Within each of us lurks a monster. Even the most loving, genuine people can have a fascination with the darker side of things. This is evident in our mainstream culture of violent video games and murder shows like Forensic Files & CSI. Anyone that has rented a video in the last decade knows that the Horror Aisle is filled with gore and bloody scenes; some so grotesque they are comical, others striking a cord of real primal fear within us. Most of us love a good scare and getting the creeps can sometimes be fun, often providing opportunity for couples to get closer as the scenes grow more frightening. For me, watching scary movies goes beyond the snuggle factor. This might sound crazy but these movies; slashers, zombie flicks, murder mysteries… they all remind me of our humanity on that level that most don’t want to acknowledge. These movies are about death. Terrifying? Certainly. Entertaining? Well, yeah. (But it’s better than watching lions eat men alive in stadiums.)

If you like scary movies you know the joy of that adrenaline rush when something goes BOO! Or the feeling of superiority when you start saying things like, “Why is she going upstairs? I would just get the hell out of there. He’s right behind you!”

While most of us can sleep at night knowing that “it’s just a movie”, I do know that horror happens on a daily basis. I don’t like to pretend that life is all puppy dogs & kittens. I like to be reminded of the monsters. I think over the years watching scary movies has made me more cautious, and maybe even a little less trusting, believing more now that trust has to be earned on all levels.

What does any of this have to do with black tshirts?

When I see someone wearing a black t-shirt and jeans I make two assumptions. One, that they would watch a scary movie and two, that there exists in them a bit of obscurity, just like my favorite movies. It’s like a badge of sorts; proclaiming to the world, “I am not afraid to get in touch with my dark side.” And as for trust, I would be far more likely to trust someone wearing a black t-shirt than a black tie.

Some of my favorite scary movies include:

The Shining (of course!), Jaws, Amityville Horror (this one terrified me!) Cabin Fever, Shaun of the Dead, Dagon, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the original!), The Others, Twilight Zone: The Movie, The Exorcist…and many more.

So the next time you want to watch a movie, snuggle up with some ghosts or the boogey man…it’s good to get that heart pumping!