I Love Childrens Movies

Scarred for life...

Everyone's had some moment during their childhood when they saw a movie that seriously screwed them up. I'm not talking about the time you accidentally saw something you weren't supposed to (like that regrettable time you watched Friday the 13th at that sleepover in fifth grade). I'm talking about actual family films that, for one reason or another, contained material that made a mark on your young, impressionable self. Think Bambi's mom, or Old Yeller.

For me, the definitive "scarring" movie was Toy Story. Yup, the groundbreaking Pixar film about toys that came to life. I remember pretty vividly going to see this with my dad and some family friends when I was six, and my dad telling me the next day (upon noticing my attachment to a new doll I had) that perhaps my other toys were getting jealous that I was spending so much time with the new doll. Boom. Scarred. From that point on, I was unable to sleep with just one stuffed animal when I went to bed. I had to have ALL of them, to make sure they were each getting the same amount of attention. Even today, I have problems getting rid of things I no longer use, or putting old toys in storage because of the resulting sense of guilt. I mean really...WTF?

Has anyone else had similar experiences? Were there any movies that profoundly messed you up during childhood? It's time to air out those long-held cinematic traumas!

Re:Scarred for life...

Well, I've said this before, but that black wolf in Benji the Hunted really freaked me out.  I was kind of fascinated by my fear though.  But I always had to walk out of the room during the scene when he runs off the cliff to his death.  Why this movie was apparently playing at my house so often as a child I have no idea why!

Likewise, the black wolf creature in The Neverending Story, peeking out from inside his dark cave with those piercing eyes.  I just didn't like those critters!

Re:Scarred for life...

"Old Yeller" messed me up pretty good. I remember crying for what seemed like hours after the shooting scene. I was far too young to get the true meaning of the love the boy had for his dog and the humane act he had to perform himself. I just saw that scene in paticular a few weeks ago and was unable to rein in my emotions yet again, some thirty years later.

The Twilight Zone episode of the "The Thing on the Wing" creeped me out so bad that I slept at the foot of my parent's bed on the floor for over a week! Something about the way it "flew" around on the wing. Nasty little critter.