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Horrorphile

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One person's BOO! is another person's HOWDY DOODY!

June 1st 2007 00:34

um ... "BOO!!"

Just as beauty is judged by the eye of the beholder, in the realm of the horror movie what scares the living bejesus out of one person might not necessarily have the same effect on another. Sure, just like the Miss Universe pageant top ten finalists, there’s always bound to be several contestants that everyone agrees are undeniably gorgeous. In horror there are numerous films – or scenes within films – which are generally regarded as universally terrifying.

Back in September of last year I posted my all-time scariest movies. This is partially based on how I view the films now, but more importantly, keeping in mind the age when I first saw them. I listed them in the chronological order of first seeing them; 1) Poltergeist (1981), 2) Alien (1979), 3) Halloween (1978), 4) Suspiria (1977) and 5) The Evil Dead (1982). Although Poltergeist doesn’t deliver me the chills and shocks like it did when I was 12, certainly Alien, Halloween and Suspiria still manage to hold a certain horrorphilic je ne sais quoi! As for The Evil Dead, a brilliant horror movie, but for me the tone has softened a lot over the years.

Orble film nut John Doe alerted me to a great online list courtesy of retroCRUSH. The editor there, Robert Berry, assisted by a couple others, has compiled a pictorial list (many of which are accompanied by youtube clips) of the 100 Scariest Movie Scenes. On the whole, it’s on the money, but there are several glaring omissions, the order of the movies is highly contentious, and there are a couple of very odd choices.

Still keeps us jumpin outta our seats!

Keep in mind the selection is based on scenes rather then entire movies, and Berry does mention that there are many memorably scary scenes in movies when the movie itself isn’t that scary, or even that good, as a whole. Their top 10 consists of 1) Psycho (1960), 2) Carrie (1976), 3) The Shining (1980), 4) Alien (1979), 5) Poltergeist (1982), 6) Un Chien Andalou (1929), 7) Jaws (1975), 8) Night of the Living Dead (1968), 9) The Exorcist III (1990) and 10) The Shining (again).

Well, for a start, as superbly made a film as Psycho is, I certainly wouldn’t have the shower scene at number 1. In the top 20 probably, but I think the actual terror of that scene is over-rated. Secondly, the eye-slicing scene in Dali and Bunuel’s surrealist movie Un Chien Andalou is just not scary. It’s shocking and confronting – especially for the time – but I simply can’t accept it as number 6.

That video ... that well ... that ghost

There are several movies that deserve to be much higher on the list; An American Werewolf in London's (1981) on the moors scene is only at number 50. The Ring (2002), albeit the Hollywood remake, is only at 34. Berry mentions that many, many people insisted it was the scariest scene in cinema history, but he disagreed. I’d put the original Ringu (1999), and Ju-On: The Grudge's (2003) ghost under the bed covers scene, in the top 20 at least.

Grim Reapers on horseback always pack a punch!

Nice to see the scene of the young vampire boy hovering and tapping at the window scene from Salem’s Lot (1979), #46, and, amusingly, Large Marge’s visage from Peewee’s Big Adventure (1985), #50, made it into the list. And kudos for the inclusion of the Spanish undead flick Tombs of the Blind Dead, #81 (1973, aka Return of the Evil Dead). But how on earth did Berry pull Disney’s Dumbo (1941) drunk scene into the picture? It’s vivid and imaginative, but it ain’t scary. Or Neil Jordon’s The Crying Game (1992) revelation? It’s a big surprise, yes, and an unpleasant truth, yes, but scary? Well, scary in a how-the-hell-did-i-not-realis e-this kinda way.

Poltergeist features three times (#45, #35, #5) on the list, more so than any other movie. That makes me smile. Poltergeist was the first film that pushed me over the horrorphilic edge. The vanishing clown scene is at number 5 … oooooo yeah! That ticked all my scary boxes. Berry put the chest bursting scene from Alien at number 4. That’s more of a shocking scene. The scene from Alien I’d feature is when Dallas is down in the air vents looking for the alien, while the others track him electronically and then spot the alien on the tracking device moving closer and closer toward him, while Jerry Goldsmith’s score builds and builds. Yikes!

Rather you than me Dallas!

And then there are the omissions, and I’m not happy Jan. Where’s Phantasm (1978)? which is intensely creepy from the get-go. Where’s The Omen (1976)? The Howling (1981)? Or Lamberto Bava’s relentless plague of Demons (1985)? What about Hell Night's (1981) carpet rising in the background scene? Or Liz waking up bound and gagged while Kristy’s screams echo out in Wolf Creek (2005)? And not to forget The Descent (2005), some damn scary sequences there!

Y’see at the end of the night one’s person’s “Boo!” is another person’s “Howdy doody!” It’s a matter of one’s psychological sensibilities and cinematic aesthetics. Still, it’s always great fun making these kinds of lists, and quibbles aside, Berry’s labour of love is a very solid effort indeed.

* images on this page were taken from the following wikipedia pages:
Poltergeist (film) and Return of the Living Dead
They are licensed under the GNU Free Document License

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: lists

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Comments

19 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner

June 1st 2007 01:08

Bryn,

both the Grudge and The Ring scared the bejesus outta me too and I was wayyy past childhood when I saw both of them! Lmfao...

However, Poltergeist I saw when I was much younger, and it continues to creep me out even when I watch it today...

But my all time favorite 'make the hair on the back of your neck stand up' movie is The Wolfen, with Albert Finney and Gregory Hines...it's what you don't see of the creatures that makes this a classic horror film for me...and when you finally do see them? You're not at all disappointed!

Because even though the wolfen aren't exactly what you're expecting, they're still pretty damned scary!

Maybe you guys should think about reviewing this one? It was done way back in 1981, but I still think it should rate right up there with the classics...

Great post!

Take care,

Nick

Comment by JohnDoe

June 1st 2007 01:36

Film & TV on DVD

Great post with some interesting observations...glad I pointed you in a retrocrush direction..

The well scene in the original Ringu works well s does the TV scene.....I fell asleep in the generic remake.

PS_ Good call Nick with Wolfen, fun movie back in the day.

Comment by Damo

June 1st 2007 01:39

Old horror films are comedies.
Ever seen The Son of Frankenstein?
I can't even look at a dart board with out laughing.

Comment by Ruby

June 1st 2007 01:47

The Rubik's Cube

Bryn, I think the original Japanese versions for "The Ring" and "The Grudge" impacts a better "boo"-factor. Try watching those and compare them to the Hollywood version.

Also, disappointed to see that "The Excorcist" wasn't even mentioned

Also, I thought "The Excorcism of Emily Rose" was pretty spooky too. And there are a few other movies I would've included in the list. I suppose you're right then in saying that the threshold for spookiness for each is different!

Comment by KylieW

June 1st 2007 02:49

Celebrity Obsession

There's definitely way more scarier scenes that the shower scene in Psycho, but I guess it would be one of the most memorable horror movie moments (even if you haven't seen the movie, you know the scene).

Also, I wouldn't call the chest bursting scene in Alien as scary. Awesome? Yeah. Memorable? Damn straight. But not scary.

The clown scene in Poltergeist......that creeped me out big time!!!!

I've always been partial to the scene in NIghtmare on Elm St where Johnny Depp's character gets pretty much eaten by his bed courtesy of Freddy.

Pleased to see Jaws made it into the list. That would be a travesty if it was overlooked.

Kylie

Comment by Bryn

June 1st 2007 03:30

Horrorphile

Nick ... yeah, Wolfen. I got the DVD ... review for the near future! Cheers!

JD and Ruby, yeah the originals, Ringu and Ju-On are sensational. I was implying those, but Berry's list only mentions The Ring.

Oh, and Ruby, The Exorcist did make it into the list ... But The Exorcist III made it twice!
I was disappointed by Emily Rose, but the distorted faces she kept seeing were inspired, reminded me a bit of Jacob's Ladder ...

Kylie ... yeah, Berry's idea of "scary" is frequently more about "shocks" not terror.

Comment by Ruby

June 1st 2007 05:57

The Rubik's Cube

I actually thought the sequels to "The Excorcist" sucked and was bit draggy. The first one was the best.

Yea, we get alot of Korean and Japanese and Thai horror movies here which are awesome. Always with very original & fresh storylines too.

Comment by Brenton

June 1st 2007 07:54

Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum

For me, I really liked the end of Beautiful Creatures, by Peter Jackson, and a the opening scene in 28 weeks later as some favourites.

Comment by yoda76

June 2nd 2007 00:40

The Tube Blog

Alien's Chest-Bursting is not nearly as scary as the rest of the film, you're right - I remember as a kid being scared to all hell by the sheer tension in he silence of that film, and what felt like it was just around the corner.

Awesome stuff!

Comment by Bryn

June 2nd 2007 02:33

Horrorphile

Ruby, with you there on that one! Have you seen the Director's Cut of The Exorcist? With the additional "subliminal" face images ...? creeeeeepy!

Brenton, yeah the whole "last man on earth" concept is a chiller! Have you seen The Quiet Earth?

yoda, even the discovery of the first alien ship, and subsequent discovery of the eggs of the other (main) alien was very unnerving ... basically Alien is my favourite horror movie.

Comment by Damo

June 2nd 2007 03:06

Just checked out the retroCrush website and it brought back so many memories.

"Is is Safe?" No need to explain it.
The teddy bear scene from Akira was blast when I saw the first time. Just out did the new arm thing.
The eyeless chick in 'Event Horizon'. Infact the whole damn movie gave me the creeps.

Comment by D. Armenta

June 2nd 2007 04:28

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

I thought the scene from Alien with Harry Dean Stanton looking for Jonesie the cat was incredibly shot--from the moment the cat hisses and you see the monster rising up in back of Harry Dean, to the sheer genius of showing the cat watching and hearing Harry Dean screaming in the background...still makes me shiver!!

I saw a pretty jumpy scene from a Japanese film but don't know the film title; it was about an obsessive girl who waits and waits for a promised phone call from a talent agent..the scene has her sitting by the phone, staring at it--then a laundry sack in the background suddenly starts moving (one of her revenge victims)--I jumped about a foot. Any idea what film that was?

Phantasm..ohhhh yeahhh, something about the whole feel of that movie was so creepy...

And Rosemary's baby was scary..you know the part I'm talking about, I'm sure!

Comment by Anonymous

June 3rd 2007 05:09

Several years ago, I saw a bland sci-fi/horror called Event Horizon, with that aussie guy from Jurassic Park. Sam Neill, right?

Anyway, there was a scene from a video tape that showed a peek into hell that was utterly horrifying...back then. Anyone seen it?

Comment by Ruby

June 4th 2007 05:50

The Rubik's Cube

Yea I have the DVD for the Director's cut. hehe...

I happened to watch an Irish's attempt at horror - "Isolation"... The keyword here being - "attempt" Have you heard of it or seen it?

Comment by Bryn

June 5th 2007 03:45

Horrorphile

Haven't heard of Isolation ... But I enjoyed Event Horizon in a trashy kind of way ... Director's Cut huh? worth checking out??

Armenta ... not sure what Jap flick it is you're referring to ... hmmm. Sounds scary though. Actually, i think its called Tell Me Something ... multiple killers right?
And yeah, that scene in Alien is sensational. The movie was aged like a fine red wine.

Comment by D. Armenta

June 5th 2007 17:00

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

I just sa3w a mention of it somewhere around here--I think it's "Audition".

Red wine, hee hee..Bryn, you slay me.

Comment by Bryn

June 5th 2007 23:03

Horrorphile

Armenta ... Audition ... eeeek! Now there's one to get ya wincin'! I don't remember victim in a sack though ... Hmmmm. Perhaps I need to watch it again. Or maybe not. LOL Have you seen much of Takashi Miike's movies? He's a freak. I'm gonna review his recent Masters of Horror entry Imprint very soon ...