January 12, 2003

Just before Christmas, I went to the Parkway with a friend to see The Ring. Loved it. I want to see the original Japanese version and its many sequels.

My friend covered her ears during the suspenseful moments, and I think I only made fun of her once. If you haven't seen it, it's about a videotape that eventually kills whomever watches it. I know, may sound lame at first, but I like the concept. And the stuff on the videotape itself is kinda creepy too, like a dadaist film to invoke unease.

I never liked horror movies. I stayed away from slasher flicks like Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th, and Halloween. I didn't like being scared, just like I didn't like rollercoasters either.

Maybe I didn't feel safe as a kid. Who knows?

My very first experience with the horror genre occurred when I was about seven or eight. We were staying with my aunt and uncle in Pasadena, and I couldn't sleep, being in a strange place and all. My cousins were up watching a movie, The Thing, laughing at the part where one of the alien-possessed men burst open.

They saw me standing there and told me it was "funny." Obviously they were screwing with me, but at that time I was horrified by what I saw, and horrified at their laughter. I don't think I ever wanted to see a movie like that again, and I don't think I trusted my cousins either, at least for a little while.

Obviously I've gotten over that, and I want to find stuff that really spooks me, well written weird stories that get that primal-lizard part of your brain.

Aboogaadaa.

Now, if only I can get on a rollercoaster without freaking out...