Category: Name That Trauma!

Hello,

I discovered your excellent website last night. Great idea. (Sorry for my bad English, I'm European.)

When I was young in the mid-eighties, at the end of the year, all school classes of my town were taken to the movies.

One year I remembered having watched a movie with the Ewoks, and I cried because an Ewok was dead (maybe?)

One year we watched KARATE KID (I didn't enjoy the movie, especially the punks "aggression" scene.)

One year, there was this strange and traumatizing movie, but I can't remember the name, I need your help to find what it was:

I just remember one thing : the hero was a boy, and there was a scene where he passes through the drain hole of a bathtub!

I guess the movie was American, produced in the eighties and had some kind of box-office success.

PLEASE help me find that weird movie, I need to buy it on DVD!

Thank you very much,

Pierre G.

UPDATE: NAME THAT TRAUMA SOLVED! Per Pierre:

I watched the YouTube clip, and I think that "Tony and the Tick Tock Dragon" is the movie that traumatized me!

I was very young, and I don't remember the cartoon sailors, but I'm 90% sure of that.

Can you imagine that our school teachers choose a cheap fifteen-year old Hungarian movie, while there were so many cool American films around 1985…?

Many thanks to "Nathan Arms" and "MC_Kubbe" for their help.

— Pierre G.

Dear KinderTrauma!

I've written to you before, and that "Name That Trauma!" has been successfully resolved, thanks to you. However, this one is much more puzzling, because the problem is that I'm not even sure I haven't dreamt it.

I think it was a late ‘80s-early ‘90s music video. I remember that there were worms, or something that looked like worms – dark-greyish, thick, and quite short (about 2 feet long), and resembling burnt meat in colour and texture. They were crawling around in some kind of a sandpit, and the whole setting was in dark colours. The worms might have been animated puppets, or stop-motion figures, or whatever technique could be applied in the ‘80s to make these revolting things move.

Oh, yes, the most disturbing thing was that these worms had human faces. The only thing I remember about the music was that the voice was very monotonous, with nasal intonations. I wonder who could possibly make such a music video. I mean, what is SO wrong with this person?!

I clearly remember telling other kids in the neighbourhood about it. If I'm remembering this correctly, I even wanted us to play go-round-the-playground-not-touching-the-sand-or-else-the-worms-will-eat-you game or something. It didn't work out – apparently, the mere assumption that huge worms with human faces could ACTUALLY exist, burrowed in the sand somewhere, waiting for some unfortunate kid to come near them, turned out to be wa-a-ay too disturbing to mess with it.

So, now that I have told you about it, I wonder if anyone has any ideas, because I haven't found anything resembling this video. If it turns out that the loathsome thing never existed, I'll give up and make an appointment with a psychiatrist!

Thanks!

Anna

Hey guys!

I have a question regarding a horror film from at least 25 years ago. My mother has described a single scene from a movie and all she can remember is a trail of blood being dragged behind a high chair, its occupant having fallen victim to something big and hungry. She thinks it's RETURN OF THE ALIENS: THE DEADLY SPAWN, but I don't think so. It's been a long time since I saw that movie, but I don't remember a scene like the one she described in it. She also suggested CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS, but I know for sure that isn't it.

I figure it might be FOOD OF THE GODS, but again, it's been too long since I saw it, I can't find a copy in my area and can't be sure.

I don't suppose you might be familiar with the film with the munchable baby? It'd be great to finally know what she's talking about. To be honest, I'm a little appalled at myself for being one horror movie behind my mom.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

— Shannon

UNK SEZ: Shannon, I suspect I've got this one! I'm thinking you are thinking of 1982's DEADLY EYES aka RATS (which is based on a novel by JAMES HERBERT) ! Check out the video below and the action right around 15:22. We've got giant rats which would explain your FOOD OF THE GODS hunch, a baby in a high chair and finally, a long streak of blood on the kitchen floor! Tell me I am correct! It's the only happiness I know!

Hey Kindertraumatots,

I have such a vivid recollection of a show I think was THE WALTONS (or LITTLE HOUSE) where there was a ghost, or the house was haunted. At some point the piano started playing by itself and the daughter had an old Raggedy Ann doll near a window ledge whose face stretched and became different somehow (I'm not sure but it may have even moved a bit more or something), but the girl was in bed and terrified. Is it possible that something as wholesome and family oriented as THE WALTONS had a nightmarish ghost episode? The image of that doll's face has stuck with me ever since.

Anyone?

Thanks,

— Eric

UNK SEZ:: Thanks for the NTT Eric! That was most certainly an episode of THE WALTONS you saw. We've received traumafessions for that one before (HERE). The doll's face does not actually change but she does move around some and the changing of the light on it probably made it seem even more animated than it was!

I have two…

The first I saw back in the mid to late '80s, and the only scene I remember was a bunch of bullies picking on a kid with mental disabilities, and I believe they were near a construction site or a sand pit or something to that effect. The mentally handicapped kid, or maybe even one of the bullies, has his/her arm broken, and one or the other carries him to the hospital (I'm thinking a bully gets his arm broken and the handicapped kid helps him; sounds more correct). It MAY have been one of those After School Specials, and I think the moral of the story was that even handicapped people want to lead normal lives. Any clue?

The second I saw in the mid to late '80s as well, and it featured a couple who adopted a child, but he may have been artificial, and I know for a fact that his name was Conrad, and he was mailed to them in a box. I have no idea if this was an After School Special or a real movie.

I've Googled both, with no luck!

Best,

Joseph

UPDATE: 2nd NAME THAT TRAUMA SOLVED! Thanks to reader dasklyter for knowing that the robot boy in the box is KONRAD.

That just leaves us with the case of the bullies…

Love your site…for many years now.

Long time ago, in the late ‘80s, I rented a VHS (I believe it was THE HIDDEN) and in the trailers section at the beginning they had this ONE trailer that was VERY serious and that still today I try to figure out the movie. It showed a guy, wearing a suit, crawling on the orangie sands of a desert with some dramatic music. Then they showed a gigantic mechanical insect flying on top of a big city skyline. The scenes were back and forward between the insect and the guy. Then the insect (what I think it is was a dragonfly) gets on top of a big skyscraper and grabs with his legs the top of the building (imagine about a third of the building bring broken apart) and it flies away with it.

The editing keeps going back and forward with the dude crawling in the desert when now we see a big shadow starting to catch up with the crawling man. The music/sound is very intense at this point. The guy turns around and screams, and we see the giant insect drop the building on top of the guy.

That's it.

The effects were very stop-animation-y. Kinda like a HARRYHAUSEN style. The movie could have been European for the quality of the film didn't feel like a Hollywood film.

The tape was in the HORROR section (hence THE HIDDEN) and I remember that around it they had the cheapest horror films like the MONDO CANE, documentaries, etc.

Still today I research for it.

Thanks,

M.Hidden

Hey gang!

This movie has been bugging me for a while. All I remember is a scene that scared the daylights out of me as a kid. I'm pretty sure it's from the early seventies. All I can remember is an artist makes life-sized statues of gargoyle-ish type beasts in his studio. The scene that's been branded on my brain is one where the artist removes the head of one of the gargoyles and a there's a dead body inside. The moment he removes the statue's head, the corpse's head flops to one side. And then I think a woman screams. That was it for me. I must have run back to my bedroom to cry myself to sleep.

Sorry I can't provide more details.

Thanks,

David Y.

UNK SEZ: David Y., I think what you are looking for is the 1973 made-for-TV movie SCREAM PRETTY PEGGY! We' ve gotten a Name That Trauma! for that one before (check it out HERE, big thanks to readers Mike & Senski for the solve!) and I even went on to review it over HERE! Since we last spoke of PRETTY PEGGY, some fine fellow has uploaded the movie to YouTube so you can check it out HERE! Let us know if it's the right Trauma!

Movies scenes I have very vague memories of, but have not idea what they were. Any help would be appreciated. This is very early '80s stuff here. Late night T.V., before cable:

1. A woman becomes possessed by some power, and she is cutting her own fingers off in the kitchen with a kitchen knife and a cutting board.

2. A young girl and guy are fooling around in a barn, on a pile of hay. I think there is a crazy person/monster that is kept in this barn. It makes weird noises, maybe grunts. It either attacks or kills the young couple. Maybe with a pitchfork? Hard to say.

3. Maybe the same movie as number 1. Little people with giant sewing needles sneaking up on a woman in her bed. Not making that up. I know I saw it. Traumatized by that scene! I thought those midgets were going to get me while I was in bed, for weeks after seeing that.

4. Maybe the same movie again. A mother gouges her own eyes out. You don't see the actual gouging, but she suddenly looks at the camera and there's just 2 black holes where her eyes should be.

I definitely didn't dream these movies.

Great idea for a site, btw.

Thanks,

— Bill B.

Florida

UNK SEZ: Hmmmm, I thought I might be more help than I 'm going to turn out to be! #4, the "eyeless mother" could be THE STEPFORD WIVES. I'm wondering if #1 may be STEPFORD too, a hand is cut in that movie but not actually on a cutting board. #3 sounds like DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK but I don't remember there being giant sewing needles. #2 the barn murder with the pitchfork has got me stumped! Pitchfork deaths show up in THE OTHER, THE SLAYER, THE BOOGEYMAN, FRIDAY THE 13TH: PART III and a host of others! If it was more of a shed than a barn it could also be THE INCUBUS! I'm hoping some Kindertrauma readers can help!

Wondering if you could help me with a movie. I bought this film for a friend (I thought off of Amazon but when I checked my account it wasn't there) about 8-10 years ago. I think it was an older movie though from the '80s or early '90s?

Anyway, a group of friends go to a cabin in the woods. The cabin is all broken down/burned down from the outside but when they go through the front door, the cabin is fully built and back to its original state. A demon or monster then comes and kills them. I think once they go back out of the cabin they are trapped if memory serves me correct. Also, I think it had Demon in the title?

Obviously, as I was in my late 20s or early 30s, the film didn't scare me to death or anything. I just remember watching it and thinking it was cool.

PS: The friend moved away and I lost touch with him. I know it was a VHS tape if that helps. Any help would be great!

UNK SEZ: It's sounds like you just described 1990's DEMON WIND and it looks like the entire film is hanging out on Youtube starting HERE!

Hi! Hoping you can help me out.

I remember this T.V. movie from a long time ago about a teenage girl that comes to the realization that she has "powers" (witchcraft I think). She slowly spins out of control much to the chagrin of her parents. At the end of the movie she and her mother have an argument and the girl is ready to let loose her powers on her mother when all of a sudden the mother sends her reeling across the room with a look – it turns out the mother has the "power" too but doesn't use it. There is a struggle then finally, with the girl in tears, the mother puts her arms around her and holds her.

I saw it last so long ago that I admit some of my recollection might be off – I thought the mom was LEE GRANT and Googled her all over the place to no avail.

I hope you haven't already reviewed this movie – I've been reading you for a while and have looked through some of your archives.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,

— mightymouse

UNK SEZ: Thanks for the NTT MM! Your mentioning of LEE GRANT & witchery conjured up THE SPELL in my head but I could not remember if GRANT had secret powers in that. I immediately got on the horn with TV Movie expert AMANDA BY NIGHT of MADE FOR TV MAYHEM and she confirmed my suspicions and recognized the description at once as THE SPELL! AUNT JOHN did review THE SPELL (and GRANT's TWIKI-cut) way back in the day HERE and I'm happy to add that THE SPELL is currently available both on Netflix Streaming and at no charge on Hulu!