Horror Life

For me, good horror is soul satisfying. My hedonist, restless, crazy self looks for a good scary plot every weekend. My husband and myself (proven soulmates for the shared love of horror) search for good films on Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming channels. We Google the list of top horror movies and make it a point to watch them. We have overcome our fears of watching the chilling drama even on the big screens and when possible, we catch the first day shows in theatres. While trying to convince friends and fellow horror lovers to partake the chilling experience. 

 The love started very young. The earliest memory I have is when I was four years old and would go to my neighbor, classmate and friend Gunnu’s place to play. Her elder siblings were friends with mine and all were watching a horror movie. Her brother Kulcha or as some of you know the famous film actor. Sonu Sood, was the eldest and unsaid leader of the gang of these unruly children. Me and Gunnu were sitting there watching the movie - Bandh Darwaza - a product of the famous Indian horror production house - Ramsay Brothers. The elders, as always up to their tricks, told us that you should not watch the demons, monsters and ghosts directly as you may go blind. Just like you don’t look at the sun directly, you must look at these also from behind something. We both got a chaddarto cover ourselves and took hidden glances at the TV screen as the monsters appeared one after the other. The sounds, scenes and the fear got to the most of us and we left. 

 

My mother was not a fan of such movies or the fact that her kids watch TV at all. Our father had a friend in Moga who owned a theatre. He took the three of us for a visit. We always jumped at the opportunity because of course, the theatre was always a treat. Another Ramsay gem was playing – Kabristan – the trailer promised dead bodies coming to life to haunt and kill. My father sat with uncle outside while we got the special VIP box to watch, enjoying with the free soft drinks and popcorn. Exactly 15 minutes into the movie, the dead man appeared on the big-screen in the middle of the night and I immediately left the box while my brothers teased with taunts of Scaredy Cat. I went and sat on my father’s lap while the two men chatted on about the world and business. But shortly after, my brothers too came out and stood behind us without a sound. We had the silent and solemn understanding between us that if everyone was shit scared then it was acceptable behavior. 

 

In the early 90s, video cassettes were the best source of entertainment and we had a waiting list at the video parlour for the latest and the best films and shows. During one of the winter breaks, we got Shaitani Ilaka on the cable TV. The young girl was haunted by a curse, due to which a demonic soul tortured her every night. My brother, my cousin and I bravely watched most of the movie but, the end was the scariest and we all simply rushed outside in the garden to get away from the climax, away from the scary tunes and screams. It was the dreaded demon - Lal Mai - which haunted me for days as I imagined it creeping into my room & bed every night. I peeped under the bed and into the dark corners to check if there really was something. I looked for every opportunity to sleep with my parents or siblings until I got over my imaginative fears over a few days. 

 While growing up I got to watch Evil Dead but, green blood and dismembered moving body parts was too gross for me. Horror is to be felt rather than shown!

Too much blood and gore was not my cup of tea. The age of Cable TV brought crazy shows like Zee Horror Show and Aahat to our homes every week. And then came The Ring, probably the scariest film ever made. I watched a pirated version on my laptop with headphones, in the bright day. My roommates were too scared to even come to my room but, I just loved the movie. It’s become a practice now that every time I watch a horror film, I need someone (preferably my husband) to sleep with the first night. Thereafter, I am cool with it. 

 

We have relished the horror series of Conjuring, Annabelle, Insidious, IT and Stephen King’s classics like The Shining. The classic thrillers like Silence of the Lambs and Psycho are brilliant too, when it comes to this genre. The love for such films is also probably the reason I enjoy Halloween so much. You can be freely wicked and scare the shit out of others. 

 

I can’t say about everyone but, I do love some cheap thrills!

Pic courtesy: google