Does anyone else... (spoilers)

[Aericanwizard]

So, I'm just about to finish my first re-read of Duma Key, and I'm at the scene where Edgar is about to drown Perse . Anyway, I've just finished the scene with Noveen, and I found it to be one of the creepiest in the entire novel. Does anyone else find that the idea of talking Ventriloquist dummies scares the bejeezus out of them?

It seems that the horror series I watched growing up ("Are you afraid of the Dark", "Goosebumps", "Tales from the Crypt", and to an extent "Twilight Zone" and "Outer Limits") have had variations of this "talking dummy", and I've always found them to be some of the creepiest.

I loved Salem's Lot, and the vamps did put the spook on me. It has bred in me a deep mistrust of clowns and their motives (what are they trying to hide with all that makeup?). But for some reason, my hackles raise as soon as a ventriloquist dummy enters the picture. Anyone else absolutely hate talking dummies? (I know I'm setting myself up for a lot of joke answers, but please guys, try and refrain).

Long days and pleasant nights.

[GNTLGNT]

Dummies don't get as much as that damnable cymbal clankin' banana muncher King dreamt up...

[omm poppa mow mow]

Yeah...like Walter. Ever see that dummy? Sheesh, what a grouch.

I think my parents harbored a dislike for them too, talking dummies. I wanted one in the worst way, say like when I was around....ummm 13. Give or take. Actually I think I'd open the Christmas catalog and as I'm paging through, there'd they'd be, the talking dummies. I think one was a Charlie Weaver doll, although I could be mistaken on that. I've got early onset Anderson's disease.

Thing of it was, I'd begin to day dream about having that talking dummy sitting on my knee, my hand inside his head, turning him this way and that. Did I ask for one? Oh, you bet I did. Which just goes to show that my parents harbored a dislike for them. Or maybe they had visions of their own, who knows.

Don't you get the idea that some of the talking heads on the television are really talking dummies? I mean, all you see is their head, their eyes that never blink, and their mouth that moves and words "come out". But then, they're so gull-darn....no muscles. No body stuff. They flop. That itself is enough to dampen spirits, no?

[91rewoT]

I think they're creepy too and I would be afraid to have one in my house. What if it started talking by itself? Or moving. And I agree about clowns. Their faces might be smiling, but look closely at the eyes my friend.
(My husband talked me into watching Jeff Dunham, and I have to admit, I do love Achmed the Dead Terrorist.)

[doowopgirl]

I won't joke. It's too obvious, and ventriliquist dummies are really creepy to me as well. There was a film loads of years back with a talking dummy. Why do I think Tony Curtis was in it? Anyway, really really creepy. It's not just you.

[since75]

I have a doll phobia. Groups of dolls, teddy bears, all those eyes scare me to my bones. I can't go in the doll aisle in stores. I hate dolls. If a story has a section about the evil dolls, I will skip that section, I can't even 'read about it'. So, I am with you in the feeling about Noveen. I am not scared of muppit-y dolls, but realistic ones with eyes.. shiver. I am creeping out just thinking about it to type this..

[Alexandra19]

Aericanwizard, I will not judge you.
I'm not afraid of dummies at all but I can understand why people do, whereas my own personal fear is totally absurd for a girl living in a european city. I am indeed afraid of... gators. Since that day I was playing Tomb Raider 1, and had to made Lara croft swim without suspecting anything, which made it even creepier when this awful pixelated gator attacked me.
Luckily, I don't have many chances to randomly meet one considering my way of life.
But I try not to think about what they say about the sewers...

[blunthead]

...Does anyone else find that the idea of talking Ventriloquist dummies scares the bejeezus out of them?

It seems that the horror series I watched growing up ("Are you afraid of the Dark", "Goosebumps", "Tales from the Crypt", and to an extent "Twilight Zone" and "Outer Limits") have had variations of this "talking dummy", and I've always found them to be some of the creepiest.

...Anyone else absolutely hate talking dummies? (I know I'm setting myself up for a lot of joke answers, but please guys, try and refrain).

Long days and pleasant nights.

My favorite horror movie is Dead of Night (1945), which may be the one doowopgirl saw (no Tony Curtis, tho). It's got the scariest, imho, story about a ventriloquist and his rather domineering dummy. Also Magic has a similar theme, and is a must-see for any Anthony Hopkins fan (he got nominated for Golden Globe).

[GNTLGNT]

This WAS a creepy little cuss...


BUT, THIS damn thing still scares the crap outta me(course, so do sock monkeys)

[cat in a bag]

My mom has ventriloquist dummy that looks just like this, minus the monkey--

jerrybig.jpg

She has it sitting on top of an antique organ. My kids always look at him funny and ask why he is sitting there when we are at her house. My nephew is the one who really doesn't like him, though. My mom has to remove the dummy from the room and put him away where my nephew can't see him when he is there.