Looking at Films

Again a I’m posting an extra day just for the Wea’ve Written Weekly poetry prompt. The Poet of the Week, Sunra Rainz, has issued the challenge to write an ekphrastic poem in response to a horror film that gave you the chills or write about an experience that gave you the chills, any form is permitted.

To preface this I have to admit to avoiding horror movies at all costs. I have seen enough of them (and more previews and trailers) to know they just aren’t any fun for me unless there is plenty of humor such as Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland. That said, I viewed my share when young and foolish. I used to watch The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone with my family (because my father was a big SciFi fan). We watched the Saturday afternoon movies. These were generally very corny black and white films like “The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” or “Tarantula!”. The single most chilling part of the movies was that blood curdling, spine tingling and completely unnerving scream of terror that was released by a woman in fear of her life or at the moment of her demise. The movie that really got me was one of the last of this type that I watched – Blow Out. Below is my ekphrastic poem for the film Blow Out.

Night and rain fall soft
In the dark he can hear
Straining the ear
To catch the sound of fear

A subtle rustle
A short skuffle
And then – the scream

Long ago I’d watch
Black and white films noir
With evil deeds at their core
Tremolo violins play the score

A pregnant gasp
Unknown hands grasp
And then – the scream

Murder, blackmail, assassination
My heart in terror swells
Unseen danger dwells
Just beyond the stifled yells

Then pause a life
dripping bloodied knife
And then – the scream

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