A Question for the Readers
No, we’re not quite at V yet. It’s an important letter, and a little build-up is necessary.
In our previous letter (U is for Undead) we suggested that the state of being dead-yet-alive, while not so much fun for the zombies, ghosts, mummies, and laboratory-created monsters who actually suffer it, is weirdly and wildly attractive to us horror movie viewers; so much so that we’re actually jealous of those monsters, even if we don’t know exactly why we are.
Or do we?
I’d like you to take a moment and think of the monster that made the single greatest impression on you ever. The odds aren’t 100% that it’s a dead-alive monster (King Kong, Godzilla, the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Dr. Hannibal Lecter, for example, all fall outside this category.). But… the chances that your favorite monster IS of the dead-alive variety are very, very high.
Okay, so you’ve thought of your monster. If he or she or it IS of the dead-alive variety (that is, a being that was once dead and is now alive again), I’d like you to take another moment and think about – or write in and tell me about -- what it is EXACTLY that is so appealing to you about this monster.
This being a horror movie blog, the word “appealing” is, of course, used in a special sense. For example, the all-time most appealing monster to me, ever, would have to be Bill Hinzman -- aka the Number One Zombie -- from the original Night of the Living Dead. This figure didn’t “appeal” to me in the least when I first saw him at age nine. On the contrary, he – along with Kyra down in the basement -- ruined my life for a while. But as the years went by my initial terror dissipated, finally turning into that peculiar form of affection that every horror movie fan knows all about. Whenever I watch bill lurch across that graveyard toward me now, my heart is instantly warmed. I can’t really imagine life without him.
I know other horror fans feel the same way about their particular favorite monster. So, back to my question: What is the single most appealing/fascinating/compelling/mysterious quality about your favorite dead-alive monster? WHY do you like him/her/it so much?
With that out of the way, we’ll get to V.
This is a tough one. First one has to decide which is his most favorite of the dead-alive monsters. Perhaps mine is Pinhead from Hellraiser.
What is the single most compelling thing about Pinhead? Sex and pain. I don't know for some reason that combination within Pinhead always attracted me.
I like Pinhead so much because there is no grey area with him. It's pretty cut and dry black and white, pleasure and pain. I also love the fact that he is kind of the underworld Messiah. Something that has always attrachted me. Not to say I'm a satanist or anything but the concept of the christ figure in reverse has always intrigued me. You get my drift?
Mine is Frankenstein's monster, so he fits. I guess I like him because he is so tragic and sad. He never actually scared me, not even as a little kid. Whatever version it is--Karloff, Christopher Lee, etc.--I always feel more sorry for the monster than for the people he is harming or wreaking havoc upon. Maybe it is because he didn't choose to be brought back from the dead, or that he cannot control the fact that his "father" has rejected him and that everyone is afraid of him because he's a big, scary monster. As a teenager I think I identified with him as sort of an "outcast" longing to fit in, trying to find my place in the world. I return to these films now, again and again, as my own sort of "comfort" movies.
I won't utter a word about any preferences about "v" characters from first five years of life. Agree much with Court about Frankenstein. Anyone remember a movie called SSSSSSSSSSSS? (Think I saw it around age 9 or 10 with my 20 yr. old brother.) It's about a guy injected with snake venom who morphed painfully into a snake. (Hmmm...he had fangs.) Think I was drawn to this character (David Blake) because of his transformation. Maybe that's the common draw to many characters...they go through such painful changes. Always hoping to see a butterfly evolve from the tormented cocoon or skin to be shed. There's always the mystery of wondering about their private sadness or depth. The complexity is an attraction.
hmmm....id have to say my favorite monster would have to be dr. frankenstein's monster. i cant really explain why, hes just appealed to me more than any others. i also like the fact that he is a living dead character but was build out of "dead people" instead of being raised from the dead. hes also a monster i tend to feel for. most monsters i like to be big, creepy, and ugly, and to terrorize people and places that theyre at. frankenstein's monster you actually feel for cause he did ask to be brought into the world, he was just there, and cant survive (sort of like the wolfman). i cant really explain why frankenstein's monster is my favorite monster (among about 100 other monsters).
dracula. he's dead-alive as most others are, but he's the most calm and collected. it's this comfortable exterior that makes the viewer so much more curious as to what his inner soul feels like, how his "dead-alive" status defines him when it's just him and his thoughts. you wonder if he's hiding anything, or really just that vacant inside.
p.s. i love this blog.
Frankenstein's monster, without a doubt. Not much that I can add that Joe and Court haven't already said (you guys did a great job). One thing that is interesting, in the original Frankenstein, directed by the legendary James Whale, Universal originally wanted Bela Lugosi to play the part of the monster, but he turned it down because there were no speaking lines... and I'm sure most of you know this. But my point is, can you imagine what we might think of that film and character today, had Lugosi played the part rather than Boris Karloff? Lugosi has his place amongst horror icons, but man, Karloff owned the Frankenstein's monster character. Classic!
PT, I know this is off subject, but do you have any plans to do another version of your great "Ultimate Fan Quiz"?
Frankenstein's monster, without a doubt. Not much that I can add that Joe and Court haven't already said (you guys did a great job). One thing that is interesting, in the original Frankenstein, directed by the legendary James Whale, Universal originally wanted Bela Lugosi to play the part of the monster, but he turned it down because there were no speaking lines... and I'm sure most of you know this. But my point is, can you imagine what we might think of that film and character today, had Lugosi played the part rather than Boris Karloff? Lugosi has his place amongst horror icons, but man, Karloff owned the Frankenstein's monster character. Classic!
PT, I know this is off subject, but do you have any plans to do another version of your great "Ultimate Fan Quiz"?
Sorry about the double post.
The vampire. Or at least the "modern" version. The appeal is immortality, eternal youth, strength, etc. And, at least the modern version, seems capable of moral choice, living off blood pilfered from the red cross, rather than victims. I'm trying to think of downsides, unless -- can vampires eat regular food? I would miss the chocolate croissant I'm eating as I type this...
At the risk of sounding creepy, I'm going with Gage, the kid from Pet Semetary that was brought back to life. I'm telling you, that cute little guy hiding under the bed slicing achilles tendons with that little knife completely freaked me out when that movie came out. I don't know that he qualifies as a monster persay, but he was one of the undead.
He was something that every f'n parent on the face of this earth would be moved emotionally by... they'd want their adorable young kid brought back to life if it was at all possible, and for him to come back like that... unimaginable grief turned instantly to unthinkable horror.
Freaky I say.
Obviously it's too broad to just say Zombies, but my favorite would have to come from their ranks. Too often they're overlooked in the great monster discussion and discounted as a sea of brainless corpses. The best thing about a group of zombies is that they play Red light-Green Light behind your back. They shuffle along when the camera is on them, but when you look away they instantly appear right behind you.
If I had to pick only one greatest zombie of all time, it would be Bub from Day of the Dead. He wasn't scary, but we get to know him so well. And how many of the undead do you end up cheering for in the end.
At the risk of sounding like a babbling idiot --It's amazing how late night AMCMFB reading(Frankenstein,Barnabas,
Dracula,etc.), questioning the undead attraction?, dreams and early morning realizations come together. Pt's writing has a way of digging deep.(Caretaker of the soul? ;) )We're so vulnerable.
First thing as the alarm sounded I thought of Eddie from the Munsters and the parallel to my first crush prekindergarten age in Mrs. Crawlsley's Sunday School class (Yikes! That was her real name and she was as I imagined...a pleasant big spider helping with many arms as she sat on her tuffet watching us play!)The crush, like lil' vampire Eddie, also had a very prominent dark widow's peak.
Lying in bed I looked to my right at my own beloved (coincidentally called Eddie by his parents and siblings). When we took our vows 20 years ago this week (9-26)had the priest back then refer to me as Ed's earthly and eternal wife. He's tall, dark and handsome...with a great smile. Guess attraction imprinting starts early. (With a little work he could look like Dracula!)
I justified looking so terrifying this morning due to this discovery, but "Count"ed my blessings.
Barnabas of Dark Shadows/Dracula scared me the most. Think The Munsters and Adams Family could have desensitized or made some of my generation more comfortable with horror.Forever enamored with Herman Munster(Fred Gwyne)and at 4 I thought Lily was gorgeous. Herman made all Frankenstein movies approachable.
Thanks for all these great responses so far!
Yes, another Ultimate Fan Quiz is in the pot, and should be finished by next week. Hint: it's not on Psycho... yet.
For me, it's always been the Bride of Frankenstein. Aside from being horribly iconic (pun intended), there was just something about her being the only major female monster that drew me in - myself being female as well.
Even at a young age, I was struck by how terribly unfair Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster were to her and how beautiful and glamorous she was, albeit in a necrotic way. The beginnings of my own personal brand of feminism? Who can say, but i think it was an important aspect of it.
And that hiss - totally kick ass!
And besides, the critics always say it's the best horror sequel ever made, and I agree.
joe-thanks for the name of the movie. i was trying to remember the name of this film i saw that you described--it was on late at night and i couldn't tear myself away from it. i still remember the transformation and was also fascinated by it-and can picture blake to this day.