Category: Traumafessions

As a kid, (and as an adult), I lived for horror films, and would always beg my parents to let me watch the late night horror show on Friday nights. In Uruguay, where I grew up, these were usually advertised with the equivalent of a G rating, so I usually was able to watch even the most gruesome selections.

Out of all of these movies, there was one that truly frightened me, and haunted me for the next fifteen years, when I was finally able to identify the movie, watch it, and be haunted all over. The movie was INFERNO by DARIO ARGENTO. (more…)

Whenever I bring up this film (RETURN TO OZ) scaring the crap out of me, anyone who's seen it chimes in, "That lady with the heads got you, huh?"  No, strangely enough I had no problem with Princess Mombi's closet of live heads.  Seeing Oz decimated didn't bug me either.  Nor FAIRUZA BALK as Dorothy getting electroshock therapy, nor the fucked up clay animation at the end.  What kept creeping back was that moose-looking Gump head couch thing. (more…)

Definitely CHILDREN OF THE CORN! I remember watching that movie probably around the age of 10 or 11. My family played on my fears and thought it was funny to terrorize me. I would go upstairs to use the restroom; they would yell "Malachi!!" Which would cause me to jump down to our stairwell landing (not sure I touched a single step) resulting in a family member of my choosing to escort me to the bathroom and stand outside while I relieved myself in peace. I am now 30 and still have fears of what is lurking in the middle of all those corn fields.

Did I mention I live in Iowa?

We were moved by this Traumafession. Even though it saddened us, we think it illustrates just how cathartic and even inspiring a well done horror film can be.

The first time I saw HALLOWEEN it was on television and I was babysitting two kids at the time! Of course I immediately identified and was moved by Laurie's sense of responsibility towards the kids in her care. I've probably watched it once a year ever since. It wasn't until later in life that I realized that I related to her for another reason altogether. I grew up in a very abusive household. Running around the halls of a suburban house screaming for my life was like second nature to me. The scene that I love the most is when Laurie is in class and her teacher is talking about how fate is an unmovable object. Laurie has no idea what fate has in store for her that Halloween night; that she is going to have to transform herself to survive. She was and is a hero of mine because she grabbed that knitting needle, because she grabbed that clothes hanger, because she became someone she never knew she was.

 

 

POLTERGEIST, 1982, had to be the scariest movie ever. I remember watching the movie with my 4 brothers. I was 7-years-old at the time. For me, there are a countless number of things in that movie which just scare the living crap out of me even to this day. One scene in particular that I will never forget is when little Robbie Freeling (played by OLIVER ROBBINS) was attacked by his toy clown. I sat watching the scene with my hands over my eyes. When I was brave enough to spread my fingers for a quick moment or two, I caught glimpses of the epic battle of boy vs. his clown. Glimpses were all I needed to firmly cement my fear of clowns. To add to the trauma, my brothers told me that my Strawberry Shortcake dolls were going to attack me … just like the clown attacked little Robbie. I went to bed that night with my Strawberry Shortcake dolls stuffed away in the closet and my Father lying on the floor in between myself and the closest. I wouldn't go to bed without him there. "But what if my Strawberry Shortcake dolls attack me?" I cried. As I drifted off to sleep that night secure in the knowledge that my Father was there to protect me should my Strawberry Shortcake dolls decide to attack, he laid on the floor chain smoking Marlboros, cursing my brothers, and counting the minutes until dawn.

 

 

 

 

The Child Catcher from CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG… he was my personal childhood nightmare.

 

 

There are few moments in any film that still haunt me from childhood. I was into horror films whole-heartedly at a young age, my cherry-popper being the original NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET on VHS at around 1st or 2nd grade. After that I went through the HALLOWEEN's, FRIDAY the 13th's, and subsequent ELM STREETS's like a fire burning through southern California in October. I feel compelled to write about one such film that still creeps my once-Catholic soul. Since the only thing as a youth that really scared me was being in church, I still get that bottomless pit stomach feeling when I hear the song, "God is in His Holy Temple…" from POLTERGEIST II. It's the Reverend Henry Kane who can send me back to being 8 years old. Carol-Anne had it rough, the scene in the strip mall when Kane comes up and sings that creepy song to her, holding her hands, smiling at her with those huge teeth, I'm surprised HEATHER O'ROURKE didn't need therapy after that. What really gets me to this day is when Kane comes strolling up to the house in the rain, singing his song, and asks to be let inside. As he peers deeply into CRAIG T. NELSON's eyes, he starts predicting his fears and inadequacies as a husband and father. Then, more forcefully through the screen door, he demands, "Let me in!". If I recall that part in a dream tonight, there is a good chance I might wet the bed. Those old man teeth, those piercing eyes, the hat, that whole religious zealot personality that says "Hey, come join us for the mass suicide!" It proves that religious folks with a scary hats can be just as frightening as a masked guy with a knife. When He screams, "You're gonna die in hell! All of you! You are gonna die!" it's perfectly chilling and holds up just as well today as it did in 1986. Let's not forget the song, "Earthly thoughts, be silent now…".

 

 

I saw a lot of terrifying movies growing up in long island mostly at my friend John's house who's mother didn't care about what we watched and it was usually what people would consider not appropriate for children… [I] had to pretend I didn't see a lot of these movies later on for my mom. When I was 8, we watched part of Lucio Fulci's ZOMBIE, which all I remember was the shark, the ripping and devouring of human flesh like it reminded me of a big sloppy meatloaf cake. We both ran out of the house grossed out but it was kinda fun to run away from creepy things that can't possibly get you.

Remember kids, write in so we can post your TRAUMAFESSION and then you can be all cool like Eric!

Hey look! It's our very first TRAUMAFESSION and it comes from somebody I KNOW saw too many horror flicks as a tot, my very own niece Tiffani!

Chucky and Freddy were by far my worst experiences with horror movies as a child. As a little kid, watching a movie about someone who kills you in your dreams right before you go to bed is probably not a great idea. It makes you want to do one thing… never fall asleep, which is probably a parent's worst nightmare. Then you have Chucky. How would you feel if you believed your favorite doll was killing your family and babysitters when you weren't looking and inevitably wanted to use you as a sacrifice? Not a heartwarming thought. As a kid, most movies couldn't top those two. They made little kids imaginations run wild in a terrible kind of way.

Oh yeah! And you can't forget PET SEMETARY with the little dead baby, Gage. Especially when he says, 'I played with Mommy. We had a awfully good time! Now, I want to play with YOU!' And when he slit the guy's Achilles… that was awful.

Remember kids, write in so we can post your TRAUMAFESSION and then you can be all cool like Tiffani!

We want to know what movies scar(r)ed you for life.

Please email us at kindertrauma [at] gmail dot com & we will post your submissions.