News

Top Five Chilling Moments with Iconic Villains

Published

5 years ago

November 1, 2018

As the season of fear (and cheer) comes to a close, lets take a look back at some of the horror genres most beloved characters and their creepiest moments that spiced up Halloween for many years to come.

Every entry was chosen because of the effectiveness of the makeup and/or practical effects of the scene. No digital effects were considered while constructing this list.

1.) ‘Child’s Play’ (1988)

Via youtube.com

Tom Holland’s Child’s Play has many scary moments featuring the titular killer doll, Chucky. But the scariest moment stems from the climax of the film, wherein Chucky is engulfed in flames by Andy and his mother and presumed dead.

After Andy runs to call the police he discovers Chucky horribly melted and charred and brandishing his signature blade. Chucky’s murderous gaze through lidless eyes and barred teeth and gums makes for a very menacing villain (despite his short stature).

2.) ‘The Descent’ (2005)

Via weeatfilms.com

The “Crawlers” as they have been aptly named in Neil Marshall’s second feature are unique and absolutely terrifying. And a lot of that stems from their resemblance to humans paired with their veracious appetite for fresh meat.

“I wanted to make them human. I didn’t want to make them aliens because humans are the scariest things.”

The scene in the picture above is the first time the viewers (and actresses) see the monsters after a lengthy buildup, and the result is masterful and frightening.

Marshall’s decision to hide the creatures appearance and design from the actresses until the moment they are introduced was a brilliant decision that created authentic performances based on genuine fear.

3.) ‘New Nightmare’ (1994)

Via clclt.com

Wes Craven’s first dive into the meta-horror game wasn’t perfect, he would come to master the concept later on with the Scream franchise alongside Kevin Williamson. But he did manage to produce the scariest iteration of Freddy Krueger, bar none!

While Craven would later come to regret changing Freddie’s look for New Nightmare, this design was actually his original idea for the titular dream killer in the first Elm Street film.

This scene in the hospital were Freddy comes to the “real world” and brutally murders Dylan’s babysitter Julie is not only a perfect callback to Tina’s death in the original film, but one of the best death scenes in the franchise.

Robert Englund gives a truly menacing performance as he towers over the human characters before delivering the killing blow.

4.) ‘Insidious’ (2010)

Via wegotthiscovered.com

James Wan’s ‘Insidious’ is the scariest movie I have ever seen. It takes the concepts and setting of Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist and amps them up in ways that didn’t seem possible before.

The red-faced demon is just one of many unsettling entities haunting the family. But this particular scene where Barbara Hershey is recalling a “vision” she had, revealing the silhouette of the bone-cracking demon hiding in the corner of the frame.

Once her recollection is over, the cracking bones linger, leading to the epic scare behind Patrick Wilson. A scare that will become a trope in the franchise, and subsequently become obnoxious. But in the franchises infancy, it’s still scary-as-hell and effective.

5.) ‘The Thing’ (1982)

Via PopHorror

Most probably wouldn’t consider John Carpenter’s remake The Thing as a scary movie, but in the sci-fi/horror subgenre this classic is in a league of its own. It bleeds horror, and is genuinely creepy and unsettling.

From a practical standpoint, the effects are unbelievable! They defy imagination, and appear to only get better with age. The grotesque transformations, and bone-chilling sounds this creature emanates are completely unlike anything cinema has ever seen.

The constant state of dread and nihilistic approach alienated critics and fans alike when the film first premiered, and its not hard to see why. It’s an unpleasant (in a good way) film that ultimately ends on a downer and uncertainty.

If you liked the article or any other articles on the sight, give us a shout out in the comment section below.

You can also check out these awesome articles from other ihorror authors: Tony Runco’s ranking of all of the Halloween films or Waylon Jordan’s coverage of the Nightmares Film Festival.

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News

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Thriller ‘Presumed Innocent’ Series Gets Early Release Date

Published

1 hour ago

April 26, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Jake Gyllenhaal’s limited series Presumed Innocent is dropping on AppleTV+ on June 12 instead of June 14 as originally planned. The star, whose Road House reboot has brought mixed reviews on Amazon Prime, is embracing the small screen for the first time since his appearance on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1994.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s in ‘Presumed Innocent’

Presumed Innocent is being produced by David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, and Warner Bros. It is an adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1990 film in which Harrison Ford plays a lawyer doing double duty as an investigator looking for the murderer of his colleague.

These types of sexy thrillers were popular in the ’90s and usually contained twist endings. Here’s the trailer for the original:

According to Deadline, Presumed Innocent doesn’t stray far from the source material: “…the Presumed Innocent series will explore obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”

Up next for Gyllenhaal is the Guy Ritchie action movie titled In the Grey scheduled for release in January 2025.

Presumed Innocent is an eight-episode limited series set to stream on AppleTV+ starting June 12.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

20 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

22 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.