7.12.2010

FMR's Top 10 Willy Inducing Moments! (Inspired by The Horror Digest)


Andre Dumas over at The Horror Digest has taken the horror blogosphere over with her list of Top Ten Willy Inducing Moments, in which she tells us just what moments in horror scare her. Since she challenged other horror bloggers to create their own lists and it looked like fun, I decided what the hell - I'll take part in this.

I know a bit late with this list, only because I had many choices and only could post ten [although I did cheat by adding another moment in a tie - which you'll see later]. Sad to say that horror films don't scare me or make me jump much these days, if at all. So I had to go back to my childhood and think of films and moments that really messed me up so bad that they've stuck with me and probably will until the day I die. The fact that the newest moment comes from a film that was released in 1993 shows how sad the state of horror has gotten for the most part. And I didn't want to put anything new on the list because they haven't resonated long enough to really count. That's why MARTYRS was left out, even though that entire film truly screwed with my head. Other than that, I was mainly inspired by 70s and 80s horror, which is why nothing older than that is on the list. Sorry, but older films didn't scare me although some did creep me out.

So without further adieu, here's my Top Ten Willy Inducing Moments (From 10 to 1):

10. JURASSIC PARK (1993) - This Sure Ain't Bedrock...


The most recent film on this list, I'm sure there'll be a debate whether or not JURASSIC PARK is truly a horror film or not [I think of it more of an action-science fiction film myself]. Either way, the scene where Tim (Joseph Mazzello) and Lex (Ariana Richards) hide in the kitchen of the Visitor's Centre from Velociraptors [really Dynonychusis, oops] probably the creepiest part of the film. Steven Spielberg creates a ton of tension within the scene, as we fear for these kids' lives from some of the smallest dinosaurs [who also happen to be the bigger dangers at Jurassic Park]. Everyone thought the T-Rex would be the star of the park, but the "Raptors" stole the spotlight.



9. PHANTASM (1979) - The Dream Police Live Inside of Mike's Head...


Don Coscarelli's 1979 horror masterpiece has its share of fans and its share of detractors. But both sides do agree on that PHANTASM is a classic piece of genre work, and this scene where Mike first dreams of The Tall Man is one of the reasons why. Imagine just innocently going to sleep, when all of a sudden you wake up in the middle of some graveyard with a Tall Man behind you as dwarves burst from underground to pull you down with them. If that isn't a nightmare, I don't know what is.


8. ALIEN (1979) - Chest Pains


Ridley Scott's classic ALIEN is all around a fantastic sci-fi/horror flick. But the moment where the alien embryo bursts out of Kane's (John Hurt) chest will forever be immortalized in the genre. And as a child, that scene gave me the creeps, hoping no alien popped out of me after I ate.



7. THE EXORCIST III (1990) - Fun at the Asylum


I was planning to pick something from the original EXORCIST [the Spider Walk...brrrr], but I think this moment in the very underrated THE EXORCIST III creeps me out more. If you ever been inside a asylum, even as a visitor, it is not a fun place to be. In fact, just the memory of being inside one to see a family member gives me the absolute creeps. This scene did the same to me when I was younger, and still does now.



6. IT (1991) - Pennywise


I hated clowns when I was younger. I still hate clowns now. And if there was ever a reason for that hatred, it's this scene with Pennywise and Georgie. 'Nuff said.


5. THE SHINING (1980) - Double Vision


While A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is my favorite Stanley Kubrick film, his version of THE SHINING would definitely be my second. And it's moments like this, where Danny rides on his wheeler and confronts these twins, that show why. Just one of the many great scenes this film has. What a creepy masterpiece.


4. (tie) CARRIE (1976) and FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980) - The End Is The Beginning Is The End


Yeah, I'm cheating here. But both of these classic horror movies share something: that final scare. CARRIE's dreamlike ending totally rattled me as a seven-year-old kid, giving me nightmares of Sissy Spacek for days. And while FRIDAY THE 13TH blatantly stole it, its shock value still works effectively, proving that not every great ending is a happy one. Lesson learned: Evil never dies, even if the film is about to end.





3. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984) - Dancing on the Ceiling


While the NIGHTMARE franchise has had its share of dream sequences that could be quite cringe-worthy, none are greater than Tina Grey's death in the original 1984 classic. Maybe it's the fact that it's the first death of the film and franchise. Maybe it's the fact that we're led to believe she's the heroine, when in fact she's really nothing but the catalyst to drive the film forward. Or maybe it's the fact that she's killed in her dream and just levitates to the ceiling and is dragged across it and the adjourning walls while Freddy Krueger slashes her to death, leaving nothing but blood in his wake. Either way, it's the scene that really scared me when I was younger and made me afraid to fall asleep.



2. SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983) - Did I Really See What I Thought I Saw?


SLEEPAWAY CAMP is one of my favorite slashers and its reputation has grown since its release in 1983. I think the main reason why SLEEPAWAY CAMP is still talked about is the really ballsy ending that shocks even newer horror fans today. I gotta say, when I first saw this film back in the 1980s, I couldn't wrap around what I saw. Even today, it still shocks me at how the filmmakers managed to get away with something as this. You never see it coming, which is why it's such a Willy Inducing scene. And the look on Angela's face just gives me chills. It's probably the best slasher film ending of all time, and that's saying a lot.

DON'T WATCH THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!!!!!!



1. HALLOWEEN (1978) - Shat In The Dark


HALLOWEEN
is my favorite film of all time because it was the first film to really resonate with me and turn me into the man I am today. There are so many reasons why this film scared me for years. The music. The head tilt. The sit up. That white William Shatner mask. It all worked on me and The Shape was the reason I would wake up sweating in fear at night. I think the creepiest moment of the film for me, and probably my favorite moment in a horror film, is the scene where Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) finds her friends dead. She exits the room and grieves as she leans against a wall that leads into an empty dark space. All of a sudden, we slowly see that white mask pop out of the darkness behind Laurie. And the rest is history after that.



13 comments:

  1. Great list! I'm glad that Exorcist III is getting a lot of attention in the lists I've seen, I've always thought it was so neglected. I've got it on my list, as well.

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  2. Excellent picks!

    Your list really makes me want to put my own list together, but I'm having a hard time narrowing it down to just 10. Maybe I'll do a part 1 and part 2 post!

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  3. Kudos on Exorcist 3. Not a great movie, but that scene is a perfect study in building tension, red herrings and one hell of a shock scare.

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  4. I gotta tell you, I think The Exorcist 3 is a fantastic movie. I was completely surprised at how great and utterly creepy the whole thing was. Great list all the classic scares included. And you added one of my favs of all time which I neglected! Jurassic Park......so great.

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  5. Pennywise!!!! Damn Pennywise!!! Did not find the adaptation of the book into a film very effective at all, EXCEPT for Tim Curry as that dreadful clown

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  6. @LJ - Yeah, no one really talks about it much anymore. THE HERETIC: EXORCIST II steals the sequel spotlight from EXORCIST III. I think it's really underrated and consider it the true sequel to the original. That scene still creeps me out today.

    @Sarah - I would love to see a two part list. Why not? I'd be very interested in what you put down.

    @TrG - I think EXORCIST III is a good film. Not great but good. But that scene is the best thing from it for sure. Although the ceiling scene is also pretty creepy.

    @Andre - I like EXORCIST III myself. Haven't seen it in years but I never forgot that scene. I first saw it when I was 9 and it rattled me to the core. It really did. And I was wondering about JURASSIC PARK. Yeah, that scene gets me all tensed up. Great direction by Spielberg there.

    @Pax - I do agree that IT [the book] is way better than IT [the movie], especially where it concerns the ending. But Tim Curry really outdid himself as Pennywise. I really need to review this film.

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  7. Great picks!

    I've never seen Exorcist III but after reading all these Willies posts I am inspired to check it out!

    I definitely agree with the ending of Carrie and Friday the 13th being completely shocking. The first time I saw each of them I probably jumped about 10 feet out of my chair. (That might still happen occasionally as well :) )

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  8. Definitely check out EXORCIST III. It's not a classic like the original, obviously, but it's a solid horror film that doesn't get talked about much unfortunately.

    And I remember watching both endings when I was 6 and 7 years old. My heart wouldn't stop pounding. I think the F13th one scared me more when I was a kid though because of Jason jumping out. But CARRIE did it better.

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  9. Yeah, DEFINITELY gonna need another installment someday. While the Exorcist III moment was spoiled for me long before I got around to seeing it, I cannot believe I could forget Pennywise! Not only did he creep the crap right outta me, he provided hours of enjoyment when it came time to terrorize my little brother.

    Hmm... kinda explains a lot now that I think about it.

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  10. Love the inclusion of 'Jurassic Park' - that movie is one of my faves. So many great scenes.

    I keep seeing 'Exorcist III' popping up. Despite having owned all the sequels on DVD for a few years now, I still haven't got around to watching any of them. These lists are making me think that may have to change.

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  11. @Daniel Danny Dan - Pennywise is unforgettable for me. That clown scared me like no other except Michael Myers. Tim Curry was uber creepy.

    @Liam - Appreciate the Jurassic Park love. It is a great film. And definitely check out Exorcist III. I consider it the true sequel to the original. The Heretic does have its moments though, even if it is a bad film [imo].

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  12. Yes! That Exorcist III scene! I just posted how much that scene still scares me on Final Girl.

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  13. Great list! It was so hard to pick just ten, so many people have included so many things I forgot, heh. I will totally accept Jurassic Park on a horror list. I also particularly love your inclusion of Exorcist III and Sleepaway Camp. SO CREEPY.

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