Here's the List!
These aren't in any particular order.
1). Movie: The Blair Witch Project
Viewing situation: A sold out, crowded theater in Detroit at a pre-release showing.
When: July 17, 1999
Scene: The ending shot where Michael is standing in a corner and Heather's camera drops and fades. This was one of the eeriest things I have ever seen. I'll never forget it, especially because it was when you didn't know if it was real or fake. Good stuff.
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2). Movie: The House on Haunted Hill (1999)
Viewing situation: Normal. A half-full theater in Maumee, Ohio, opening night.
When: Oct 27, 1999
Scene: Bridgette Wilson's character films ghosts at an operating table, but she doesn't see them herself, only the camera picks up the images. When she looks back into the camera, the ghosts are looking at her. This is her death scene. Really creepy and a cool idea.
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3). Movie: Halloween
Viewing situation: On video at my grandma's house on Halloween. My mom finally caves in and I get to see my first slasher movie. I was 12 at the time.
When: Oct 31, 1989
Scene: Tommy looks out the window and sees Michael Myers staring from across the street. He screams and calls for Laurie, but of course, she doesn't believe him. By the time she gets to the window, he's gone.
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4). Movie: Event Horizon
Viewing situation: Opening day at an almost empty movie theater in Kalamazoo, MI.
When: Mid-August 1997.
Scene: After Sam Neil gouges out his own eyes, he says, "Where we are going, we don't need eyes." This one actually gave me nightmares.
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5). Movie: Lost Souls
Viewing situation: A semi-crowded theater in Maumee, Ohio, opening day, with my good buddy Nathan Shoemaker.
When: October 13, 2000. (Note: this was Friday the 13'th, in October, under a full moon. This only happens 3 times a century.)
Scene: When Peter tries to listen to the tape of the exorcism and he can't hear it, but his neighbor hears all the demons really loud.
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6). Movie: Deep Blue Sea
Viewing situation: An almost empty theater in Maumee, Oh.
When: Mid-to-late August 1999
Scene: When the shark leaps up and grabs Samuel L. Jackson. I was about to crap my pants I was so startled. A nod of respect to Renny Harlin for a great movie with lots of great jumps and thrills.
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7). Movie: Jaws
Viewing situation: On video at my very first house when I was a kid.
When: ??? Sometime between the ages of 7 and 9. ???
Scene: When Quint is eaten. I was absolutely horrified to see the shark bite down and the blood come gurgling out of the dude's mouth. I think I even cried. I was a wuss.
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8). Movie: Exorcist (Re-release)
Viewing situation: A theater in Kalamazoo with Dave.
When: October 16, 2000
Scene: The new scene where Reagan does her spider walk. Truly horrifying.
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9). Movie: Stir of Echoes
Viewing situation: Normal. The same theater in Maumee, Ohio. A medium crowd.
When: Early September, 1999.
Scene: When the kid changes voices and says, " Don't ask the boy any questions. Talk to Me." I felt all the hairs on my arm stand up. This movie rules. Look for the review in October.
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10). Movie: Children of the Corn
Viewing situation: On video, at my house, with my mom. She was pissed that I rented that.
When: Late August, 1991.
Scene: I don't remember their names but the two main boys at the end have a really creepy dialog. One boy is sacrificed to the devil, but he comes back out of the ground with red eyes and says "He wants you, too." I had to shut it off after that and anything Stephen King was forbidden in the house after that.
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11). Movie: 13 Ghosts
Viewing situation: The afore mentioned theater in Maumee, Ohio at a screening with my pals Brooke and Mike.
When: October 24, 2001
Scene: Do I really have to pick one? The entire movie is one giant scarefest from start to finish.
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12). Movie: The Beleievers
Viewing situation: On video, alone in my bedroom.
When: October 16, 2001
Scene: The main female character has a large bump growing on her face as the movie progresses. It ends up opening up and all kinds of little spiders started crawling on her face. I was mortified.
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13). Movie: Child's Play
Viewing situation: On video at my parents house
When: ??? All I know is that it was sometime during my junior year of high school. ???
Scene: When Andy's mother opens up the battery pack and discovers there aren't any and Chucky whirls his head around talks to her. That always gets me.
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14). Movie: Scream
Viewing situation: A moderate crowd on opening night at the theater in Kalamazoo.
When: December 20, 1996
Scene: I went to see this movie under the impression that Drew Barrymore was the main character. I was shocked and bewildered as her opening death sequence played out. I was sure she was going to get away, but we all know otherwise. This is one of the greatest scenes in the history of the horror genre.
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15). Movie: The Amityville Horror
Viewing situation: On video, alone at my parents' house
When: July 4, 1993
Scene: When the demonic voice tells the priest to get out of the house. I got goosebumps and shivers.
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Send me your list, and I'll put it up! I'm curious to hear from others. jodybranham@hotmail.com