I had nightmares. Nope, that stuff isn't for me! My family watches it and I lock myself in the den with the door shut so I don't have to hear it, either. ;-)

Give me Edward Scissorhands any day!

Savanna Kougar said...

Edward Scissorhands... one of my faves, too!