When I was in fourth grade, I was invited to my friend Jill’s house for a sleepover. There were several classmates there, as it was her birthday party that year. As a special treat, her parents had rented1 the VHS of the movie “Gremlins.”
I was pretty sure that movie was going to be too scary for me, and I was pretty sure that my parents would not have liked that I was watching it, but what could I do?2 I was locked into the birthday girl’s plans.
And so began my long horror movie phobia. This movie is described on IMDB as a “black comedy horror film,” so what in the world were those parents thinking, unleashing it on a bunch of fourth graders?!
I was scared by the movie; I should have said something; I didn’t — which means I was actually more scared of my friends’ opinions than I was of the film. Oh ten-year-old Kelly, the things we should talk about.
When were you scared by a movie or by your friends? Tell me your stories.
because that’s what you did
I could have done a lot of things. But I didn’t.
I am also afraid of scary movies, but I want to be able to watch them, since so many people I know enjoy them, including my husband. I guess theres a fear of missing out. So every so often, my curiosity about a scary movie gets the best of me and I convince myself “I can handle it”. Then I’m reminded by the subsequent nightmares this isn’t true. So perhaps there’s also a fear of acknowledging my own limits, that I really can’t handle scary movies. Having to admit that to myself and others is scary, too. So I sympathize with 10 year old you.
I feigned illness at a sleepover where we were watching a movie that I knew I wasn't allowed to watch (strict no PG-13 movies before age 13) and went home. My mom still complains about how the adults who decided the movie didn't talk with the parents prior to make sure everyone was on board with the plan.