kindertrauma

Month: August 2010

Traumafessions :: Reader Alexandra W. on The Return of Sherlock Holmes ep. "Devil's Foot"

Posted on By aunt john

Hi Kindertrauma!

Searching through your archives it seems that no one has brought up PBS's famous MYSTERY! program. My parents were huge fans and every Sunday night at 8 I distinctly remember running into my room and slamming the door shut as soon as I heard the strains of the opening theme and the EDWARD GOREY illustrated opening credits flashing across the television screen.

I adore MYSTERY! now, but when I was little there was nothing more terrifying than Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, or Poirot solving brutal murders. One episode in particular of THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES starring the fabulous JEREMY BRETT remains seared into my mind after all these years. The episode is entitled "Devil's Foot" and the mystery involves three people, a sister, who had apparently been literally scared to death, and her two brothers who had been driven mad by whatever had killed the sister.

When Holmes is notified of the deaths it flashes to a shot of the siblings sitting around a table in the living room, just as they had been the night before, but this time the women is slumped over to one side, clearly dead, her hands frozen into place around her neck and her eyes almost completely rolled back into her head. One of the brothers is rocking back and forth in a chair muttering to himself and the other is grabbing his head while white foam comes pouring out of his mouth.

This episode aired the one night I chose to watch with my parents after they had been raving about how good the series was and how much I would like it. Needless to say that when I saw this little tableau on the screen I calmly got up, walked to my room, and didn't watch MYSTERY! again until I was at least 17 or 18. To this day that scene still creeps me out.

Thanks, SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE!

Sadly, I am unable to find any images of the scenes I've described from this particular episode. It is on YouTube though! The scene takes place right at the beginning of this segment:

Thanks!

Alexandra W.

Images of Film:: Darkness

Posted on By unkle lancifer

I got tagged by the JOHN KENNETH MUIR to do a meme (check out his "Images of America" HERE.) The concept comes from over yonder at CHECKING ON MY SAUSAGES and THE DANCING IMAGE. The idea is to pick a theme and to select images that, "Stand for so much of what makes cinema such a rich and exciting medium." I took it easy on myself and chose "darkness" as my theme and the images I selected are below. I put the titles of the films in the comments section.

Before I forget, I'm supposed to tag five more folks to keep this thing going. Don't feel obliged to comply if you are listed. If you like, just take it as a compliment on your screen-grabbing charms! ARBOGAST ON FILM, LOVE TRAIN FOR THE TENEBROUS EMPIRE, BAKING WITH MEDUSA, MY NEW PLAID PANTS and THE HAUNTED CLOSET!

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue

Posted on By unkle lancifer

I have to give you horror fans out there a heads up about a new documentary called NIGHTMARES IN RED WHITE AND BLUE. It covers the entire history of American horror while keeping a sharp eye on the social changes that influenced them. Don't think you've seen this all before because this one bounds past the usual tunnel vision horror fan approach. Not only does it have an awareness of the cultural temperature outside of the air-conditioned theater but it also pays respect to fringe films usually neglected. By damn, they even put Jiminy Cricket and WALT DISNEY in the hot seat for a spell and you know I'm all in support of that.

Seriously kids, after the recent and excellent NEVER SLEEP AGAIN, I figured I'd have to wait a couple years at least for another outstanding documentary on horror and yet here is NIGHTMARES IN RED WHITE AND BLUE. You may be thinking, "How the hell are they gonna cram the whole history of American horror into one film?" and the answer is…editing, like, really good editing. As I check out the IMDb I see that the film was edited by ANDREW MONUMENT the same guy who directed it, two gold stars for you ANDREW. It's based on a book that has somehow escaped my grasp (and not for long) by author JOSEPH MADREY. You want talking heads? How ‘bout these noggins? JOHN CARPENTER, JOE DANTE , ROGER CORMAN, LARRY COHEN and GEORGE ROMERO, to name just a few. Lordy, my unofficial godfather LANCE HENRIKSEN even narrates! The only thing missing is JAMIE LEE CURTIS spoon-feeding you Activia while you watch it.

Did I mention bloggin' buddy JOHN KENNETH MUIR is in it yet? If you've stopped by REFLECTIONS ON FILM AND TELEVISION or read any of his books then you already know that he is whip smart and knows of what he speaks. In this doc he fires a starting pistol that initiates the best FRIDAY THE 13th kill montage that has ever existed outside of my head. Besides that, he's a guy who is committed to reading between the lines and digging up cinematic revelations that, if they were snakes, would have bitten your entire face off years ago. He even sings NIGHTMARE IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE's touching closing theme song…O.K., I made that last part up.

Really, across the board I was impressed by the insights delivered by all involved. (As far as I'm concerned everything that comes out of JOHN CARPENTER's mouth should be carved in stone.) It may sound silly but the type of discussion within the film makes me proud to be a horror fan. This is a documentary that understands the power of the genre to speak of anxieties we've yet to fully confront yet. It looks beyond the violence at the fears and regrets that they represent. Perhaps even more importantly, it points out that many of the issues that are addressed in horror simply aren't addressed anywhere else and that horror records a secret history all its own. It reminds you that horror is grander than the sum of its parts (even if those parts include the lovely CURTIS and Jason Voorhees's still riveting upside down handstand hack from PART 3.) Plus is there anything more stimulating than a well-executed montage? Well-executed montages curl my toes.

NIGHTMARES IN RED WHITE AND BLUE is available for preorder HERE but I myself caught it "On Demand" thanks to my local cable provider who I used to hate but now realize I love (is that Stockholm Syndrome?) Now don't be all cynical thinking I'm raving about this thing just because our buddy MUIR is in it. I honestly think that it would be impossible for any horror fan not to enjoy this informative yet still jocular (there's a riff on door slamming in THE THING FROM AN OTHER WORLD which is inspired) examination of the history of horror film in America. Miss this one at your own peril.