Childhood Scares: Ahhh, the Memories

My first memory of Creepshow (1982) as a kid is typical. The Crate scared the hell out of me. In fact, I couldn't watch any of it, funnily enough. That would all eventually change, obviously, but I consider this a good memory. I think these days today's horror fan just doesn't understand that. I kind of feel pity in regards to so many of today's youth not truly experiencing the terror of what might be lurking in the dark. Out of a crate sitting in a school after it was discovered for nearly 150 years. What is this thing, really? I just remember keeping my head down at a summer camp in the late 80s, unable to really watch the entire movie while the other more gutsy kids couldn't get enough. Obviously, this kind of reaction would be considered lame today because we're so used to violence, gruesome monsters, and bloodshed. Still, the Savini monster in The Crate now impresses me for what it was able to do to me as a child. I appreciate a good scare, so memories of Creepshow doing so leaves it as quite a favorite of mine.

Finishing watching Creepshow Sunday night, I asked myself why I just didn't hold off and pop this bad boy in during October. But I had yet again such a good time, it was worth not waiting until Halloween Month to do so. I have a review (of sorts) planned. You know, I'm surprised this will be the first time the blog has a significant write-up on it. It is such a horror classic for many of us. Not surprisingly, though, a few years ago I started reading on the IMDb Horror board (it is a frequent spot I visit to gauge how horror fans of different ages, but specifically this generation, view the films I like and love) "Creepshow is overrated" and "I Just Don't Get the Fuss About Creepshow" threads which truly questioned its status as such a classic. Sometimes I just accept that perhaps what just appeals to me in how the anthology segments are presented (the EC Comics influence in how the film is formatted regarding moving from one tale to another, purposely designed as tales of terror and the supernatural within the framework of a pissed off kid soon to get even with the rotten father abusive towards him, as his horror comics are tossed out for the trash collectors, with certain pages opening to reveal each story presented throughout, the dark humor of them, the use of color and animation, the makeup effects by Savini, and the fantastic music score that I rarely see get the credit it deserves by John Harrison might not have the same effect and impact on others. A fan sometimes has to just call a spade a spade...horror fans are a difficult bunch to please. Each one of us look for specifics in this genre we are so attached to, so I just concede to the understanding that Creepshow isn't for everybody. I have a hard time believing anthology horror fans, though, don't or won't accept this into their bosom.