Monday, November 13, 2006

Chills n' Thrills!!

What is the (hi)story behind Halloween? The costume parade and visiting the neighbourhood houses collecting sweets seems similar to the fancy dress parades(in those days!) by the neighbourhood children collecting Sundals during the South Indian style Navarathri festival!! என்ன, அங்கே சாமி, இங்கே பூதம்!!

Around 10 years of age, I had a christian friend who used to tell me a lot of scary stories like the end of the world day, ghost stories etc. I so much wanted a 'cross' at that time as she said nothing would dare to come near a cross! Anyway, it was at her place that I saw my first scary movie. The movie was "Alligator"! Toilets, water, window everything scared me for days after I watched the movie. One of my Uncle had a VCP in the early 80s and my cousins used to have great fun teasing me, "hey, வாடா, நம்ம போய் 'பேய் வீடு' எடுத்து வந்து பாக்கலாம்"!

I have always kept my distance from the horror genre. Hypothetically speaking, I think I can even handle the horror stories shown in jungles, cemetries etc.(அங்கெல்லாம் போக மாட்டேங்கற தைரியம்! Although Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video is one nice thriller!). There are those scenes that is shown happening in common locations that really creeps me out! When I fell in love with old B/W movies, I watched Hitchcock's "Psycho". Even today if I get reminded of that shower scene from that movie while I am in the shower, I shudder! OMG!! Another horrifying scene that still haunts me is from the movie, 'Poltergiest'. Thank Goodness, the idiot box has gone 24/7 i.e. there are no grainy screens now. What demented imagination to have kids, dolls in such horror stories!

BTW, does Halloween celebrations help kids get rid of their fear of darkness, ghost and the like?

14 comments:

D LordLabak said...

I think it does (helping one to get over fear) considering the number of scary movies getting released in the US and the no. of people watching them. I am too scared.

I said...

http://derisivehatred.blogspot.com/2006/10/gosh-its-halloween.html

Shameless self-promotion. That's a related post. This Navarathiri thingy has relegious affiliations, as with everything else in "India".

Syam said...

enaku therinjathu ellam halloween annaiku kids vandha candy kudukanum avalo thaan :-)

Jinguchakka said...

Kids enhance horror in the movies. Haven't you seen Omen? The last frame would be chilling.
If you want one more good horror movie to see, take "Hills have eyes". No ghosts or supernatural things there but still a different kind of horror.

Bala (Karthik) said...

Aparna,
Please watch Blair Witch Project.....

Anonymous said...

what were the 'ghost films' in tamil cinema then? :)
Ayiram Jenmangal and Jenma Natchathiram(Omen) come to mind, but the later was more recent-1992. It became a big hit when the cablewallah telecast it.

Me too said...

deepa, I think(& hope my daughter proves our theory right!) so too!

i, me too enjoy neither!

syam, nalladhu! Pasanga ungalai vaazhthuvaanga!

jc, I walked off when the spear cuts thro' Gregory Peck in 'The Omen'!! I've seen the trailer of "Hills have Eyes" and after that will I ever go near it!!

b(k), enna nalla ennam ungalukku!! :)

ttm, Like I mentioned, "Pei veedu" is one. I am not sure of ghost films but that "Pillai Nila", "Yaar" etc. made it to my scary "don't-go-near" film list!

EarthlyTraveler said...

I did post my comment ,but got lost.
pei padam pesina effecta?--SKM

Me too said...

skm, சும்மா பயமுறுத்தறீங்க தானே?

tt_giant said...

ayayayooo.. naa kashtapattu type panna comment gaali..

Me too said...

deepak, aaah!! appey nejamave edho nadakudha?!! :@

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