Fear is a wonderful thing.
Okay maybe not wonderful but it’s most certainly interesting to talk about.
Lots of things frighten me. Exams. Loneliness. Dying naked. But fear is different for every single person on Earth. (And probably beyond.) Sometimes it’s taken to an extreme and turns into a phobia. Sometimes it’s not logical…though, come on, no one else is scared of dying naked? Just me. ‘Kay.
I’m also scared of Tom Baker and his eyes. Hence this cover photo, but that’s beside the point.
Fear has played an interesting part of Doctor Who’s history. Anytime you hear someone talk about watching the show as a child, especially back in the days of black and white it’s usually the same old song: hiding behind the settee, watching behind slightly spread fingers as their hands are pressed to their eyes. Ducking behind pillows the moment a dalek plunger was in sight. It’s something that’s been said a thousand times and something that’s been heard a thousand time’s more.
But, what is it about Doctor Who that makes us scared?
Is it childlike fear, because scared of rubber monsters and metal men in tinfoil and plastic because we are so little? Is it the stories about human monstrosities and the unknown enemies out there without morals such as our own? Is it the fact that everything is spookier in black and white? Honestly, I think it’s a mix of all these things. And more.
Why is it that as adults (or in my case a young adult) we’re still frightened of Dr Who’s horrors? Well, I think it goes beyond nostalgia. I genuinely believe, the Who was one of scariest things on television.
BECAUSE THE WRITING IN SERIES 10 WASN’T THAT GOOD HEY-OH no…no I’m joking I promise…mostly.
Mostly.
But there’s something inherently frightening about Doctor Who. Space; the great deep unknown where all sorts of life and creatures could be out there and violent. The invasions that happen in modern day and how helpless we are to stop them. The horrors of human history. What we’ve done in the the past, the horror that human beings are capable of. Not just in the times gone by, but in this day and age as well, and the Doctor having to call us out on it isn’t something that’s good to watch. When the Doctor is frightened of us.
Not to mention when we are afraid of the Doctor. When he doesn’t live up to the good guy persona that newer installments bestow upon him. It’s not a good feeling. It’s not good to watch the title character, the hero, make those tough decisions. Being less than an idol. Being the flawed being he is.
Now that I’ve gotten deep…goodness…
But what is it about black and white that just makes it creepiest stuff we’ve ever seen. Even things that weren’t even filmed to be frightening! It’s a Wonderful Life has some deep dark, eerie shots, especially along that bridge. And the stuff that was filmed for the express purpose of being scary? My God. Looking at you Bride of Frankenstein with that lightning effects and those Dutch angles.
Well, there’s my point right there. The way that black and white was filmed was just beautiful and terrifying. Because it wasn’t in colour, you had the light black and white differently you had to film black and white differently. You get these wonderful voids of black and shadows on faces and items that you couldn’t possible achieve with a colour camera that just adds to the atmosphere of the show. And adds to the spooky. Like majorly. Take any screen- cap.
Here we have Ian and Barbara just talking, but there’s just something about it that tells you a wonderful idea of the eerie atmosphere and the mystery surrounding them.
It’s just so wonderfully creepy, black and white. And honestly, Doctor Who benefited so much from it. It’s so very unsettling sometimes. And of course I love it, they don’t make them like they used to.
As for the rubber costumes, that to some would only frighten the younger audience members. Daleks, Voord, Silurians, Yeti, JNT’s Hawaiian shirts; nothing but costumes that if we ever saw them in real life we’d just me like. Oh. What a rubber thing this is. But honestly, children perhaps with their creative minds–with the aid of wonderful acting and effects of course, make these monsters even scarier than before. It’s a wonder. And it’s a wonder that lasts. Not to mention the design of these things are terrifying on their own. Sure, maybe on screen you don’t think you’ll be frightened of a dalek. But then you see one in real life and realize it’s taller than you are and realize how screwed you are if you ever met one face to face. Not that…I would know.
Also come on
THIS IS STILL TERRIFYING AND YOU CAN’T TELL ME I AM WRONG!!!
We love to be frightened, children especially. Why do kids sneak into horror films? Sure we may be sleeping with the lights on for a little while after that, but we adore it. That rush of adrenaline as our stomachs drop and our hearts retract into our throats and the blood for a moment turns to slush. It’s such a rush!
And still lasting! Adults who hear the tones of Nick Briggs and shudder, who still find the back of their furniture so appealing when the cybermen pop on screen or see a statue and force themselves not to blink. In not the most straight forward way, Doctor Who has made horror icons.
So yes, jump behind the sofa. Hide behind that pillow. Squeeze your eyes, shut your ears and all that. But don’t think I don’t see you peaking.
Also don’t blink, no breathe and don’t be a human. Cool? Cool.
Happy Halloween.
Don’t let the hiatus scare you too much.
Tina Marie DeLucia