Frequent Horrorthon readers might recall that JPX’s earliest recollection of fear occurred when he was 4 or 5 years old. At that time his father read him the Dr. Seuss story, “What I was Afraid Of”, which included, “pair of pale green pants
with nobody inside them.” Shudder.
Recently I was reminded of the second time something in pop culture scared the crap out of me. Picture it, 1979, Barrington, R.I. A 10-year old JPX was about to go to bed. His parents were out and a babysitter was taking care of him and his siblings. As JPX was about to retire, he caught a long commercial for the television version of Salem’s Lot. One image in particular sent chills down his spine. That image is the missing, now dead and resurrected as a vampire Ralphie Glick floating outside his brother Danny’s bedroom window, tapping on the glass and asking Danny to let him in.
This one damn image caused so much fear that I refused to go into my bedroom at night unless my shade was pulled down. To this day when I look towards windows at night, I half expect that damn Glick boy to start tapping. JSP, if you ever get turned into a vampire, I'm telling you right now that I'm not opening the window for you.
Horrorthon 2008 is coming soon!
6 comments:
I was freaked dafuck out by that commercial too! Why that commercial and not the movie itself? Gawd!
You're a big wuss JPX. That's the most unassuming ghost I've ever seen. It looks like he's knocking on the window requesting permission to enter. You're a ghost, jerk! Go through the damn wall!
This coming from the boy who was scared by the shadow of my hand on the ceiling when we shared bunk beds! Remember Mr. Hand?
I thought so.
You leave Mr. Hand out of this, mister!
JSP he WAS knocking on the window asking permission to come in. He's a vampire, not a ghost.
JPX, it scared the crap out of me too although it's not the scare that plagues me to this day.
That would be going to the Seekonk twin with my parents & instead of watching Herbie the Lovebug or something like that I watched the original b&w Night of the Living Dead without sound. It plagued me with nightmares for years. I still have the same damn zombie nightmare every now & again. I had a similar experience with Phantasm as well.
I don't remember the commercial, but that image from the film definitely stuck with me. Damn good horror flick, for a tv movie.
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