Chick Flicks.
My brothers and I were scarred by three movies (well, three of them by two of them and one of us by the other)
1.) “The Piano”. This was classic Ludovico technique torture. All three of us enjoyed one part, though...when the sinking piano snares the woman and drags her down. Outwardly, I am sure we all looked catatonic. Inside, we cheered.
2.) “The Hours”. Has there ever been a more aptly named movie? The problem is, like “The Piano”, the name carries none of the horror of watching the movie. The name is too mundane. Again, the sight of the woman’s corpse bumping over the rocks as the placid stream carried it along brought us joy, knowing that the scene heralded the end of the movie.
3. “Autumn in New York”. Only one of my brothers saw this movie, and when we talk to him about it, it is clear to an observer he was severely traumatized. It is akin to watching an old man talk about his terrible kidney stone attack. He never quite gets over it.
“Beaches” was the ultimate torture.
The English Patient. I think my date is still in the cinema watching this movie. I left her there after the first three hours. That was almost 20 years ago.