Y'know, I haven't seen much of Stand By Me, but I saw a just bit of it. Some of what I saw featured Gordie's jerk dad, played by Marshall Bell, who you might remember as Kuato from Total Recall. For some inexplicable reason, I got the creeps from his character, despite his limited screen time. Yes, he's an emotionally abusive pig (for lack of a better word), but that's just scratching the surface. Some things about him are just... off. The cold eyes, the monotone voice that rarely changes octave, and the robotic movements remind me of the mind-controlled father from Invaders From Mars, which King obviously had to have seen prior to writing The Body.
I happen to have an autism spectrum disorder, which usually makes it difficult for some kids with the condition to pick up on facial gestures and other little details. I never really had that problem. In fact, I'm really good at picking up on subtleties and oddities. It's part of the reason I want to be a writer. I'm of the opinion that horror fiction isn't about what's on the surface, like some psychopath with a knife lunging at you or some monster from the swamp. What's truly scary are the things that are underneath the surface, seeping through the façade slowly.
Here's to you, Marshall Bell! I'll see you in my nightmares!
I happen to have an autism spectrum disorder, which usually makes it difficult for some kids with the condition to pick up on facial gestures and other little details. I never really had that problem. In fact, I'm really good at picking up on subtleties and oddities. It's part of the reason I want to be a writer. I'm of the opinion that horror fiction isn't about what's on the surface, like some psychopath with a knife lunging at you or some monster from the swamp. What's truly scary are the things that are underneath the surface, seeping through the façade slowly.
Here's to you, Marshall Bell! I'll see you in my nightmares!
