The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
Kicking off Halloween with the GOAT: Shelley Duvall
Fall is my favorite time of year. I see no need to rehash sentimental descriptions of leaves and crisp, cool breezes. You know why fall is great. I know why fall is great. Let’s continue.
Every year, as October approaches, I begin seeking out movies, television specials, and music to get me into the All Hallow’s Spirit. It is part of my Samhain season ritual. For years, I have been considering compiling my favorite spooky art recommendations into a book. This series of newsletters will be the start of that process. I hope.
I want to do this because I am tired of seeing countless lists suggesting any ol’ horror movies to scratch that October 31st itch. Instead of folding my arms and getting all grumpy about it, I’ve decided to spread my love of these titles to the rest of the world.
We begin with one of my all-time favorite series of specials: Faerie Tale Theatre.
Shelley Duvall is a hero of mine. As a resourceful producer, she brought an astonishing amount of talented people together in order to collaborate on amazing projects like Tall Tales & Legends, Nightmare Classics, Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme, and, of course, the aforementioned Faerie Tale Theatre.
All of these productions were horrifically under-budgeted. Yet that didn’t stop them from being innovative. They stretched every scent to create worlds that evoke something greater existing beyond the edges of the frame. Like theater, you can see the artifice, but accept it as part of the storytelling.
This is aided by great scripts performed by remarkable actors. The casts she was able to secure are staggering. They are a proverbial who’s who of 1970s/’80s stage and screen. All of them commit to the excellent material, allowing us to believe in the reality of the piece.
What does this have to do with Halloween? Well, for me, Halloween is a creative holiday. It is an opportunity to express yourself with absolute freedom. Not only in terms of the costume you choose to wear, but the decorations you surround yourself with, and the personal art you choose to create.
So much of what makes All Hallow’s Eve special is the atmosphere, and Faerie Tale Theatre has buckets of atmosphere — especially in my favorite episode: The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers.
The story of the episode is simple: a logical young man named Martin (played by Peter MacNicol) is forced to leave his home in the countryside due to his inability to feel frightened. The people around him are superstitious cowards. They see his relaxed, skeptical demeanor as inhuman. Thus, he leaves home to find out about the shivers.
His journey brings him to a small kingdom with a haunted castle, and a king (portrayed by the legendary Christopher Lee) offering a reward to anyone capable of surviving three nights in the castle. It’s really just a scheme to rob people of their belongings, but Martin is eager to give it a shot.
The nights he spends in the castle are reminiscent of haunted house attractions hosted by pumpkin farms all over the northeastern United States. I assume other regions have these, as well, but all I know is what I know. Ghosts are glimpsed before disappearing, hungry statues come to life, the Grim Reaper attacks with his deadly scythe, and affable spirits play a macabre game of bowling.
Tonally, the episode is similar to the Poe films produced by Roger Corman. Turn down the lights, shoot it on film, and the whole production would resemble a grisly Italian horror film. Add more adult material, and you have a perfect piece of Hammer horror.
That is to say that it rides the line between genres and appropriateness perfectly. It is genuinely funny, at times surprisingly creepy, and constantly thrilling. Kind of like Halloween, wouldn’t you say?
The reason I suggest starting off your Halloween viewing with this gem is the way in which Martin’s yearning for fright mirrors our own. With October just around the corner, many of us are searching for art that will give us a jolt of fright, or fill us with dread. Why not begin your journey with a character looking for the very same thing?
If you’re interested, you can find the episode online. As a bonus suggestion, I’ll recommend some music to get you into the swing of things as well. In this case, it’s the wonderfully melancholy and haunting The Killing Moon by Echo & The Bunnymen.