People ask me all the time why I love horror movies so much. It may be I'm an adrenalin junky. Hey, I've bungee jumped and I go scuba diving. Granted, I still look both ways when crossing the street, but it could be that. It could be the Aristotelian need to purge my emotions through catharsis. Perhaps. It could be pure escapism. It could be me taking my empathy out for some exercise. It could be me wanting to prove my bravery and manhood to whomever is sitting next to me balled up against my shoulder.
There are many possibilities and I honestly don't know the answer. It may be as simple as seeing someone else go through something awful just so I can feel like, "Better you than me, Buddy." It may be I want to feel superior to all those idiots who get themselves into situations I'd NEVER find myself in. You know like hanging around a house that freakin' covers you with flies and tells you, "GET OUT!"
Maybe I just enjoy releasing frustrations in my own life by yelling at people on the screen (yeah, I'm one of those people)...but when they drop the stupid knife next to the 'supposedly' dead psycho killer...(and you know they always do!) it takes more than the strength of a Boondock Saint to keep from verbalizing their stupidity...at loud volumes...to the annoyance of other paying customers.
I know it defies all logic to put one's self into a position to be frightened out of one's wits. I know it's absurd to watch something so disgusting and graphic that the stomach churns like a burrito eating champion's. I know it's ludicrous to plunk down $12 bucks for the opportunity to sh*t my pants. I know all this...and yet...I do it again and again and again. Ok, it is sometimes to see Ryan Reynolds with an axe. I admit it.
But whatever the deep down psychological reason turns out to be...I don't care. I love to be scared at the movies. One time I was staying over a holiday at my boarding school in Taiwan and I was literally the only one in the five story building for a few days. When the kids came back, one of them asked me, "Weren't you scared?" I said, "I teach AP English. I'm the scariest thing in this building!"
So bring on the chills. Bring on the thrills. Bring on the gore and blood by the bucketful and bring on the huddle masses of victims yearning to scream. I want to pick up that phone and hear a cop say to me..."The call is coming from inside the house!" That's what I want and I don't need to know why.
This year's thriller choices are a varied bunch of flicks. Many you will know and have seen. Some I chose because they just had awesome titles like "Toad Road" and "Fear Lives Here." I hope you scream along with me.
There are many possibilities and I honestly don't know the answer. It may be as simple as seeing someone else go through something awful just so I can feel like, "Better you than me, Buddy." It may be I want to feel superior to all those idiots who get themselves into situations I'd NEVER find myself in. You know like hanging around a house that freakin' covers you with flies and tells you, "GET OUT!"
Maybe I just enjoy releasing frustrations in my own life by yelling at people on the screen (yeah, I'm one of those people)...but when they drop the stupid knife next to the 'supposedly' dead psycho killer...(and you know they always do!) it takes more than the strength of a Boondock Saint to keep from verbalizing their stupidity...at loud volumes...to the annoyance of other paying customers.
I know it defies all logic to put one's self into a position to be frightened out of one's wits. I know it's absurd to watch something so disgusting and graphic that the stomach churns like a burrito eating champion's. I know it's ludicrous to plunk down $12 bucks for the opportunity to sh*t my pants. I know all this...and yet...I do it again and again and again. Ok, it is sometimes to see Ryan Reynolds with an axe. I admit it.
But whatever the deep down psychological reason turns out to be...I don't care. I love to be scared at the movies. One time I was staying over a holiday at my boarding school in Taiwan and I was literally the only one in the five story building for a few days. When the kids came back, one of them asked me, "Weren't you scared?" I said, "I teach AP English. I'm the scariest thing in this building!"
So bring on the chills. Bring on the thrills. Bring on the gore and blood by the bucketful and bring on the huddle masses of victims yearning to scream. I want to pick up that phone and hear a cop say to me..."The call is coming from inside the house!" That's what I want and I don't need to know why.
This year's thriller choices are a varied bunch of flicks. Many you will know and have seen. Some I chose because they just had awesome titles like "Toad Road" and "Fear Lives Here." I hope you scream along with me.
Yep, Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Ryan Reynolds with an axe! Amityville Horror (2005)
