Of Childhood Traumas. Of the tv persuasion.

[castalie]

My friends are awesome. So I got this phone call earlier from tbf!Sandrine's boyfriend, Christopher, and he was like 'Hey, do you know what's on tv tonight'? I though it was a bit weird of him to call me to know the program but I went along with it because, well, I'm actually used to the both of them calling me to ask me stuff every now and then - "how do you spell InsertWord" "how do you say 'plat' in English'" "remember the name of Seiya's best friend?" "What's the name of the guy who dubbed Clark in L&C: The New Adventures... again?" So, anyway, I answered by the negative. And then Chris started singing the theme of Jaws. Because he was calling me to warn me not to switch to France3 (channel) because, see, since it's officially Summer, TPTB thought it'd be funny to do their yearly airing of The Most Traumatising Film I've Seen in My Whole Life. Ever.

How come that film hasn't been banned, btw? Banned from my telly, at least!

Do you have a film that traumatised you when you were a kid? Cause Jaws is mine. I watched it, against my mother's order, hidden in the little hall that separated my sister's and my bedroom from the living room when I was a little kid and it scared me so much and made such an impression on me that I actually can't swim far from the beach because I'm afraid of what's hidden under me - or not, as the case may be, I know there is no big white shark where I swim. I can't watch documentaries on big whites nor can I watch pics of them. Just, no. I know I'm not the only one who got traumatised by Jaws, right? There's a whole generation of us, I'm sure. I remember a time when I felt anxious even at public swimming pools, where, we'll all agree, shark attacks are pretty scarce? Damn film!

So, anyway, just wanted to share my horror at the knowledge that they're airing Jaws right this minute.

Oh and changing the subject, though still on the matter of tv: I think I'm getting into Fringe. Not because of the cases, but because of Walter and Peter. I was told the father-son relationship would appeal to me and that was right. I also quite like Olivia, there's something about her character that is pretty awesome. And Philip isn't bad himself. Since it's always about the characters for me, I think I'll try to stick to that show. And pretty neat too is that we get to actually choose the English version if we want! Happens rarely enough to be noted *nod*

Comments

[hakeer.livejournal.com]

I was never traumatized by Jaws (I just watched it again a couple of weeks ago, but you probably don't want to hear about it ;P), even though I have an insane fear of water and swimming and stuff like that, so you'd think the movie would be hugely traumatic for me. But I guess sometimes these things don't make sense.

Deadly Friend is my all-time most traumatizing movie. I saw it when I was very young, and our tape cut off in the middle of a really disturbing scene, so I've never seen the film all the way through. But I had nightmares about it for years and years. It probably wouldn't be scary if I saw it now, but I'm not sure I want to find out.

[spikedluv]

Jaws very well may have scarred me for life if I'd actually ever watched it. My childhood trauma came from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Just thinking about it gives me the shudders, and I couldn't even be convinced to see the remake with Johnny Depp. Just looking at him in his make up and costume gave me the creeps, as well. *g*

Fringe!!! I lovelovelove Walter and Peter. I loved their dsyfunctional relationship and how it changed over the course of the season. And they made me laugh, too. *g* (And Astrid and Charlie were cool, though I could have done without Olivia, and tended to FF through as many of her scenes as I could. Once I realized that she made the same weird facial expression whether she was happy or sad or angry, it sort of grated on my nerves. *g*)

[whitevanilla.livejournal.com]

I've always liked Jaws, but it did scare me as a kid. I think about what's swimming with me as well and have the irrational fear of a big fish coming to bit my toes. Perhaps this is why I have a completely irrational fear of being swallowed alive.

It's funny you brought this movie up because I was talking with some friends about it last night, how Quinn (the old man with the boat at the end?) looks like my grandfather. Yikes.

The movie that seriously creeps me out the most from watching it as a child is It. I have to sleep with every door in my room shut and pull blankets close to my face. I don't like clowns very much either! Yeah, I watched it when I was about 5, so WAY too early! I refuse to ever watch it again.

[whitevanilla.livejournal.com]

ETA: Closet doors MUST be shut if possible when I go to bed because I don't know what's lurking in the dark! lol

[lilisullivan.livejournal.com]

Eh tu sais ce qu'il y avait à la télé ce soir? 2 fast 2 furious!! :p
Les dents de la mer, j'ai jamais pu regarder, j'ai vu que ça passait, mais comme j'ai l'intention de me baigner cet été, j'ai décidé d'abandonner pour cette fois.

Fringe, franchement, je serais prête à tout pour Joshua Jackson, mais des bébés à deux têtes ça me branche moyen...
Comment tu fais pour choisir la VO? C'est bien sur TF1 non?

[decor-noctis.livejournal.com]

Jaws is terrifying. I am so afraid of sharks, it's not even funny. Open water scares the crap out of me. I feel your pain!

[turlough]

I was completely traumatised by Forbidden Planet, it had really creepy electronic music and an invisible monster. I was terrified! These days I can watch it and even kind of like it in a way, it's so incredibly cheesy, but I still dislike the music. And invisible monsters will always be a scary concept!

[starwatcher]

.
I never watched Jaws; I was old enough to know better. <g>

The one that got me was Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" -- and I didn't even watch! But I had seen the previews on TV, and Mom and Dad watched it. I sat in my room with the door shut, reading a book. But, every once in a while, I'd hear the screams of the birds and/or the people, and I could imagine... I had bad dreams for several days. Not trauma like you know it, but memorable.

The things is, even people who have never seen it have a skewed idea of swimming in the ocean. My students in landlocked New Mexico are shocked that I have done so, and ask about the dangers of sharks. I tell them, in the four years I lived in Bermuda, the beaches were never closed for shark scares. They were closed a couple of times a year for jellyfish scares. But there's no movie, "JELLYFISH!"

They still don't get it. I tell them, "You know, we have rattlesnakes in New Mexico. How many have you seen?" The answer is usually (99% of the time) 'None'. I point out it's the same with sharks; they're in the ocean, but people hardly ever see them. They're still not convinced.
.

[greedy_dancer]

I've never seen Jaws. I guess not having a tv as a kid did shield me from a lot of that kind of trauma. Still, it doesn't mean that I'm completely ok with swimming in places where I can't see the bottom - or with anything touching my legs while I'm in the ocean.

My cousin used to make me watch horror movies though, like Damien: La malédiction. I also remember having recurring nightmares after watching some kind of werewolf movie at my grandparents' one night. And Buffy used to really freak me out back in the day ...

[traveling-storm.livejournal.com]

*raises hand* Jaws is the reason I cannot swim alone in a large pool, and why I cannot swim at night in the pool at ALL even though rationally I *know* it's impossible for something to be in there.

....still love the Jaws movies though. ;D I collect 'Animal Attacks' movies. ^^ I recommend 'Frankenfish'. :D

[babycakesin.livejournal.com]

Oh God, the phone call about the characters in Saint Seyia - I remember that my sister and I did that to you too *giggles*

As for the trauma movie... for me, it was seeing the preview for Chucky during an afternoon show by Jacques Martin. It wasn't until I was 23-ish that I got over my fear of dolls on my bed (teddy bears good, dolls bad) and that I stopped having nightmares about it. Never seen the movie. Don't want to.

It was so cute of him to call you for this!

[aswanargent.livejournal.com]

I'd been out of college and working for a couple of years when Jaws was released, so except for the very scary opening sequence, I was fine with all the shark appearances (and it was such a bad mechanical shark, anyway....). Jaws is worth watching for the performances of Scheider, Dreyfuss, and Shaw. The best scene in the film (okay, apart from that opening), takes place when the three men are out on Quint's boat searching for the shark. They're sitting in the cabin, comparing scars (at least Quint (Shaw) and Hooper (Dreyfuss) are), and Quint is asked about one of his. He gives an absolutely riveting soliloquy, telling the story of that scar, and you just can't take your eyes off him. Hooper and Chief Brody are as spellbound as the audience. I remember a comment made by Dreyfuss or Scheider to the effect that when Shaw started telling the story, they absolutely couldn't tear their eyes away. Steven Spielberg said that Shaw basically threw out the script lines and ad-libbed the whole scene. Spielberg also said it was his favourite scene in the film.

Now, The Birds is quite another thing. I was about 13 when I saw that, and it was very disturbing!

[aswanargent.livejournal.com]

Here's a warning for you. If Jaws has you traumatized, then you should also stay away from the 2004 film Open Water.

[vastian-steel.livejournal.com]

I would probably agreed with you on Jaws. It's part of the reason why I don't go into the water when I'm off to the beach. Although it's not the 100% cause of my fear. There was this chinese horror movie I watch when I was a kid, about ghosts of people who had drowned at sea. Add that to Jaws and there you have it - why I don't go into the water.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

For me it was the first Nightmare on Elm Street. I watched it with the best friend when we were kidlets. We were alone in the house and by the end we were both so freaked out someone had to come with me when I walked her home.

I still hate horror movies now.

[nicelyobsessed.livejournal.com]

Quand j'étais petite ma mère me l'a interdit aussi, je n'ai pas pu le voir comme toi en étant cachée, par contre j'entendais tout et crois moi c'était super flippant, les cris et le thème de jaws c'est terrible lol

[babydracky.livejournal.com]

\^O^/
(oké ça n'a rien à voir mais ça va venir! ;) )

[castalie.livejournal.com]

*\o/*

(Au fait, je n'ai pas friendé Bibi, mais c'est parce qu'elle n'utilise pas son LJ ? Et non pas parce que je n'avais pas envie. Tu pourras lui passer le messages, stp ?)

[babydracky.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥
(Oui, bien sûr^^ sans problème^^)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Cool, merci :-)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I just watched it again a couple of weeks ago, but you probably don't want to hear about it ;

You got that right! *hides*

The posters of that film quite look disturbing, yeah.

It probably wouldn't be scary if I saw it now, but I'm not sure I want to find out.

Lol Sometimes it's better to stay ignorant *nod*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

You've actually never watched Jaws? Oh, how I envy you!

The original Wilky Wonka was your equivalent of Jaws, eh? I feel your pain *nods*

Fringe!!! I lovelovelove Walter and Peter.

I can't wait to see more of the show now! They do have such a beautiful dysfunctional relationship! That show is next on my DVD To Buy list. In the meantime, I'm tuning in every week :-)

[castalie.livejournal.com]

You actually liked Jaws? *is shocked*

Yes, It is disturbing. I'm sorta freaked out by clowns too (big whites, zombies and clowns are the three things that scare me a lot on tv) but I can watch them and all. Not so much with sharks *shivers*

And, yes, five would be an awfully young age to watch It! Poor wee!Brit!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Oui, j'ai vu ça. Je m'attendais à bien aimer, mais finalement ça m'a pas trop plu - j'ai trouvé que c'était plus une pâle imitation du premier, en fait. Il faut surtout que je mette la main sur le quatrième opus. Ca me plairait plus je pense. Enfin j'espère :-)

Alors si je ne me trompe pas, bah tu peux choisir la vo avec ta télécommande. Je choisis juste 'option' et 'langage audio' ou un truc du genre. Par contre, ça ne fonctionne que si tu la TNT. La petite télé dans ma chambre ne l'a pas et je n'ai pas le choix de la langue du tout...

[castalie.livejournal.com]

A kindred spirit! Thank you, mate! *clings to you*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Music and sound effects can be terrifying too, definitely. I know my mother was traumatised by a film she didn't get to see when she was a kid but she could hear the music and it scared the hell out of her...

And invisible monsters will always be a scary concept!

Definitely!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Oh, Birds! I remember watching that film at my grand-parents and having some difficulties falling asleep that night. My grand-mother never closed the shutters in her bedroom and there was this apple tree right in front of it and I remember being afraid of the shadows on the wall.

Which, er, yes, sorry, we were talking about you lol

It's sometimes even scarier to have the sounds without the visuals because your imagination is allowed to run wild and we know that our imagination usually comes up with pretty scary ideas. Not that Birds wasn't disturbin on its own, mind you.

I suppose the ocean is a bit like space, scary for many people because it's so wide and you can't ever see the end of it; especially below.

They're still not convinced.

I'm definitely a member of their club lol

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I think not having a tv as a kid is a tragedy but then of course I'd say that. Then again, at least you were spared the trauma that was Jaws, so...

Many films I watched as a kid scared the hell out of me - I remember two instances in particular, the first one being an adaptation of Bluebeard where dead!Bluebeard and one of his dead wives were talking to each other in their tombs, and the other one was an episode The Twilight Zone, the one where Death comes to see an old woman. Technically it's a gorgeous episode, but at the time I thought it was just scary as hell. And I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Thing is, Jaws is the only one that created that bit of a phobia in me. Which is definitely enough, as it is.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Another kindre spirit! *high fives*

and why I cannot swim at night in the pool at ALL even though rationally I *know* it's impossible for something to be in there.

Omg I KNOW! It's always so great when other people get it :-)

....still love the Jaws movies though.

Well, that I don't get, mind you lol

I collect 'Animal Attacks' movies. ^^ I recommend 'Frankenfish'. :D

Interesting collection... One I'd be too much chicken to want to see, though :-p

[castalie.livejournal.com]

You and Sandrine sorta have the same random questions, actually, it always makes me laugh :-)

Lol Yeah, I know about you and Chucky. Which is even more impressive as you actually never watched the film! That's a new record, I think :-p

It was so cute of him to call you for this!

It totally was, wasn't it?

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that film is part of my NEVER WATCH OMG list lol I have several like that; those films I know would give me nightmares for weeks.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Jaws is already scary enough on its own, I can only imagine how the trauma would be doubled if it was associated with yet another scary film *shivers*

[castalie.livejournal.com]

We were alone in the house and by the end we were bo

Aww that's so sweet lol I mean, well, you know what I mean.

I still hate horror movies now.

I'm definitely not a fan either. Even the lame ones scare the hell out of me.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Rien que le son est bien flippant, je suis d'accord. Comme quoi, on devrait toujours obéir à sa mère !!

[babycakesin.livejournal.com]

You're our own personal Wikipedia, answering random questions day and night *giggles*

[(Anonymous)]

You're absolutely right. I just remembered that I used to hate the nursery rhyme "Ring a Ring o' Roses" when I was a little kid. There was this British Horror/Thriller Drama that I accidentally caught on TV, it should be about a house, an old woman, a young woman and the ghost of a little girl who sang the nursery rhyme and that someone eventually getting killed.

[vastian-steel.livejournal.com]

Oops. Sorry, the above comment was from me.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Funny thing with nursery rhymes is that they can either sound lovely or incredibly creepy...