How Brian DePalma Scared Me Into Being A Director.

I was in fifth grade when Brian DePalma’s  "Dressed to Kill” scared the hell out of me. I had relentlessly pestered my older siblings to take me see it after reading a review and they finally caved just to shut me up. Big mistake! I literally ran out of the theater during that elevator scene with Angie Dickinson, and somehow went back in and watched the rest, including the subway and shower scenes that kept me awake at night for months and months. My Mom had to deal with a kid who was suddenly terrified of elevators and treated every shower like it might be his last, while my siblings basically said "never again" to taking their little brother to R-rated movies. The irony is that Brian De Palma's filmmaking - all those split screens and his signature way of following characters from behind - scared the hell out of me but also completely hooked me on movies. Decades later, I found myself stealing some of his techniques for "The Stranger in My Home," proving that sometimes the movies that traumatize you as a kid end up teaching you how to “borrow” from the best.

🎬 What’s a movie that scared you into loving cinema? Drop it in the comments. And if you're chasing your own storytelling dreams — whether as an actor, screenwriter, or indie filmmaker — let's connect. Visit ReelTalkWithJeff.com and let’s turn your inspiration into action.

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