This was probably 15+ years ago, but I was at my grandmothers house and there was a movie playing. During the opening there is this young woman and she somehow ends up in a church or some old building of the like. She walks up the a lectern and there is a book on it, she walks up, opens the book, and there is a beating heart inside. She then looks down at her own chest and there is a big bloody hole. I don't remember anything else except being traumatized by fear and running out of the room. Any help is greatly appreciated. I want to say it was an old version of Phantom of the Opera or something like that, but really I have no idea.
Today'a NTT place cards come courtesy of 1988's PRIMAL RAGE!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102709/
Your Name That Trauma reminded me of the early scenes of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA starring Robert Englund (it came out in the early '90s). There was a scene with a girl in a church or old building who opens a book, and the book bleeds. I don't remember if there was a heart in it–but your mentioning of PHANTOM made me wonder if that was the one.
Hey, I know this one! It's the opening scene from the 1990 version of MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH with Herbert Lom and Brenda Vaccaro. Just released on DVD a few months ago.
Ben S,
It sounds like you might be on to something with that book…
Mondo Video,
Thank you! You sound pretty sure!
btw- I didn't realize that 2 different versions of Masque came out around that same time! There's the one you mentioned with Vaccaro and Frank Stallone…
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179334/
And another with Adrian Paul & Patrick Macnee….
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097844/
Here is a cool article on Frank Stalone version you mentioned with a video….
http://aslashabove.com/2012/10/20/masque-of-the-red-death-1989-review/
and here is a trailer for the Adrian Paul version. I remember the video box for this one but I never realized it was a new version….
I wish I could watch them both back to back!
Meanwhile, I'm now convinced that my choice of images for this NTT are psychic!!!!!
That skull costume from "Primal Rage" looks like a cross between the phantom of the opera and the masque of the red death!!!
You must've had a premonition! If you're brave enough to watch both of the MASQUEs together, definitely do the Stallone/Vaccaro one first. It has tacky glam rock, a woman sewn into a loom, a mad slasher in red, a grandfather clock razor pendulum, loads of gore, and a model with a terrible French accent. The Adrian Paul one has… um… a lot of horses. And Fabio hairstyles.
Now I feel I only want to watch the Frank Stallone version. These words may have never been typed before but I kind love Frank Stallone. There is ST ELMO'S FIRE to consider and STAYING ALIVE. Plus I can't imagine what he has been through. He must have felt the highest highs and the lowest lows.
Plus Brenda "I'm staying, I'm Staying!"Vacarro!!!!!!