TRAUMAFESSION :: Kinderpal Claire on POLTERGEIST

 

POLTERGEIST, 1982, had to be the scariest movie ever. I remember watching the movie with my 4 brothers. I was 7-years-old at the time. For me, there are a countless number of things in that movie which just scare the living crap out of me even to this day. One scene in particular that I will never forget is when little Robbie Freeling (played by OLIVER ROBBINS) was attacked by his toy clown. I sat watching the scene with my hands over my eyes. When I was brave enough to spread my fingers for a quick moment or two, I caught glimpses of the epic battle of boy vs. his clown. Glimpses were all I needed to firmly cement my fear of clowns. To add to the trauma, my brothers told me that my Strawberry Shortcake dolls were going to attack me … just like the clown attacked little Robbie. I went to bed that night with my Strawberry Shortcake dolls stuffed away in the closet and my Father lying on the floor in between myself and the closest. I wouldn't go to bed without him there. "But what if my Strawberry Shortcake dolls attack me?" I cried. As I drifted off to sleep that night secure in the knowledge that my Father was there to protect me should my Strawberry Shortcake dolls decide to attack, he laid on the floor chain smoking Marlboros, cursing my brothers, and counting the minutes until dawn.