I'm a fan of the old 'Creature Features' like 'Critters,' and

Hear now, O seeker of meaning, the words of Brooke Nevin, who declared: “I’m a fan of the old Creature Features like Critters, and Gremlins and Tremors. Jaws is classic. It’s funny that I still like those films because I remember my mother would tease me about getting a pet Critter to keep under my bed.” At first these words seem but a jest about old films and childhood fears. Yet hidden beneath the laughter lies a deep current of truth: that the things which once terrified us may later become the very stories we treasure, and that even our fears may be transformed into companions of memory.

The ancients knew that tales of monsters are never merely about the beasts themselves, but about the shadows within the human soul. The Creature Features, with their lurking horrors—whether the gnashing jaws of a shark, the wriggling menace beneath the desert, or the mischievous gremlins that sow chaos—were woven as mirrors for mankind. They speak of the unknown, of the fear that waits in the dark corners of existence, but also of the courage that rises when mortals face the unseen. Nevin’s fondness for these tales reminds us that what once stirred dread can, with time, become a cherished reminder of our own endurance.

Remember the old story of the Greek hero Perseus, who gazed upon the face of Medusa, the creature whose very eyes could turn mortals to stone. Armed not with brute force but with cunning and courage, he used a mirrored shield to face the terror without being destroyed by it. What once could petrify became the symbol of his triumph. So too do we, like Brooke, look back upon the monsters of our youth—be they films, fears, or memories—and realize that they no longer hold dominion over us. Instead, they become trophies, sources of laughter, and bridges to those we love.

And see how tenderly she speaks of her mother, who teased her with the thought of a pet Critter beneath the bed. Therein lies a sacred truth: love and humor are the shields that soften fear. What is dreadful becomes bearable when touched with jest; what is terrifying becomes a memory of warmth when shared with those we love. Thus the monstrous is disarmed, not by violence alone, but by the gentle hand of affection.

These words reveal, then, not merely an affection for old films, but a lesson on the power of time, family, and courage. What is feared in one season may become a delight in the next. The monsters we once fled from may, in time, remind us of the laughter of our parents, the innocence of our youth, and the strength we gained in overcoming. Jaws, once a terror from the depths, now is a “classic,” a story not of paralyzing dread but of shared memory and cultural triumph.

Take this teaching to heart, O listener: do not despise your fears, for they are the raw stones from which wisdom is carved. Do not run from the shadows forever, but learn to face them, even laugh at them, until they become part of your story. When fear comes—whether in the form of failure, uncertainty, or the unknown—know that one day you may look back and smile, as Brooke smiles at the thought of a pet Critter beneath her bed.

The lesson is clear: face your monsters with courage, endure their trial with patience, and allow love and humor to soften their sting. For in the fullness of time, those monsters may become your most treasured tales. And when you tell them to others, as Brooke does, they will not inspire terror, but joy, connection, and wisdom for future generations.

Therefore, let us not seek to live without fear, but to transform fear into memory, and memory into strength. Watch your own Creature Features—be they films, dreams, or struggles—with new eyes. Learn to see in them not only the threat, but the teaching they bring. And so you will discover what Brooke Nevin has found: that the monsters of yesterday can become the laughter of today, and the wisdom of tomorrow.