Horror

When I was a kid, horror films occupied a lot of my moviegoing time. I'd drag my Mom, brother or sister to take me to see the latest horror and sf flicks available. Some good, some, well just taking up space or films so horrible they weren't released, they escaped. I'd spend Friday nights watching Selwyn, the Channel 8 horror host make his corny comments and screen many of the classics of the 30's and 40's. This, after watching Twilight Zone earlier. I subscribed to Famous Monsters of Filmland and enjoyed my monthly forays with Uncle Forrie (Forrest J. Ackerman). I sharpened my wit with his pithy witticisms. BTW, most of the rest of movie time was filled with Westerns, anything with John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Steve McQueen and Errol Flynn. And, don't laugh, the occasional musical. Cultural balance?

The horror movies meant a great deal to me. Entertainment and escape of course. But more, in the form of elemental concepts of good and evil (Bible tales not withstanding). Though often simplistic, they often pointed toward a larger world.

Vampirism was often portrayed with little blood. That progressed of course, as the 60's segued into the 70's and on into the present with little left to the imagination.

What struck me as a kid was the simple portrayal of evil say, with Dracula. How he was repelled by the Cross etc. (Dualistic) Duel of power. What's stronger? It seemed to depend on innate strength and outward faith. Some were destroyed by Dracula's evil. Some resisted. Some caught in the middle. Some triumphed. Seems now like a lot of life.

Dracula often seemed tormented (in Bela Lugosi's portrayal particularly) by his rejection of good/God. Thus he was more easily repelled. Not so with Christopher Lee's Dracula. He seemed to embrace his evil and revel in it. He could be repulsed, but there was much more struggle, even combat. Choices and results.

Van Helsing, as either the old scholar portrayed by Edward Van Sloan or the younger charismatic doctor shown by Peter Cushing, was the go between representing good/God's servant. He dared to step into a larger world and combat evil in spite of derision and the dangers.

The parallels are obvious concerning what's happening to/in our country now. We have slowly been drained of the will to fight. Some have even been seduced to evil by one of its modern names, socialism, through a steady, unrelenting attack. Slowly, like Dracula's victims, the timber of the country has changed slowly to democracy. More is ahead with Count McBama. One or the other. Two flavors of socialism. When he's done, the Count will have created a new vampire. It would be a terrible parody of what it once was, just like any of the fictional vamp's recruits. This US of A would be a blood seeking socialist monster, ripe for plundering and for plunder.

Dracula seemed to fear little. But, when confronted with faith, light etc, he would literally crumble. So it is with Count McBama. He is seemingly unconcerned with the 'little' people he supposedly champions and actually drains.

Believe this: The Count is afraid. He is afraid of light/knowledge being shed on him. He is afraid of the understanding coming to more and more people about what's really 'up' or 'at stake' -s-. And he is afraid of the armed people who are determined that our Republic will prevail.

We can all be Van Helsings. That larger world beckons. Let us step into that world and combat with all means the evil facing us. There will be plenty of derision. Be prepared to be called tin foil beanie nuts, gun nuts, enemies of the state and worse. The dangers are commensurate.

Don't be afraid. Facing evil is rough sometimes. But worth the price. Plan. Research. Be a scholar and know your enemies. Confront them. Arm youselves with truth and guns. And when the time comes, whump some ass like that latest version of Van Helsing. The Count will not be stopped without a fight. Let's give it to him.