When I was just a young kid around six or seven years old I bugged my mother for weeks to take me to see a certain movie at the local theatre – 13 Ghosts. It featured Illusion-O where if you believed in ghosts you could see them with the provided 3D glasses and if you didn’t believe in them you watched it through a different lens.
How my poor mother gave in to me is something I will never understand, but one Saturday afternoon we found ourselves at the theatre with the 3d glasses on and I have never been so traumatized in my life. After the first ghost appeared I refused to wear the glasses for the rest of the film. Then for months, no years, afterwards I would go to bed in total fear of ghosts in my bedroom.
Jaws didn’t traumatize me but I did find that I didn’t go in the water as much at the beach after that. But I can honestly say no one at the beach went in the ocean much for the first year or two after that one. I don’t think we were traumatized, we were just being prudent about water safety. Heh heh.
The other frightening moment for me was The Exorcist. I’d read the book just before the movie came out and that was enough for me. To this day I’ve never sat and watched the film but thanks to Youtube I’ve seen Linda Blair’s head spin around and vomit pea soup more times than I can count. I find it pretty humourous now. But you won’t get me to sit and watch that movie, ever.
On the other hand, because I involuntarily scream at jumpscares Karen and the kids will tell you that they’ve been traumatized by simply watching a movie with me. What can I say? It’s all my mom’s fault for giving into my wanting to see 13 Ghosts.
