Psycho!
I guess I’m a psycho because Psycho’s shower scene is still the scariest thing I ever saw. No other movie has taken up residence in my spine, soul, brain and stomach like this movie has.
Even though it’s been quite a few years since I’ve seen it and even though it was in black and white-- and I knew she was going to get murdered in the shower -- it still creeped me out to the point that I have trouble taking showers to this day.
I don’t trust life behind the shower curtain. It’s a contained space that gives me claustrophobia, the steam rises up slowly until you can’t see where to put the soap and then poof a gentle movement of that shower curtain and my heart starts to pump wildly and I want to scream for help.
For a while we had a glass shower enclosure. I wanted it all clear glass so I could see Norman Bates when he entered our bathroom.
The shower enclosure started to leak and we’ve since removed it, repaired the booboo and now have a somewhat permanent temporary shower rod with a shower curtain (very pretty one I might add) but I’m right back to my paralyzing fear of showers yet again.
I keep most of the shower curtain scrunched back and only pull out enough curtain to keep from flooding the floor, but still, it is so creepy to be behind that thing and know that Norman Bates can and will get into my house and kill me at any moment.
I guess I’m a psycho because Psycho’s shower scene is still the scariest thing I ever saw. No other movie has taken up residence in my spine, soul, brain and stomach like this movie has.
Even though it’s been quite a few years since I’ve seen it and even though it was in black and white-- and I knew she was going to get murdered in the shower -- it still creeped me out to the point that I have trouble taking showers to this day.
I don’t trust life behind the shower curtain. It’s a contained space that gives me claustrophobia, the steam rises up slowly until you can’t see where to put the soap and then poof a gentle movement of that shower curtain and my heart starts to pump wildly and I want to scream for help.
For a while we had a glass shower enclosure. I wanted it all clear glass so I could see Norman Bates when he entered our bathroom.
The shower enclosure started to leak and we’ve since removed it, repaired the booboo and now have a somewhat permanent temporary shower rod with a shower curtain (very pretty one I might add) but I’m right back to my paralyzing fear of showers yet again.
I keep most of the shower curtain scrunched back and only pull out enough curtain to keep from flooding the floor, but still, it is so creepy to be behind that thing and know that Norman Bates can and will get into my house and kill me at any moment.
posted by mary bishop | 2:26 PM
38 Comments:
Buy a clear shower curtain (or they may call them shower curtain liners...I guess some people have basically two curtains, the clear one inside, and the pretty one outside.)
I have had Psycho shower paranoia before.
I have the shower curtain paranoia as well. You said it perfectly ~ it's a claustrophobic little self contained world in there and an obvious way to get someone if getting someone was the goal.
I always make sure the house is locked before I shower at home alone.
Andrea you are so smart! I can get a clear liner and then just push back the fabric part -- that way I can see when Norman sneaks in the bathroom...
acumamakiki --I lock the doors to the outside, but for some reason don't lock the bathroom door..I guess because I don't want to be locked in with Norman..
Also doesn't the steam kind of choke you when you're taking a hot shower...the mirrors steam up and pretty soon your vision is impaired and it is at that very moment you "hear" something strange....
AHHHH - bath tonight, no shower.
LOL,,, I can sympathize. I too share in the paranioa.
Then came "Friday the 13th". When the girl is in the bathroom brushing her teeth, its raining outside,,, and then she gets killed horribly of course, that one stuck with me for awhile.
Bathing will happen only during daylight hours this week. My husband is traveling for the next 3 days and you should hear the noises that I do when he's gone!
The shower curtain is cracked AND I usually end up peeking out at least 2x in between the shampoo and conditioner. We don't have a lock on our bathroom door and your right, having it locked leaves you with one less option of a get-a-way.
The Original Nightmare on Elm Street still creeps me out..that you can dream yourself to death...that is creepy! :O
Bradley
The Egel Nest
Holy crap, MB! I had forgotten that I used to not even go into the bathroom until I'd reached around the corner, flipped on the light switch, and then jumped out of the way. The light would evaporate Norman Bates/Freddy Kruger and if I accidentally went in to the room too early, I would only find evidence that they had been there but left in a hurry.
I've had a clear shower curtain on my showers since I've been buying my own shower curtains. I'd never thought about why before, but now I understand: it's so the boogey man can't hide from me!
On the other hand, I absolutely cannot sleep in a room if I can see that a closet door is open.
Goodness, the things our imagination does to us!! I too have a phobia with unclosed closet doors, I keep seeing small red eyes starring back at me. Eeeeekkk!!!
dashababy...why do they have to do murders in bathrooms? We are at our most vulnerable in the bathroom. We are usually naked or half-naked, and there's only one way out in most cases. Another scared sister for our tally!
Acu - you too? My guy will be gone for three days also...I do have two golden retrievers though that bark at nothing and everything which ends up being a mixed blessing.
Woof Woof in the middle of the night could be a B and E occurring or a response to the cat padding upstairs to hang out in the guest bedroom.
Bradley...oh you have to remind me of how spooked I was after seeing that movie! Funny thing is, I still like to watch the occasional horror movie even though I know I won't watch it and be unscathed...self torture I guess....
Miss Kate..this line cracked me up: The light would evaporate Norman Bates/Freddy Kruger and if I accidentally went in to the room too early, I would only find evidence that they had been there but left in a hurry.
I know exactly what you mean!!!
Along and Miss Kate: Everyone knows that the bogeyman has a few favorite hiding spots: closet, behind the shower curtain and of course, in the basement....sure wish my house was built on a slab, one less worry!
I am most afraid of someone (other than Norman) coming in through the basement windows, creeping up the stairs, getting by the two dogs and finding me asleep in the bedroom (oh it's a first floor bedroom which brings it's own problems and fears...easy to just climb in the open window, so my window remains locked for that reason!)
Miss Kate: How's the new job?
Ahhh....I cannot take showers at night when my husband is away, because of someone nabbing me. When I was in college, I used to be paranoid that if someone broke into my apartment, they would hide in the shower, soooo I would walk over to the shower with a big ol' butcher knife. Pull a reverse Bates on them.
And do not get me started on mirrors at night(bloody mary, bloody mary), or closet doors or basements. I'm such a scaredy cat.
PG - here we are, a group of strong, accomplished women scared to death of the bathroom shower!
I wonder if men ever have problems with showers...are they scared of open closet doors, moving shower curtains or strange sounds they hear in the night?
I will also add a strong fear of clowns to my list...they give me the creeps....
I am not afraid of showers. Or at least, I wasn't till now.
As far as sleeping with the closet door closed, well, that's just good common sense. You don't INVITE them into your sleeping quarters.
I try to control it consciously, but in leaving a creepy place, like the dark, gothic chamber that is the basement of the big farm house I live in ... my last few steps are always just a bit quicker. You know, in case the axe is already in its vicious downward arc, this will make it miss me, or the hands reaching out for me will scrabble at my shirt and the fabric will tear just enough for me to get away.
Also: fine, put your feet on the floor when you're getting out of bed. But for God's sake, don't let your feet just sit there, your ankles begging to be grabbed by long, sharp claws so you can be pulled under the bed and eaten at leisure. What are you, new?
Nilbo...love your comment..I forgot about the ankle thing...they slice off your hamstrings so you can't walk and then eat you piece by piece...
Why do we watch movies like this? They say catharsis, but I haven't had one yet...
In my movie script the psycho will be peering in the windows, sneaking up on the lil chick that is a buck 5 drippin wet. Just as he is about to pounce she is going to see him and beat his ass till he is dead. The whole thing will take a brutal 5 minutes because she is a martial arts guru. Do you think I can market this?
From my "be prepared" boy scout training...
Every once in a while, I will just fall on the floor in the shower grasping at the shower curtain so that it pulls out by the rings one at a time.
This way, I will be ready and in good form in case something does happen.
Jeff, that's a marketable plot, may I play the part?
Sparky...practicing death throes is so prescient and precious!
Mb, I could not have cast a better leading lady, while he is in agonizing pain you could recite poetry or do an algebra problem or something. I can see our potential target market growing already.
I have that phobia, too... plus another one that I couldn't tell you WHERE it came from. The toilet. I know no mass murderer could be lurking in the toilet bowl, nonetheless, there's something about exposing my rear-end when i'm already jumpy that... well... yeah. I don't like when I have to pee in the middle of the night after I've seen a scary movie or am for some other reason unusally jumpy.
I haven't had the scare's recently but I spose reading this will renew 'em! Thanks mb! ;)
Semi-transparent shower curtains are your friend!
Regarding Psycho,
I really wish that I could have watched that movie without knowing about the shower scene. No wait, no I don't. If it had taken me by surprise...I would probably be a baths-only girl.
I forgot about feet dangling by the bed too. Now I have an attic and cellar doors to deal with as well. You will not see me going into these rooms at night.
I absolutely cannot watch horror movies. When I was a kid, my parents were very permissive (read: They didnt care what we watched, did, went, ect). I went to see a Friday the 13th movie when I was about 12 or 13. When I went to bed-terrified- I could swear that I heard Freddy's claws tapping in my dresser drawer. I actually got in bed between my parents for safety. They still bring it up to this day.
No HORROR movies for me. But, bring on the suspense thrillers...those rock!
In the shower this morning,I started thinking about this shower post and suddenly, I couldn't remember locking the back door. From the 3rd floor I went dripping wet and buck naked down to the back door which was locked, but only the screen door and bolted myself back in. Phew!
Oh, no, Nilbo, I have been neglecting ankle safety for quite some time, now. I forgot about that danger!! All these others, I am aware of. We have clear glass doors on the shower now. That works. We also have skylights in the bathroom, and I always look up there expecting to see some psycho looking in. From the roof. WTF? The most scared I've been from movies were The Shining and The Exorcist. I don't do horror movies anymore. I am increasingly careful with what I put into my unconscious.
Jeff..I will go get my implants and be ready for the role very soon...(actresses don't have real breasts anymore, do they?)
E - toilet phobia, I have that too, it's because once I read about a snake or alligator that came from the sewer lines into a toilet and attacked the ass that hung there. Urban legend I'm sure but still you never know what's going to bite you in the ass!
Weetzie, so far I've made it through a few showers and no nightmares yet...but I'm waiting for E's toilet phobia to kick in very soon.
Summer, CB, PG, Lawbrat - oh the creepy crawlys will descend upon us all if we keep commenting on this subject. I feel tonight's the night for the big nightmare of nightmares...It will involve showers, and wimpy men, ankles, toilets and snakes for sure...
Acumamakiki...that must have been a sight...you flying down the stairs dripping wet, heart pounding to check the door! I'd have done the same thing..except I'm so paranoid I check 2 or 3 times before I enter the fearful shower!
Susie..we cross commented! How about this one: After shopping you get into your car, are prepared to back up when you see a flyer stuck to your rear window. So you get out, usually leaving the door open and the car on...and someone jumps up, knocks you out, throws you in the backseat of your car and takes off....
I don't do malls at night alone anymore when I heard this one-- and the achille's tendon cutting guy who hides UNDER your car at malls....
I'm watching Disney tonight before I go to bed!
Something else to fear....
Glad you clairified that MB. I thought you may have meant Dental or somthin.
I almost ALWAYS check the doors. Sometimes I think I have OCD because I check the door, etc. so much.
Better late than never, MB...
I used to have regular dreams that Frankenstein was behind the shower curtain waiting for me to get up in the night and pee..then he'd jump out at me and chase me into the darkness.
I dreamed that dream at least once a month for my entire childhood.
I have since rid myself of the shower curtain fear, unless you're counting fear of shower curtain mold and mildew. Then, I'm still really afraid.
Everyone should be very proud of me. Last night I took a 2 minute shower at 9.30 without my husband in the house. I made sure our dog was right by the bathroom door. (of course I try not to think about killers that get the dog first)
Jeff - Maybe someday...but I hope not.
Acu - I always have that when I'm throwing away garbage in fast food restaurants..I'm always afraid to let go in case I have my keys or money in my hand too and I let that go into the garbage...everybody who's anybody has a little OCD, right?
Hi LB - you get me hooked on babble thanks a lot! Really it is fun but addictive...I'm neglecting my bloggin world now..oh my not enough time for all the fun I can have!
PG - you prove to mankind that scaredy cat shower women are still completing their ablutions and fighting that fear!
I'm glad this was still up because last night I relived yet another shower curtain fear. Something I'm CERTAIN developed from The Shining or another one of those movies. That something is lurking behind the shower curtain when it's shut and you go into the bathroom for something OTHER than a shower. Funny that LB would happen to post her Frankenstein fear that is so very similar. It wouldn't have to be Frankenstein. A plain old corpse - even unanimated - could be lurking in my bath before the curtain is drawn. UGH. I think I'll be taking sponge baths for a while now.
E - I really think there are monsters behind the shower curtain, why else woul so many of us have these fears.
A real fearful thing I've found in my tub is an earwig EWWWWW I don't know why, but summertime I get a handful of earwigs in the tub...
Which brings me to my jacuzzi - I hate it because I'm sure the earwigs hide in the jets.
E - I really think there are monsters behind the shower curtain, why else woul so many of us have these fears.
A real fearful thing I've found in my tub is an earwig EWWWWW I don't know why, but summertime I get a handful of earwigs in the tub...
Which brings me to my jacuzzi - I hate it because I'm sure the earwigs hide in the jets.
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