When I was about five years old, I snuck downstairs in the middle of the night to watch television. This was 1978. Back then, networks used to go off the air in the middle of the night. I was only able to find one channel still broadcasting. It was a movie. I figured what the hell, I'm up. Let's give her a go.
More than three decades later, I can still recall vividly the absolute terror I felt watching that movie about some crazy scientist who turns people into snakes. I couldn't move from the couch, too terrified to even sneak back upstairs to my bed. I had nightmares for years.
Looking back, I wasn't even sure if there was such a movie. Perhaps the whole thing had been a bad dream? I mean, who would have actually put out a movie about people turning into snakes?
The 1970s drug culture would be the obvious answer. Yet thanks in large part to the plethera of channels that now broadcast 24-7, I actually spotted the object of my childhood trauma some time ago. As I sat through the movie, I couldn't help but laugh at the special effects and note: "Hey! It's 'Face' from the A-Team!" (Dirk Benedict). Who knew?
The name of the movie is SSSSSS. Really. That's what they came up with.
Like I said. The 1970s drug culture. Thanks for the memories, fellas. And don't even get me started on the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I had to leave the room screaming when Violet turned into a blueberry and nearly exploded.
Why the hell wasn't I watching Sesame Street?
I know a few people who are naturaLLy snakes.
ReplyDeleteWhen my daughter and her friends stumbled across any of the movies from the 70s that I told them were terrifying, they just laughed and called them "cheesey". Cheesy or not, I still won't watch them.
ReplyDeleteGlad you could "conquer your fears" and see the movie again and laugh through it. What a movie! I had not heard of it (glad I hadn't too because snakes are not my favorite creatures and people turning into them would send shivers my way too). I do remember the days when the channels would go off the air at night and you would just get snow on the majority of the channels(which weren't more than five in our area).
ReplyDeletecute entry :)
hope your Monday is a nice one!
betty
Oh my gosh, Willy Wonka still freaks me out! I had a knot in my stomach the whole time I was watching the Johnny Depp one. Traumatic, indeed! Add to that all the commercials for KISS albums and my 70s memories are the stuff of nightmares.
ReplyDeleteI STILL cannot watch the movie Magic. And I think I'm the only person who never saw the clown attack poor Carolann (or was it Robby) in Poltergeist. It all stems from an old fantasy island episode with a clown - puppet.
ReplyDeleteRobyn
2 words..."The Exorcist"
ReplyDeleteMBF
It wouldn't be a proper childhood if you didn't get traumatized by a few movies way beyond your maturity level. I still can't watch the part in The Brave Little Toaster where the air conditioner gets angry and blows up. He's a meanyhead.
ReplyDeleteMy little sister won't let me watch horror movies because they give me nightmares. True story.
ReplyDeleteI remember SSSSSSSS! hahaha
ReplyDeleteI loved Willy Wonka, though. I loved his sarcasm especially. I was terrified of Slugworth.
There was a movie with Karen Black called Trilogy of Terror that I was scarred for life from.
Yikes! Never heard of it, but can totally see what it was scary.
ReplyDeleteThere is a movie and the name is escaping me now, I watched it when I was preteen and there was a character with only a few fingers who was a villain and she scared the crap out of me.
My sister went to a Wham concert and brought me back a poster of George Michael and Andrew Ridgely that was black and white. It was so totally awesome, but at night when the lights were off in my room and I could barely see it, the two 80's pop singers appeared to morph into the scary lady from the movie! It freaked me out so much I eventually had to take it down off of my wall!
I remember a programme called 'Armchair Thriller.' There was a scene where my mum told me not to look. But I had a sneak peak and was met with a nun with no face!
ReplyDeleteThat scene traumatized me for years, until I decided to look the clip up on youtube recently and just saw a woman with her face covered by a cloth.
Couldn't believe that I thought it so scary at the time...even though I was 21...er, I mean 8 years old.
I saw a movie as a kid about a clown doll that killed people. (My aunt had HBO and I was babysitting.) Scarred me for life. The effects may seem laughable now, but as a kid those 70's movies were scary!
ReplyDeleteWow, that picture certainly got my attention...creepy! I have a few movie scars from childhood too. Jaws comes to mind. Did you ever sneak down to watch TV late at night again?
ReplyDeleteOh I too remember how the stations use to turn to static at night. I never saw that movie, but it sounds very creepy indeed. Haha...I remember getting scared when the incredible hulk was on sometimes. Lol
ReplyDeleteLoved this! Your post brought back a similar memory for me, Marianne.
ReplyDeleteI’ll never forget the time we were watching The Exorcist on TV when our daughter (who must have been about 7 or so at the time and in her room playing) came into the room to ask us something. My husband, jokester that he is, said, “Hey, Jen, turn around and look!”
She turned toward the TV just in time to see Linda Blair’s head do a 360. She went sheet white, screamed and ran from the room. She’s grown now and never lets us forget how we traumatized her at a tender young age—and my husband still teases her about it. LOL
I still get scared when I watch the debates
ReplyDeleteMBF
OMG YES! That is like one of my favorite movies! My mom was scared of it in the 70s, and when I was about 15 she rented it and we watched it. I loved it, but probably because I like snakes and the movie was extremely cheesy.
ReplyDeleteI too had an Exorcist moment (2 in fact)that I will never forget, same as Super Earthling.
ReplyDelete1.) Being at our towns Drive in theaters. We were there to watch whatever family movie we were watching, and my older brothers begged to switch lots and watch the Exorcist. So............we did!!! I was 5, 6 or 7. Can't remember. WOW, thanks mom and dad
2.) Mom and Dad think that my brothers are suitable babysitters for me when they go out. They hold me down in the recliner, one grabbing my arms, and the other using his hands to pry my eyes open and force me to watch the scary scenes.
Yes! Trauma.