Movie Night

The temperature in the Alpha Theatre seemed to have dropped ten degrees below the freezing norm as students filed into the hall with their friends, trying to grab seats at the front. Tickets were checked; the quaintness of their old-fashioned, 50’s style was a general praise from the members of the audience. Students purchased popcorn at sensible prices and tried to ingest the whole cup of popcorn before their hands started shaking in barely-concealed fright.

The film that was to be shown that evening was “Shutter,” the famous (or rather, notorious) Thai film about the vindictive ghost that haunts the lives of her contemptible boyfriend and his friends. Complete with both the traditional “sudden shock” trope as well as a sinister, underlying creepiness, the students were seen spilling popcorn everywhere and clutching their friends in moments that surely would not be talked about the next day. 

Hey, it's just the poster.

 Shrieks were copious and the sheer volume would have driven people out of the college had there been any remaining classes as the film’s cornucopia of scares jolted even a buff nineteen-year old, making him scream and drop his books. The students who had eagerly bagged beanbags, soft pillows and cushions at the front of the movie seemed to regret their decision as they were closest to the turbulent countenance of the ghost on screen.

“It’s more fun watching with you guys - your screams drown out my own,” said Kay Hui from CAL. The sentiment was seemingly tinged with truth, as most students wobbled out after the movie; some weak-legged, others attempting to retain whatever semblance of macho-ness that remained. My conclusion? Horror movies are definitely more fun with friends, especially when their screaming is louder than yours.

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Written by Neha Shaji
Cambridge A-Levels