It started at midnight....

by Neil Richardson
(Calgary)

In the early 80's, I was about five years old and snuck downstairs to watch Alien on TV. I had to wait until my parents went to sleep and then a little after hearing some snoring it was 'go time'. I crept downstairs and clicked on the TV. A glow flooded the room and few channel clicks later I was watching Brett's forehead being pierced and then his body dragged up into the air vents, his screams echoing through the mono speaker. Chills and real fear.

It all started at that exact moment. From that day on every time we went to the video store I would run off and look at all the backs of every horror video box I saw.

But it wasn't because I liked them; in fact it was because they used to scare me. Visions of all the killers and crazy monsters I looked at. I had pics of Freddy and Michael on the walls. I asked for them but when I put them up I would never look at them. They were hung in the basement where I figured they belonged.

It wasn't until years later I discovered one of the best secrets that fed my fears and kept me awake night after night. I lived in a small town at the time. The one video store there had it all. It was open for years and they collected movies from I would imagine from when VHS really caught on. They had a section with movies I have and will probably never see on DVD, movies like Mountaintop Motel, Mountaintop Motel Massacre, Popcorn and I Eat Your Skin.

Thank you Yvonne for making them so easy to rent with your 10 movies for 10 days for 10 bucks.

The rest of the story is probably similar to some, that we would rent all and watch every one. Some were just stupid, but there were the gems we love. When we found that love it grew and expanded into more than just movies. I've seen some horror collections and mine pales in comparison. But when people see it they know what I like. I'm sure it's the same for a lot of people.

I love horror, and I'll watch it until I'm eaten by zombies or pooping in a diaper.