The Scariest Movie I Never Saw

[sisabet]

I have been at work since 7 am this morning. If you know me - then you know that this is very strange. Normally I struggle to get here by 9am and my start time is 8:30. We have discussed moving my start-time to 9am, but then I worry that I'll be late for work. Right now we act like I should be here by 8:30 and accept the 9. It's a thing.

What makes this even more shocking is that today is my late day and I didn't have to come in until 10:30am.

Why do this to myself? Apparently, I am having a series of nightmares that are getting progressively disturbing about a movie I haven't even seen. This isn't the first time this has happened to me: "An American Werewolf in London" caused my parents to have to move my bed away from the window and Daddy had to have a silver bullet made and he had to show it to me (although that was because of *another* werewolf movie and Dawn's inability to separate sources). My AWiL sources were not at all accurate and were called "Dawn" -- but all she did was tell me what she thought happened in the movie and then my imagination supplied the rest. I was terrified of being attacked in my bed by a werewolf and torn limb from limb. The process of being torn apart had been described in graphic detail by Dawn - who hadn't seen the movie, but overheard parts of it and just extrapolated from there.

I realize now it is kind of strange that my father had ammunition made special, just so I could sleep. At the time it just seemed like the obvious and right thing to do. Sure, Mom could tell me all the time that werewolves didn't really exist, but how did she know? Dad never took that tactic. He just prepared for the possibility. Actually, knowing my father? He probably would have had the silver bullet made anyway - just in case.

So, this morning when I woke up on my couch (fell asleep watching Adult Swim) drenched in sweat and terrified that Frodo will kill us all, and noone will believe me - I got up and showered and tried to chil and watch "Atlantis" but my house was scary and dark and I just didn't want to be there.

So I came to work. And now you know why I am here and exhausted (but really really efficient today. I got more accomplished from 7am-11am today than I did all last week).

Fascinating stuff really.

::wonders if her father still has silver bullet and if he will let her borrow it::

Comments

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

What an incredible story that silver bullet is. Thank you for sharing it :)

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

It was a *huge* comfort to me as a child, just knowing it was there.

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

Your dad rocks. Clearly.

xoxo

[valerie-z.livejournal.com]

When my sister was little, my mother gave her a bottle of air freshener and told her it was monster repellant. It totally worked.

How sweet of your father to make actual silver bullets. I love it.

[absolutedestiny.livejournal.com]

There were several occasions in which horror movies, stories and re-tellings of the two had a mind-shattering and irrational effect on me as a child and, weirdly, it's something I really miss about being young.

I distinctly remember being the same room as someone who was watching Poltergeist when I was 5 or 6 and having no idea what the hell was going on but remember it being really terrifying. I remember seeing the rope scene and the whole end sequence and having nightmares about it for weeks and weeks afterwards.

Of course these days it's much harder to get that same experience. Frightened, yes (though it's tricky) but getting that special kind of childlike frightened when you don't necessarily know *why* something is so scary but it is... that's what I miss. The only thing that came close was a few years back when I first watched Suspiria - the incredible opening of that movie (IMHO) really captures, as an adult, what it is like to watch horror as a child.

I was never offered any silver bullets... instead I spent my entire teenage years watching every horror movie I could get my hands on and coveting the ones in the video store that I was too young to rent.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

instead I spent my entire teenage years watching every horror movie I could get my hands on and coveting the ones in the video store that I was too young to rent.

Oh, me too! I was forbidden from watching Poltergeist (because of the tendency to have nightmares) and I became the sneakiest little sneak that ever did sneak just to try to see parts of it. And as a kid it was really scary and intense.

And, I typically had scary dreams about the shit I imagined, rather than the stuff I *saw* -- and I loved to be scared.

[luminosity]

But a silver bullet won't work for a deranged hobbit!! You need the witch-king's sword. I think it's on back order.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

You 'reckon Daddy can pick that up this weekend at the Hardin County Gun and Knife Show?

[fyrdrakken]

No, but I could point to at least five websites actually selling the Witch-King's sword. I was told by a SCAdian that it's actually got perfect balance and is a nice blade for an enthusiast.

And I think your father was awesome and practical. It reminds me of one of my favorite themes from Terry Pratchett's later Discworld books, of "headology," in which the practicioner didn't bother trying to convince people to give up their delusions and instead just used them as a useful framework. One example given was of not bothering to tell the children there weren't monsters in the closet or under the bed or wherever, but instead just giving them a fireplace poker and telling them to give the monsters what-for if they dared put in an appearance.

[linzeestyle.livejournal.com]

The silver bullet story is the BEST THING EVER. Your Daddy is very, very cool.

*wonders if a silver bullet would've worked to assuage my horrible childhood fear of Bill Cosby*

Maybe a silver jello mold...

Linzee

silver bullet

[retired-mom.livejournal.com]

Just read your post...daddy said he still had the silver bullet and you may have it...in fact, he has more than one...he can never make one of anything, not even silver bullets...I've heard Frebreeze will keep away werewolves...at least until you get your bullet...do you need the gun for the bullet....it is the 44 mag.....miss all of you...seems like forever since we were with you,,,, we pick up the boat on Wednesday...if the sun is shining..dad does not want to go get it in the rain???? it is a boat...went Saturday and paid for our covered slip in the marina...

Re: silver bullet

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I just wanted you to know that I think you and your husband are the greatest.

Re: silver bullet

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

I've heard Frebreeze will keep away werewolves

Yeah - you know I am so not buying this. Also, I worry Febreeze will bother Sid's allergies.

do you need the gun for the bullet....it is the 44 mag

I don't think I can even *fire* a 44. Seriously, I am afraid the recoil will snap my wrists in two.

I'm coming home this weekend if work cooperates - it's Mother's Day! (and is it Prom for Cappy?)

Re: silver bullet

[drdawn.livejournal.com]

Hey, can Skyman ride with you? I have to work this weekend. PS-- I did that thing I told you I would.

Re: silver bullet

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. I am very glad you did that thing I asked you to do and you said you would. That's fabulous.

Yeah, Skyman can ride - he just needs to have Sid walked and seatbelted when I get home Friday.

prom

[retired-mom.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is prom but come home anyway...can't wait to see you and Skyler...sorry, Dawn, that you have to work but I understand....

[klia.livejournal.com]

terrified that Frodo will kill us all, and noone will believe me

Eeek. Um, I recommend you definitely -not- see Sin City, then, or you'll have nightmares for sure.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

That is kind of the point. I read a movie review and now I am having nightmares and the thing is -- if I go and see the movie it will stop because I *always* do this with my imagination.

American Werewolf in London scared the begeezus out of me and that was because of what I *imagined* it was like. When I got older and saw the movie I was shocked that it was a comedy, because it was the scariest movie I never did see.

Really - movies that give me nightmares after the fact are usually ones that ping psych issues, like "Solaris"