Movies that Scared me as a Child: Scrooged...

Why is that the movies that scared me as a kid weren't actually horror films? I really don't know, but there is some concepts that scare us all. This isn't completely a horror movie, but I felt like doing another genre mix-up film. Plus it's almost the Holidays, so what we got here is a Comedy/Horror/Holiday/Drama/Parody in one movie starring Bill Murray. This movie I actually did find quite terrifying when I was younger. Charles Dickens, that cynical man, who wrote A Christmas Carol probably should be awarded with creating the first story incorporating an independent Holiday other than Halloween with horror. That story in general frightened me. Mainly the ending with the ghost of Christmas Future/Yet to come. The grim reaper like character tossing Scrooge either into the pits of hell after being buried alive in almost all versions could frighten any child.

Scrooged is a parody of A Christmas Carol and easily in my top 3 for holiday movies. The movie starts off innocently enough. It was like Ghostbusters, but not centered around ghosts. At the time that's all you can really associate Bill Murray with. Frank Cross, Murray, is a TV executive who wants to air a live taping of a Christmas Carol on his network. You find out that he is very narcissistic and self-centered. Cross (Scrooge-like) is uncaring towards his female Secretary (who fulfills Bob Cratchet) with her mute son (Tiny Tim like) and his brother (Another element of Dicken's book.) Through out the film the taping of the show coincides with the real time events occurring to Cross. He begins seeing multiple images and warning signs.

What's scary about this? The ghosts. When Cross' ex executive visits him in his off in a skeletal like manner. He holds Cross out the window with a bony arm that slowly breaks and he falls. Cross hallucinates and sees images of burning men and dead homeless men he overlooked. Not too mention the terrifying Ghost of Christmas Future. The other two Christmas spirits were meant to bring a more comical element to the film. One is a taxi driver with a time traveling cab, and the other is in a fairy outfit and enjoys physically abusing Murray. The story is very uplifting and well written to incorporate Dickens's without boring you to death. We all have scene the 50 versions of that story. By far the most frightening scene, as in the original story as I mentioned, goes to Cross' visit to the future. You're ex-love not giving grief of your death, knowing you die alone, a little boy's life ruined, and everyone you know you should have cared for dead. Murray being burned alive in a casket is a very frightening scene. Scared me as a kid. If you like slight horror and unique holiday films with great dialogue, check this one out for sure.