I had mentioned in an earlier post about movie scenes that frightened me when I was a little kid (http://hungieman.blogspot.com/2008/07/movies-to-make-you-cryin-fear.html). Another thing that always used to frighten me was the intro to the 1980's TV show "The Twilight Zone".
The Twilight Zone sort of rode the coattails of fantasy/horror anthology shows like "Amazing Stories" and "Tales From The Darkside". I enjoyed this show a lot as a little kid though I'm sure a ton of it went over my head. Anytime this show came on though, I had to leave the room because I hated the opening credits. Let's take a closer look.
0:00-0:07 - Right off the bat, you get some creepy music and a pull away camera shot through the window that then slams shut. This part I could handle.
0:10-0:18 - Now the room we're in fades out and we see this rotating ball that shows disturbing images. First up...a fetus! Mind you, I didn't know what a fetus was much less what one looked like (I was 8 when this show was on the air). It just looked like a messed up baby and babies are supposed to be cute right? Needless to say, this part made me run for the hills. Would this ever be allowed on TV today?
0:19-0:21 Okay, a tarantula. No problems here. I had learned in 3rd and 4th grade that tarantulas are friendly as long as you don't try to squish them.
0:22-0:23 Hmmmm...a carousel. Yes, those horses do have some pretty scary looks on their face but its a quick shot so I don't have much time to think about it until...
0:23-0:25 GAH! A China doll! I HATED these motherf*ckers growing up. They have that glassened look to them. The lighting on this shot makes it look even more creepy when its blinking. My second most scary shot, right below the fetus image.
0:27-0:29 Cool! An explosion! Wait what's that you said Dad? That's a nuclear explosion that would decimate most of the United States if one was dropped on us by those filthy Russians? But Dad, didn't you see Rocky IV? The Cold War is OVER.
0:30-0:51 The window is back but fades into the black and white image of Rod Serling, the original creator of the show before finally showing the title credit shot. You quickly hear the old Twilight Zone theme and then a pretty long fade out.
I actually loved the show itself and will seek it out on DVD one of these days but I'll always have the opening credit sequence as a founding member to the Scary Hall Of Fame in the back of mind.
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