Hey Unk! Just wanted to say that I love Kindertrauma…so much. What I love the most about the site, is that Kindertrauma actually gets me excited and makes me want to watch the films it talks about. As if the excitement and wonder of when you were discovering horror films as a child somehow got transferred into the site itself.
It's a Horror to Know You: Matt Sunshine
1. What is the first film that ever scared you?
That would be without a doubt, the made-for-TV movie "Ants" (1977). Also, Annie Ross being pulled into a computer and turned into a robot in "Superman III" (1983), one of the first films I experienced in a movie theater. As well as some of the moments I was able to sneak a peak at of "Carrie" (1976) and "Children Of The Corn" (1984) while on the 8 o'clock movie in the 80's.
2. What is the last film that scared you?
"INLAND EMPIRE" (2006)
3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.
I doubt I'll be introducing anyone here to anything new. I'm pretty sure my choices won't be making me any friends either. I was going to go with "Near Dark" (1987) and "Don't Look Now" (1973) but I figured by now, the artistic importance of these 2 films has been well documented.
1. "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" (1986) – A Vomit Creature. Braces that attack you. Freelings. Speaking to ghosts, or something else, over a toy phone. Heather O'Rourke. Jerry Goldsmith's score. And Julian Beck as Kane – one of the most intense and frightening characters I've ever seen.
2. "The Mephisto Waltz" (1971) – Another great Jerry Goldsmith score. Some eerie scenes. I love that late 60's/early 70's look and feel. I can't look at Alan Alda or Pamelyn Ferdin and not think of the 70's. There will never be another film that looks like this again, it's simply stuck in 1971.
3. (a) "Halloween II" (1981) – Has been overly criticized for its extra supply of blood and gore, as well as its so-called likeness to the countless imitations of the original film. One of my favorite things about this film is that it shows us all the things horror movies never show us. Like where the villain goes when he escapes, the reaction in the community, the news reports in progress of the earlier events on TV and radio, the victims being taken to the hospital. This sequel continues so naturally.
(b) "Halloween III: Season Of The Witch" (1982) – Hated it the first time I saw it. Should have been released as "Season Of The Witch." Atmospheric. Terrific score. A Halloween favorite.
Honorable Mention: "Phantom of the Paradise" (1974) and "The Beguiled" (1971) Not sure they're horrors, but the latters poster is on this site, so I'm counting it. Also, "Cujo" (1983).
4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.
1. "Deadly Friend" (1986)
2. "Poltergeist III" (1988)
3. "The Night Child" (1975)
Honorable Mention: "Curtains" (1983) and "Children Of The Corn" (1984).
5. Send us to five places on the Internet!
If you are on Kindertrauma, then you are already on the best film site on the Internet.
Matt,
First off, thanks so much for your supportive comments. That's my favorite thing anyone has ever said about kindertrauma and I'm glad that we can provide a place for people to get enthusiast about movies. It doesn't hurt that we have been lucky enough to find great readers and contributors like yourself!
Secondly, what a IAHTKY post! I cannot believe that I forgot to put Poltergeist 3 on my list as a film I enjoy against my better judgement! I'm partially obsessed with that oddball movie! I'm a big fan of Mephisto Waltz, the Halloweens and Night Child too. I almost put Night Child on my list myself!
Ants was also an early traumatizer of mine! Particularly when the kid falls into the trash bin and then has to run to the pool covered in ants. I love that one! I also love any mention of Annie Ross!
Great job and thanks again for your support! We really appreciate it!
Awesome IAHTKY post, Matt! Kindertrauma is the greatest!
Halloween II is great (I even wrote a traumafession about it ages ago). I agree that Halloween III would have been better received had it been released without connection to the first two films.
Just looking at Goldsmith's picture makes me want to run out of the room, eeeek!
I could not agree more with this entire post! It's interesting that POLTERGEIST III has sort of been re-claimed and re-evaluated but POLTERGEIST II still seems pretty underrated. The scenes where Jobeth has psychic visions of the cult give me the heebie jeebies, too. Also, you *beautifully* summed up the reasons why I love both HALLOWEEN II and Kindertrauma!
Annie Ross in Superman III … Yes. The very first time I stumbled across this amazing site it was the first scene I thought of relating to my own pop traumas.
I loved when Anne Ramsay's head exploded due to basketball. Deadly Friend is hilarious.
I was totally gonna put Mephisto Waltz in my underrated category too! It has one of my fav 70s horror features in it – the warped "i've been drugged" camera view (or any camera view/angle shot with a bubble lens or that has some sort of warped/psychedelic action).
Great post!
Love THE BEGUILED! Good call.
Reverend Kane of Poltergeist 2 is very, very scary. I can't stand it when he sings that song, or when he shows up at the Freelings' houseand screams, "Let me in!"
@unkle lancifer Oh wow, thanks. I've loved this
site for a long time, and though I can't wait to
try out some of the listed sites in these IAHTKY
posts, this is a site I check every day, there's just
something about it. Thanks for making it!
I love those films as well, and I am a big fan of the Poltergeists (mostly 1&2) and most of the Halloweens. H1, H2 and P1 & P2 were some of the first horror films I ever watched, so they have a special place in my heart.
Yup, that is exactly the scene that first got me, the little boy screaming covered in ants. Also, I was a huge Three's Company fan, and I had a hard time watching the attack of Suzanne Somers.
@mickster Hey thanks a bunch. I read your traumafession…great! I think Halloween II really works best when viewed immediately after watching the original.
@ben Sher Well right on, thanks man. I agree, I've been shocked at some of the hate for Poltergeist II. I can see how it would not be perfect to some, but there is a real sadness to some of it and it actually has some great humor, plus some scarier scenes than other well-regarded horrors…but I could talk about that film all day.
@Will Nepper Seriously, I was going to do exactly the same thing.
@eric Eddy Me too, it's the highlight of the film.
@cmcmcmcm I love those kind of shots as well, my fav might be from DePalma's "Sisters." Thanks!
@Will Errickson It doesn't seem that many people know it. It's one of my favourite films ever.
@Erin Lashley I agree. When I first saw the film at around age 10 or 11, I was so freaked out, I couldn't believe my eyes or ears. Where did they find this guy? I wish Julian Beck had lived longer, because we really missed out.
These 'Horror To Know You' posts are so much fun! Each one is a odd little bit of horror 'Fusion cuisine'… various ingredients tossed together to portray and individual's tastes.
I don't really like ANY of the Poltergeist movies, but that bit with Reverend Kane on the lawn is just an amazing bit of terror. It's one of the scenes I'll show people to display how something can be damn scary in plain daylight with no special FX or 'overt' monsters.
@knobgobbler Hey that's okay, we don't all need to like the same stuff. All though if it has been awhile, you should give the first one another try, if you'd like that is. I saw it for the first time on DVD last year and I think it could have even been released today.
I agree about that scene with Kane confronting the family at their front door. That is just great dialogue, acting and music. His scenes still give me the cold shivers to this day.