Ghosts and Goblins and Ghouls, Oh My!

by Jo Robertson

Psychologists theorize about why people enjoy being scared half to death in the name of fun. Rides at amusement parks, scary movies, and recklessly fast driving all apparently give risk-takers some sort of vicarious thrill.

But what’s so fun about being frightened?

Those same doctors suggest that scary movies and books, fast thrills, and watching others engage in risk-taking behavior provide a release for our natural inclination for daring excitement in a safe environment. In a movie we can watch the heroine get the mysterious phone call, hear a strange noise, and YEP go into the basement to check it out. "Don’t go downstairs!" we yell from our safe seats in the movie theatre.

By the way, why does she always go down there anyway? If we authors wrote such action for our protagonists, we'd say they’re TSTL (too stupid to live) and kill them off in a hurry.

But I LOVE those movies!!! I watched SAW One, Two and One Hundred even as I knew how stupid, violent, and silly the whole thing was. I love being scared, sitting in my house, safe and warm, reading a book or watching a movie, knowing I am secure while the heroine, idiot woman that she is, gets chased by the monster.

Those same doctors insist we like watching scary movies and reading scary books because they remind us that essentially we’re protected. They provide us the thrills we crave from a safe distance.

When my husband and I were engaged, and poor as church mice, we spent every Friday night watching the Friday Night Spook Movies on TV and eating homemade popcorn. I loved the old Bella Lugosi and Vincent Price movies, the scariness of the black and white screen, and the vicarious thrill.

When I was a young mother, I read a book whose name I've forgotten, about a possessed house, a sort of poltergeist (before those movies), an evil historical entity that threatened the whole family, a la Amityville. My husband was gone on an overnight conference and I was so frightened that I woke up my new-born baby and one-year old son, just to have the company. And I kept the lights on ALL night.

My favorite scary movie? It's "Night of the Living Dead," the 1968 movie that gives me the creeps to this day. And a close second, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," both versions!

So, what about you? What's your favorite scary movie or book? Why? Do YOU like the thrill of being scared out of your wits? Why?

Kitsch Icons -- Lest We Forget

posted by Christine Wells
Anyone remember The Love Boat? Nerdy little girl that I was, I used to adore that show. Julie, Captain Stubing, Gopher, the rather too cute captain’s daughter whose name I forget. Their beaming shiny faces always assured true love was just around the corner for a surprising number of lucky couples.

Now, perhaps my thoughts have turned to TLB because our Aunty spends a lot of her time cruising idyllic waters looking for the next buff cabana boy—ahem, I mean— the next perfect cocktail. But I wonder—if you had your choice of the modern day love boat, who would you want to see falling in love? Actors, book characters, you name it! Give me three couples who are going to trip the light fantastic on the deck of our very own Love Boat.

Evidently, I don't speak Pirate.....

I finally went tonight and saw "Pirates of the Caribbean 3".

At the risk of causing a collective GASP from our resident Bandita POC3 experts....I spent the first half of the movie going "huh" a lot.

I'm sorry, I guess I just don't have an ear for "pirate" (Though I do for Irish accents). And the voodoo queen? Forget it. And because of that, I just couldn't keep straight what they were saying and doing. (I did however understand the monkey :-0 ) The motivations were not entirely clear, the characters seemed to interact without purpose. I did find I liked Captain Barbarossa a lot more. Maybe I was just intoxicated by the butter on my popcorn.

It wasn't until a key battle scene that it started to fall into place. And yes, I have to admit Mr. Bloom DID look sexier than he ever has in my book. And glad you gals told me to wait for the extra scene. It made me go "Ohhhhhh..."

Now to avoid blood shed....Parley?

:-)

Joan