Childhood Fears: Movies That Terrified Us Unintentionally

Let's dive into the realm of movies that once terrified us, often without the knowledge or intent of the filmmakers. These films had a profound impact on our psyche, especially in our formative years. From giant monsters to religious teachings, some movies left a lasting impression, even if they were not meant to be scary. Let's explore some of these films and their legacy.

Scary Movies of Our Childhood

During my upbringing in the Boston area in the early 1970s, we were too poor to see movies in theaters often. Family rules, such as my parents' ban on television during the school week, meant that my only exposure to cinema was through WLVI Channel 56's 'Creature Double Feature' on Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Every Saturday, the channel aired two monster movies that consistently scared the bejesus out of me, but I never complained, as I craved the adrenaline rush. If it involved vampires, werewolves, mummies, or any other creature, I watched it, and it terrified me.

One particular scene that stands out to this day is from The War of the Gargantuas (1966), which had a U.S. release in 1970. Inspired by monsters like Godzilla, this film featured more cheese than a cave full of aged Cheddar and laughably bad special effects. However, one scene, where a woman opened the curtains of her high-rise apartment to see the face of one of the gargantuas staring in on her, left me so traumatized that I couldn't bear looking at darkened windows at night for years. Here's the best shot I can find from the scene:

The scene that left a lasting impression on me.

Update: As pointed out by Rob Morris in the comments, the image I provided was actually from the 1965 prequel, Frankenstein Conquers the World (a.k.a. Frankenstein vs. Baragon). The best screen shot I can find from the scene in The War of the Gargantuas is the following:

The actual scene from The War of the Gargantuas.

Religious Scare: The Ten Commandments

While fear often stemmed from monster movies, there were also religious films that scared us, albeit in a different way. Growing up in puritanical America in the 1990s, we were protected from the harsh realities of our society by watching The Ten Commandments. This epic film was shown once a year on television, usually around Easter.

Charlton Heston's portrayal of Moses served as a moral beacon, reminding us to stay on the 'straight and narrow.' While the movie had its share of terrifying elements, such as Moses parting the Red Sea and using wizardry to kill his enemies, the scariest scene to me was the ominous Black Smoke that killed all the first-born sons of Egypt. Only those who applied a lamb's blood to their doorframes would survive. As a child, I found this movie both terrifying and confusing, and I recommend it to parents who want to scare their children away from organized religions.

For those concerned about teen pregnancies and drug use, showing a short film about safe sex might be more effective than The Ten Commandments.

Conclusion

These films, whether intended for entertainment or moral instruction, had a profound impact on our lives. While they left lasting impressions, they also sparked our curiosity and imagination. It's a reminder of how powerful media can be, even without intending to scare us. So, the next time you watch a movie, remember that it might leave a deeper impression than you think.