Awakeners

[Zoombie]

Okay, this might sound childish, but there are some...things that have been show on film that should not have been shown to us as kids. And even now, I find some of these things can float up from my brain in that eerie time between awake and asleep and jar you right into "hide behind the covers in cowering terror" mode.

So...because I'm a masochist, I'd like to hear what keeps you awake at night when the lights are off and the moon is in your eyes.

I'll start us off with my personal Awakener.

The Gentlemen

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/images/RikBooth/Buffy_%283%29.JPG

Okay, I hate these guys. Tall, gray skinned, equipped with metal teeth, scalpels and the most creepy supernatural power ever ever....they gave me the chills when I first saw them in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and they give me chills now!

It doesn't help, by the way, that they showed up in Buffy's first year of college. And it doesn't help that I'm from Sunnyvale! And my high school looked just like Buffy's high school!

CRAP!

To those who haven't seen this episode (Hush, fyi), here's the lowdown. The Gentlemen come to town and steal everyone's voices, rendering the entire town mute and panicked. Seems the Gentlemen can only be destroyed by the sound of a scream. Anywho, they need to gather seven hearts and some other organs before they can unleash their Random Evil of the Week.

But the scene that stuck with me was the scene where two college roomates are sleeping and one of them gets awakened, strapped down, and vivicected by the Gentlemen...without his roommate even noticing. Becuase, of course, the victem can't scream.

<shudders>

Oh and my bed (in a dorm) is right next to a window. The mental image of a Gentleman floting there won't get out of my brain. Great.

So...

What keeps you up at night?

[My-Immortal]

So...

What keeps you up at night?

Usually work. And Mt Dew. And then during the day, when I'm actually trying to sleep, the neighbors mowing their yard, neighbors using power tools, neighbors playing their music too loud, neighbors not realizing that not everyone works all day and sleeps all night....

Oh...sorry...you meant in a scary way. :)

I drive at night. Usually all night and when I'm not dodging drunks on the road (or wild animals wandering across the street), I've had to swerve to avoid idiots on bikes. They weren't using any lights and were wearing dark clothing and I didn't hit them, but I've had nightmares that I have...

Damn...you meant, what's kept me up all night from watching films...

Well....LOL....no, no, no, not THOSE kinds of films...

The original Alien movie produced a few nightmares...

Bloodrayne...but only because it was SOOOO bad....

I kept falling asleep while watching Dark City (I think that's the name of the movie), so the creepy men in black that looked a lot like those guys in the pic above intruded on a few dreams...

Honestly, I don't often watch 'horror' movies so I haven't had too many nightmares from movies.

[katiemac]

Can't even shout, can't even cry
The Gentlemen are coming by.
Looking in windows, knocking on doors,
They need to take seven and they might take yours.
Can't call to mom, can't say a word,
Your gonna die screaming but you won't be heard.