Back in the seventies, from what my brain remembers, there was a fascination with what was then termed “mysterious monsters.” I distinctly remember films about Bigfoot, and they frankly scared the shit out of me. I was a wimpy kid, but I was fascinated that that which most scared me. At the time, it was Bigfoot. Why I was frightened of Bigfoot living in Sarasota, Florida, I can’t say. However, one thing we all understand about fear is that it is seldomly rational.
Looking back, I remember watching Creature Feature, with Dr. Paul Bearer, on Saturday afternoons. As you can imagine, these movies were always old and always bad. I spent Saturday afternoons with monsters and aliens from the fifties and sixties, usually entertained and rarely frightened. I only remember one movie that had an effect: I think it was called Twisted Brain by Dr. Bearer, but IMDB calls it Horror High.
It was an updated Jekyll-and-Hyde revenge story. Vernon Potts was the troubled teen — the intelligent nerd bullied by the jocks. He invents a syrum that allows him to . . . you get the picture. The images that stick in my mind are the dark, deserted halls of the high school in which the monster Potts chases down several victims; the decapitation of a teacher by one of those medieval paper cutters — you know, the one with the big hinged arm that looks more like a torture device than a crafting accessory; and another teacher dumped in a drum of powerful acid that eats him down to his bones — the students find his bleached skull the next day. All of these are the clichés of B-movie horror, but it left an impression on me for a number of years.
There was another movie called Just Before Dawn. Now IMDB says this one came out in 1981, which seems a bit late for my memory of it. Yet, the description sounds right. It’s another one full of the clichés — teens go to woods and encounter a maniac — but the final scene has one girl running through the woods with the relentless killer closing. The sun is coming up . . . I can’t remember what happened. It’s less about the end with horror. I remember the moments, not the outcomes.
Anyway, all this to introduce my story “A Mysterious Monster” that I unearthed during my scanning project. I’m thinking about finishing it someday, or at lest correcting the spelling.
Now I think I’ll go watch The Legend of Boggy Creek 2.
Or better yet, the MST3K version.
“Capchard”? Can’t argue with the phonetics there. Honestly, I was more impressed by your use of cursive writing. Do they still teach cursive in schools? If for no other reason than to be able to decipher our earlier writings?
And btw, I met Dr. Paul Bearer once when I was 5 or 6. He was up at the Bayshore Theater back before the new mall/Target came in. My sister dragged me up there. I think I screamed and cried the whole time. Talk about a memory that sticks in your mind. Worse than sitting on Santa’s lap for pure therapy material.
Too funny. I saw him once in a Gasparilla parade. He looked greasy and small in the Florida sun.
Love MST3K! Your story was adorable
What does the “cap” part mean after each number?
You’ve stirred up some memories, Jer….And I admit to still being fascinated by Bigfoot. I hope it’s real.
What’s more real than a myth?
I think that’s supposed to stand for “chapter.” I’m still not a strong speller.