Uncle Feedle

[davidn]

there was a man made all of rags
his name was uncle feedle
he watches you through stitched-up eyes
he'll kill you while you sleep-le...

Just the thing we need for a children's programme - a possessed stop-motion rag puppet with stitches over his eyes who lives in what looks like the centre of Tim Burton's head. And I hadn't seen the rest of that whole story until recently, with his entire unholy voodoo family. Growing up with things like this, it's no wonder I have so many nightmares now.

Comments

[diarytypething.livejournal.com]

I had to watch the clip just to whether those were the actual lyrics, because one never knows with the stuff you dredge up.

[kjorteo]

That actually lost about 98% of its creepiness when I realized that was a mustache. At first glance, I thought it was a mouth in a tormented D: scream type position, which of course makes the overall effect even worse than the Mysterious Lady. Somehow, knowing that he looks like a transient Ron Jeremy ruins the effect, though.

Edit: diarytypething has a point. You do seem to have a way with these sorts of things.

[lupineangel.livejournal.com]

You're right, he is creepy up close like that... and, by the way, if he gives you nightmares, I can't tell you how much I recommend you don't go and see the new Tim Burton movie Coraline. It involves... well, pretty much everything in your post.

D.F.

[davidn]

I had no idea that I was developing some sort of reputation for it! I seem just to have been followed around by miscellaneous rather horrifying things recently.

[davidn]

Lost some of its creepiness! Now that you've pointed out his resemblance to a voodoo Ron Jeremy it's somehow worse.

[davidn]

It's strange to look back at what I watched growing up - the writer of Bagpuss just had an uncanny ability to come up with accidentally really creepy songs. My brother, though, was tormented in his sleep by the String Owls from Fingermouse until he realized during one nightmare that they could be defeated simply by taking hold of a loose end and unravelling them.

Whitney had to read Coraline for her children's literature degree, and described to me just how horrifying it was (and its resemblance to that video when I found it, in fact). It was a few months later when I first saw the preview for the film and was... terrified to see that the makers of The Nightmare Before Christmas had got hold of the idea. Maybe we're not being as soft on children these days as I thought.

[lupineangel.livejournal.com]

Heh, that's an awesome way to beat your nightmares, twist dream-logic against them! :P

Another question, though; with the written version, is it ever explained what the "Other Mother"/"Beldame"/whatever-she-is actually is, or is she left just as a figure of menace? The group I went to go see it with yesterday got into a lengthy discussion over symbolism and imagery, but we weren't left with much actual info to go on; I'd be curious to see if the book gives more info than the film did.

D.F.

[davidn]

Er, well, to sum it up, she says you should read the book.

[lupineangel.livejournal.com]

Heh, I'll have to! (If only to end the speculation and curiosity... :P)

D.F.