Lesson 3: Individuality (I Hate)

I Hate

I hate horror films. They give me the creeps. I can’t understand why people like to watch them. Every time I see one I get an unpleasant queasy feeling like someone is looking over me. Scary movies make me feel uncomfortable and freak me out. I get goose bumps and my body tenses with every scream I hear. They make me want to hide from the darkness that surrounds the fear inside me. Horror films are so violent and gruesome and I get ill at the sight of blood. I can’t bear to watch so I keep my eyes closed during the gory parts. I bury my face in my hands until the evil scenes are over. After watching one I feel repugnance and fearful. It’s hard to sleep with the lights off, so I check the closet and under the bed to make sure that there are no hiding monsters. I bury my head under the covers and hide for hours.1 The feeling of isolation won’t let go. It takes me days to get over the feeling of fright and terror. The blood runs cold through my body and a feeling of anxiety comes over me. I jump at every noise I hear and panic takes over. The thought of being alone makes my stomach twist into knots. I feel lost for days. My life becomes uncontrollable and dreadfulness sets in. Depression seeps into my veins and won’t let go. I slowly turn in a downward cycle of despair. The reality of it all is that I know it’s only a movie, and no one gets hurt during filing, but it all seems so real to me.

Tina,

Horror films freak me out too.

I can see you using this hatred for a character at some point in a piece of fiction. I would consider actually describing some of the horror film scenes that really got to you and then the resultant behavior. For example, I saw the exorcist when I was a kid, had to leave the theater at the point where the possessed girl was stabbing herself in the crotch with a crucifix. Then had to sleep with my mother for a month.

Best,

Tamara