It seems to get harder each year to get together a “Best Of” list of films that were released that year. So this year instead I will pay tribute to some of my all time favourite films. Ever since high school my family tradition was to celebrate Xmas on Xmas eve. We would always go to Xmas eve mass, then come home and open our presents. Eventually I rebelled against Catholicism and refused to go to mass so my parents and younger brother brother went to mass while I stayed home and watched my favourite film while I waited for their return. For most of my young life that film was, “The Lost Boys” until eventually t was replaced with “The Last Starfighter”.
This ritual of watching (one of) my favourite film on Xmas eve has become the only way I celebrate it. Preferably alone. This year, finding myself the father of a Trash Racoon Pomeranian, I was inspired to get in the spirit, get a tree and swap it with gifts for the mongrel. We started the fav movie marathon with “the Empire Strikes Back”
How camp is that trailer!
I followed this with Gremlins, as it is a Xmas movie and me and Alexander (Barbarian´s mum) have always said B looks like Stripe. And now that he has his BFF Lord Byron, the two of them are uncanny dead ringers for Gizmo and Strip!
“While everybody else is opening up their presents, they´re opening up their wrists.” I forgot how dark this film was. A very clever dark horror film disguised as a family Xmas film.
This time of year is the hardest and loneliest for many people. For anyone who has ever felt alone, desperate to feel wanted or belong to someone or something, as hard as it may be, try to accept you are not alone, all you have to do is pick up the phone and call a help line. It might not be the type of human interaction you dream of having but it may help you get through the day, week, month or year. And know that there are many other people feeling as alone and hurt as you. Even those people that you think have it all. I have had suicidal thoughts. And many times fantasied about my own death and found an emotional release imagining how the people in my life would react. Dont worry, I would never kill myself. I am way to stubborn for that. When I was suffered depression the worst as a teenager I created relationships with the characters in the novels I read, or the films I watched. Which was fuel to keep me going while they lasted and very hurtful when the book or film came to an end. Music also provided me with an escape, and that was one format that never had to come to an end. Find what works for you and keep fighting.
And if you are hurt and alone today, or suffer the loss of a father or someone close to you. I know how that feels and this message is from ME to YOU, “Merry FKIN Xmas” And if you need some company, have you seen how long this BLOG has been going for? I can be with you for the night!
Fuck, I better make my next fav film a bloody uplifting one one!
A quick nod to the 2 most watched films in this Xmas tradition of mine,
so the last film this eve is my all time favourite animation film…
MERRY XMAS!
