A disclaimer at the beginning of the Thriller film reads, "Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult." OK, so what does it endorse?With apologies to Jacksonologists, for whom this may be a commonplace, as a non-fan I'm struck, viewing it for the first time (!), at the film's exposing of the Jackson self. "I'm not like other boys," Michael tells his date, before turning into a species of werewolf. Really? And then he becomes a zombie, joins the zombies, dances with them. No more the boy next door.
The film marks the apex of Jackson's career, before he descends into freakdom. That skin-whitening wasn't about becoming a white man, it was about becoming his own species of zombie. A zombie is a cadaver that returns to the land of the living as a hideous version of a live person. Jackson was an adult who tried to return to the land of childhood by turning himself into a hideous version of a child. Yes, yes, an outstanding entertainer. But also, by the looks of "Thriller," an angry, tormented guy.
RIP Mike, we miss you.
Michael Jackson will live forever in my memory, and will be greatly missed. His music touched to lots of people all over the world. Rest in peace Michael!