Sometimes They Come Back: More Like Sometimes They Bore... But I Have a Theory

Alright, fellow Gen-Xers, moviebuff_marc back at ya! So, I finally got around to watching "Sometimes They Come Back" (1991). I remember the hype back in the day, but honestly? It didn't exactly blow my hair back. It feels like a Stephen King story trying really hard to be Stand By Me meets Christine. You know, small town secrets, teenage angst, and a supernatural twist, all wrapped in a late 80s/early 90s vibe. The premise is decent enough - guy goes back to his hometown where his brother was killed, only to have the past literally come back to haunt him. I mean, spooky, right? But... the execution felt kinda clunky. The acting was uneven (Tim Matheson did his best, bless him) and some of the scares felt telegraphed. But here's my theory, and it's probably been said before: what if the 'demons' aren't entirely supernatural? Hear me out. Jim is clearly dealing with some serious PTSD surrounding his brother's death. He can't cope with anything. Maybe, just maybe, the events unfolding are a manifestation of his guilt and trauma, fueled by the toxic atmosphere of the town itself. I mean, the 'dead' greasers are all embodiments of that past, right? The scene where Lawson (Robert Rusler) first appears in the school, all slicked back and sneering, feels like a nightmare pulled straight from Jim's subconscious. Think about it: the town itself is stuck in the past, clinging to old grudges and unspoken secrets. The resurrected bullies just amplify those feelings. The way they knew Jim's secrets, felt almost too personal. So is it really hellfire and brimstone, or just Jim's unresolved grief and the town's collective darkness taking on a physical form? Okay, yeah, the ending with the car exploding kind of throws a wrench in that, but still... I think there's something to it. Anyway, just a thought! What do you guys think? Am I overthinking a cheesy 90s horror flick, or is there something deeper lurking beneath the surface? Let me know in the comments! And if you haven't seen it, well, don't expect a Citizen Kane. It's more of a rainy Sunday afternoon kind of watch.