Horror Movies

Until this month, the only horror movie I'd ever seen (well, more precisely, hid in the sleeping bag and tried not to hear the possessed animals tearing up humans or whatever they were doing) was Pet Cemetery one and two. That was during a sleepover when I was fourteen, and it was a very long three hours, I can tell you. But the lovie has decided I need an education (or maybe he just likes hearing me scream).

Obliging girlfriend that I am, I have sat through several hours of nastiness this month, and didn't even cover my eyes (much). To start at the deep end, we watched The Descent, which had already given me nightmares when Michael told me about it the first time. A group of young English women go down a cave in America to get devoured by slimy pale humanoid creatures, a bit like Gollum but nastier. It had an interesting background story, and was truly terrifying. Then it was time for Saw one and two - also scary, though not as much gore as you might expect, psychological thrillers. I coped by pointing out medievalist references. They're very Dantesque, especially the second one. Oh, and here's my favourite - 28 Days Later. I really did like this one - the characters, the dialogue, the storyline, the scenes of an abandoned London. Pretty good sound-track, too.

And here's the ones I didn't make it through: Dog Soldiers (came in a box with The Descent and 28 Days Later, another British movie). It was just a bit blokey for me, and there were a few too many slippery intestines. The Evil Dead. Complete rubbish. The hair styles and close-ups of goggling eyes made me think it was a parody, but it's not. Five American students get possessed by the evil dead, one by one, which basically means they get pale clown-faces and shake and growl a lot, and gurgle blood. And one of them gets raped by tree roots. Ugh.

So, some of them are worth it, some of them aren't. I also recently watched Pulp Fiction for the first time (yes I know I'm out of touch) and absolutely loved it. I think I would like it even more on a second viewing, when I know when to close my eyes.

So have I been converted? Not likely. Give me The Little Norse Prince any day (Japanese anime fairytale, complete with friendly squirrels and bear cubs, awwww).