October is here—the month that brings with it all things eerie. Halloween, haunted houses, and full moons mark the season, and I’ve always found it strange how some people thrive on being scared, almost to the point of terror. Horror movies come to mind when I think of this fascination with fear. While Halloween only comes once a year, horror films are released year-round, providing endless opportunities to indulge in the thrill of fright.
Personally, I’ve never been a fan of scary movies. I still remember watching Helter Skelter when I was six or seven. It wasn’t a horror movie per se, but its portrayal of real-life murder and mayhem left a mark on me. Around the same time, I also saw The Exorcist and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Now, those were horror films. Though I didn’t have nightmares directly related to those movies, I’ve never forgotten them—and not for good reasons. Later, like many from my generation, I watched the popular horror films of the 1980s like: Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween, along with some of their sequels. Again those movies didn’t move me. Didn’t entertain me. Scared me a bit? Yeah, but I got over it.
When I think about people who enjoy being scared, it’s a lot like how I feel about those who believe they need alcohol to have fun—I just don’t get it. It’s always puzzled me. In high school, I remember classmates coming to class on Mondays, bragging about how much they drank over the weekend and how drunk they got. While I cherished my high school years and the friendships I made, their boastful talk about drinking always irritated me.
I went through a brief phase in college where I drank on weekends, but it was never something I felt the need to flaunt. I don’t have anything against people who drink, but I tend to avoid those who drink excessively, especially when they’re drunk and out of control. Sure, there are many reasons why people drink, but I’ve never understood why some feel they need alcohol to have a good time. To me, that’s a sad way to live.
Similarly, I’ll never quite grasp how fear is considered fun by some. Can you imagine someone drunk out of their mind, stumbling through a haunted house? That must be their best day ever! (Dripping with sarcasm!)
I’ve often wondered why stronger alcoholic beverages are called “spirits.” It makes me think that perhaps these “spirits” are the forces behind the drink, giving people a kind of joy that, like the spooky spirits of horror movies and Halloween, brings them a good time that they otherwise wouldn’t have. Actually, the term “spirits” refers to the distillation process, where liquids are heated, vaporized, and condensed back into liquid form. Over time, the word “spirit” has taken on various meanings—from liquid to supernatural to divine. It’s also associated with energy, which fits with how people seem to “liven up” when they drink and have a good time. Even so, it’s still something I can’t quite wrap my head around.
I’m going to have a good time this month without getting sloppy drunk or sloppy scared.