Head-Under-The-Covers Scared

Summary

The author reflects on the movies that have scared them throughout their life, contrasting childhood fears with adult ones, and expresses a preference for avoiding horror films due to their lasting impact.

Abstract

The article titled "Sparks No8 Prompt — The Scary Edition" discusses the author's personal experiences with fear in movies. As a child, the author recalls being saddened by Disney films like "Bambi" and "The Lion King," noting that Disney often tries to counteract sadness with uplifting endings and music. However, the author argues that Disney's approach is ineffective in mitigating the emotional impact of tragedy. The author's exposure to truly terrifying films began in their teens, listing titles such as "Play Misty For Me," "The Exorcist," "Jaws," "The Shining," and "What Lies Beneath." The list is short because the author chose to stop watching horror movies that lingered in their thoughts. The author also avoids violent films, particularly those with graphic violence or gangster themes. The only "scary" movie the author enjoys is "The Sixth Sense," appreciated for its compelling story and surprising twist. The article concludes with the author's view that real-life dangers, such as gun violence and the threat of Covid, are frightening enough, eliminating the need for horror films to feel alive.

Opinions

Disney's attempt to balance sadness with hopeful endings is seen as insufficient.
The author believes that horror movies can unnecessarily occupy one's thoughts.
There is a deliberate choice to avoid horror and violent movies due to their disturbing nature.
"The Sixth Sense" is praised for its storytelling and twist ending.
The author feels that everyday life presents enough fear without the need for additional fright from movies.

Movies that scared the you-know-what out of me

As a child, lots of movies made me sad — Disney ones, in particular — Bambi to be specific, as Ellie Jacobson mentioned in her prompt.

As an adult, lots of movies made me sad — Disney ones, in particular — Lion King to be specific. Disney thinks heartbreaking tragedies can always be soothed with an epic ending featuring a soaring song of hope.

Disney is wrong.

But, scared? When I was young, kids didn’t get to see scary movies like they do these days. We were shielded from the truly terrifying. My exposure to heart-stopping, nightmare-producing films began in my teens. They are, in no particular order:

Play Misty For Me The Exorcist Jaws The Shining What Lies Beneath

That’s it. Why is the list so short? Because I stopped punishing myself with horror movies that occupied way too much real estate in my head.

I also stopped watching bloody movies — films with horse heads in beds, all movies having to do with gangsters, and vigilante pics.

The one “scary” movie I like is The Sixth Sense because it’s riveting and had the best surprise ending of any movie ever.

Everyday life is scary enough, especially these days when a trip to the grocery store can lead to a quick death from a gunshot or a slow death from Covid.

I don’t need fear to make me feel alive.