November 1 HMAD: A month of scares, both on-screen and off

What scares
Andrew Goodridge?

He’s giving us a month to find out.

Follow along with Andrew as he plans to get into the spirit of his favorite holiday by watching a different horror movie every day in the month of October.

November 1

A month of scares, both on-screen and off.

     It was quite an October.

     When I first started this column one month ago, I’d hoped to get in the spirit of Halloween by watching a new horror movie every day, and then sharing my thoughts with everyone here. Quite an ambitious undertaking, for sure, and those of you who followed along with me at the beginning undoubtedly have noticed I’ve been absent the last week or so.

     Though the first weeks of this month I spent intentionally scaring myself with horror films, we got more than enough real-life scares, too. My father had a heart attack. I’ve been sick with what my doctor and I hope is just an ulcer. And Lindsay spent time in the hospital after we got hit by a drunk driver on the highway.

     Quite an October, indeed.

     All these stories have happy endings, though. My dad is doing better, my health insurance will cover whatever it takes to get me better, and Lindsay is recovering quickly (my 2000 Sentra, which is literally being held together by spare shoestrings, is a different story). Definitely the scariest October I’ve ever had.

     Which brings me back to the point of this column. “What scares Andrew Goodridge?” the title asks. On more than one occasion I answered that here. Everything. Everything scares Andrew Goodridge.

     And though Halloween — and, of course, horror movies — are inextricably tied to the macabre, the fiendish, and the morbid, I think I’ve spent more time reflecting on what makes Andrew Goodridge happy, rather than what makes him scared.

     The most obvious recurring theme from this column is that I need my scary movies to be fun. It should come as no surprise that I most definitely skipped “Saw 3D” this weekend (just like I skipped the last five installments). I’ve never been a fan of those torture-fest, gruesome, mean-spirited, nasty horror flicks. And the last month has just reinforced that for me. There’s enough to get you down in the real world. Why bother trying to convince myself that cynicism and sadism are entertaining?

     I’m happy to report that I found myself entertained more often this month than I had expected. I rediscovered some old favorites (“Child’s Play,” “Monster Squad,” “Killer Klowns from Outer Space”), and I found some new favorites as well (“The Changeling,” “Frozen,” “Pumpkinhead”). I’m still scared of ghosts and aliens (and, now, Pumpkinheads). But there’s plenty to make me happy, too. I have enjoyed working on this column, which has forced me to really sit down and think about movies and stories and culture and history. This month has made me think about what makes me love this art form so much, and I hope everyone enjoyed reading my thoughts. I enjoyed thinking these thoughts.

     This whole month, of course, has been leading up to the Big Day, and it was as great as I could have hoped for. Lindsay and I dressed as Judy and Doug Funnie from the Nickelodeon cartoon “Doug.” They’re brother and sister on the show, and that’s kind of weird. But it was fun.

     On Halloween, Lindsay and I watched two movies. The first was “Son of Frankenstein” (1939). What a happy movie that was for me. I’ve mentioned my affinity for Universal monsters here more than once, and “Son of Frankenstein” is definitely one of my favorites.

     And what’s not to love? It stars Boris Karloff as the Frankenstein monster, and Bela Lugosi as Dr. Frankenstein’s assistant, Ygor, These two (along with Lon Chaney and Lon Chaney, Jr.) are the faces behind the make-up that made Universal horror films what they were. It’s great to see these two on screen together. Though Boris is probably my favorite actor of the era, Bela Lugosi steals the show in “Son of Frankenstein” (where he’s far more entertaining than he was in “Dracula,” the role he’s best known for).

     “Son of Frankenstein” made me think of everything I’ve written about all month. Special effects artists, make-up, camp, entertainment, and a love and reverence for telling a great story. The story also made me think of my own dad. I’m glad he’s okay.

     We also watched “Young Frankenstein” (1974), which draws most of its inspiration from “Son of Frankenstein.” This is probably Mel Brooks’ best movie, and the same could be said for Gene Wilder. It’s a loving homage more than a silly parody. The makers of “Epic Movie” and “Superhero Movie” and “Disaster Movie” could take a lesson from “Young Frankenstein.” Mel Brooks’ and Gene Wilder’s love for the source material makes “Young Frankenstein” sharper, funnier, and more original.

     I hadn’t seen “Young Frankenstein” in years, though it’s Lindsay’s tradition to watch it every Halloween night.

     I’m glad to be part of that tradition now.

     The world is a scary place. I knew that before I started this column. But, through the month, I haven’t found new things that scare me so much as I found things I’m thankful I have. My family. My health. My Lindsay. And as for what really scares Andrew Goodridge … that would be losing the things that I have to be thankful for.

     Thanks for reading.