Silly season

Me and horror movies do not mix. They never have. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that me and anything of the paranormal variety do not mix. I am scared of everything associated with it. I don't like this time of year for a number of reasons:

1. Trick or treaters. I remember when I was small and there was a spate of attacks where people did really nasty things in the guise of a 'trick' on Halloween. Ever since then a knot of fear coils in my stomach every time the doorbell rings on Halloween.

2. The abundance of horror movies they show on TV at this time of year.

3. The fear that something spooky might actually happen to me and I'd never get over it.

The big sticking point is that despite acknowledging my fear of everything paranormal, I am a bit like a moth to a flame with it. There is something darkly attractive about it. I am fascinated by, and curious about it, but at the same time utterly terrified of it. I've seen scary horror movies - I watched 'The Ring,' (the scariest movie ever made to my mind) and felt quite disturbed for a number of days afterwards. When I was in my teens I took delight in the horrific thrill of watching the series of Nightmare on Elm Street movies at countless sleepovers and suffered sleepless nights for weeks afterwards, sleeping with the light on. Yes, cliched but true.

I'd have thought that by the time I reached my thirties, I'd be over it. But no. I still find myself drawn to things that terrify me. For the past few nights I have been glued to 'Most Haunted Live' on the Living channel. The sensible side of me understands a lot of it must be faked, the rational part of me - the part that has studied the human mind - understands that the power of suggestion and belief can stir up some crazy things when a group of people are put together. But STILL I sit and cower in the corner of the sofa. I become rooted to the spot, unable to go to the kitchen to get a cup of tea, or go up to the loo, in case something comes and gets me.

So why do I do it? Why do I put myself through this? The psychologist in me analyses and identifies it as what's called 'threat rehearsal.' Evolutionists have a theory that nightmarish dreams serve a similar purpose - we rehearse threats in our mind and unconscious, so that we can better deal with them when faced with them. Naturally, back in the day we were chased by predators such as wild animals - not zombies or ghosts, but time and evolution distorts the picture.

However, much as I indulge my fear, I do draw the line somewhere. I believe that some things just shouldn't be messed with, which is why I got so upset with Yvette Fielding and her Most Haunted show the other night. Call me stuffy, call me a whimp, but I don't think invoking the devil is a terribly brilliant idea, especially when it's supposed to be for the purpose of 'entertainment.' But that's exactly what they did. There they were, standing in a circle of salt, chanting chilling incantations to summon the 'Lord of Darkness.' I really couldn't believe it. I don't care if it is fake, represents light entertainment, or that it is intended to be taken with a pinch of salt - it's silly. What worries me is that ill informed people will go off and do a similar thing, not understanding it. While I don't think anyone could invoke the devil, they could seriously psychologically damage themselves in the belief that they have, and the consequences of believing that they did.

It's all very well to indulge your fears at a safe distance, it's healthy, it helps you rationalize them. It's why horror movies and Most Haunted rake in viewers and money by the bucketful - and the producers know it. When, however, shows like Most Haunted irresponsibly air content that pushes the boundaries of light entertainment, where instead of bumps and knocks, they push for demonic manifestations, it's time to switch off the television and do something else.