I've never really been frightened by horror movies, but when I was a little kid the show The Rockford Files scared the holy living shit out of me. It would make me sick to my stomach with worry. You never knew when he would get attacked out of nowhere and beat up, it was all very seedy and traumatic. Everyone was always sweaty.
Regards,
UNK SEZ: Thanks Dr. Kaiju! Kids, Dr. Kaiju is currently collecting information on any and every giant movie monster. You don't need an appointment to visit his office HERE!
Not to mention the guy was an ex-con who lived in a run-down trailer, exciting anxieties about sordid poverty, limited opportunities, recidivism, etc. I can relate, Dr. Kaiju.
Know who scared me? Angel (Stuart Margolin.) That character was an untrustworthy *sshole, always dragging Jim into more trouble. I'm getting anxious just thinking about it!
I loved The Rockford Files but completely see your point. The relentless griminess of scrounging for pennies among bottom-feeders! Now that I've been through a couple rounds of "don't answer that, it can only be bad news" (though not with the kind of bill collectors that break thumbs) I would probably find the anxiety a little TOO real now too.
The answering machine always had some horrible tidings of woe to come, and that creep Angel was usually up to no good. The show still kind of stresses me out. They even managed to ruin the beach somehow.
Ha! I took one look at that monster and thought I must have missed THAT episode. I am disappoint 🙂