Creepy and Spooky People, Places and Things In Movies
Our favorite movies are filled with creepy characters, creatures, haunted places and other things that scare us when they go “bump” in the night. We take a look at some of our favorite horrific things from film!
Vampires
These creatures of the night have been a part of folklore as well as immortalized in Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”. Vampires have been portrayed in various ways since the early days of cinema. 1922’s silent “Nosferatu” starred Max Schreck as the vampire Count Orlok. Later, in a turn of events, Willem Dafoe would portray Schreck in “Shadow of the Vampire” (2000), a fictionalized account of the filming of “Nosferatu” that also starred John Malkovich.
However, it was Bela Lugosi who made the vampire infamous in 1931’s classic Dracula. Many film incarnations of Dracula would follow including “House of Dracula” (1944) starring John Carradine, “Dracula: Prince of Darkness” (1966) with Christopher Lee and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) with Gary Oldman.
Movie vampires aren’t always typical. In 1936’s “Dracula’s Daughter”, the main vampire was Countess Marya Zaleska (Gloria Holden). Years later, a comedic spin was put on vampires in movies like “Love At First Bite” (1979) starring George Hamilton and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995) with Leslie Nielsen and Mel Brooks. In 1994’s, Interview With the Vampire , the creatures of the night, played by Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst and Brad Pitt, had a more human feel. The vampire would become more vicious in movies like Lost Boys (1987) with Jason Patric and Keifer Sutherland, “From Dusk ‘Till Dawn” (1996) with George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino, 1998’s “Vampires” with James Woods, the “Blade” trilogy with Wesley Snipes and in two movies starring Kate Beckinsale, Underworld (2003) and Van Helsing (2004) also starring Hugh Jackman.
Werewolves
“Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.” This is the fate that happened to Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr) in the 1941 horror classic The Wolfman. Chaney would don the Wolf man garb again in 1943’s “Frankenstein Meets Wolfman” with Bela Lugosi as the monster.
Chaney, however, hasn’t been the only incarnation of the wolf man/werewolf in movies. Henry Hull starred as the creature in “Werewolf of London” (1935) and TV star Michael Landon donned the makeup in the 1957 flick “I Was A Teenage Werewolf”. Other werewolf movies have run the gamut of being frightening in “An American Werewolf in London” (1981) with David Naughton, “The Howling” (1981) and “Silver Bullet” (1985) based on the story by Stephen King and starring Gary Busey and Corey Haim, to being comedic in such films as “Teen Wolf” (1985) with Michael J. Fox and its sequel, “Teen Wolf Too” (1987) with Jason Bateman.
Frankenstein
The Frankenstein monster has been a horror icon since Mary Shelley’s novel was released in the 1800s. Although several actors have portrayed the monster on screen, including Charles Ogle in a sixteen minute 1910 silent film, it’s Boris Karloff’s version in the 1931 film Frankenstein that made the creature infamous. Karloff would reprise the role in the movies “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935) with Elsa Lanchester (who not only played the title character but the role of Mary Shelley as well) and 1939’s “Son of Frankenstein”.
Not only have Karloff and Bela Lugosi played the Monster but legendary actors Christopher Lee and Robert De Niro have portrayed Frankenstein. Lee appeared in the 1957 flick “Curse of Frankenstein” while De Niro was the Monster in “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” (1994) with an all-star cast that included Kenneth Branagh, Helena Bonham Carter and John Cleese. A comedic spin was put on the Frankenstein character in 1974’s “Young Frankenstein”. The film was directed by Mel Brooks and starred Peter Boyle and Gene Wilder. A take on “Bride of Frankenstein” hit the silver screen in 1985’s “The Bride”. Jennifer Beals and Sting starred in the film.
Mummies
The bandage wrapped menace who returns from the dead has terrorized moviegoers for decades. Boris Karloff portrayed Imhotep in the 1932 classic horror film “The Mummy”. Lon Chaney Jr. would resurrect the mummy role as Kharis in such films as “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942), “The Mummy’s Ghost” (1944) and “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944). In 1959’s “The Mummy”, Kharis would be played by Christopher Lee. The popularity of mummies surged in recent years with the release of The Mummy (1999) and its sequel The Mummy Returns (2001). Both films starred Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep along with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. The 2002 film “Bubba Ho-Tep” starred Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis and put a comedic spin on the mummy tale. The two, appearing as Elvis and JFK, respectively, battle an ancient mummy who has infiltrated a nursing home facility.
Things That Lurk In The Water
In films, sometimes water can be the deadliest place to be. Some creatures tend to lurk just below the surface. In “Creature from the Black Lagoon” a group touring the
Although not typically a “water creature” movie, The Fog (1980) focuses on the seaside town of
Zombies / The Walking Dead
There have been plenty of horror movies dealing with the living having to fight the onslaught of the walking dead. The most renowned zombie movie is probably George Romero’s 1968’s “Night of the Living Dead” which found a group of people trying to survive the night while trapped inside an old farmhouse while zombies attempt to get in. Romero would go on to make the zombie flick Dawn of the Dead (1978 and its 2004 remake) with survivors barricaded inside a shopping mall and the 2005 film “Land of the Dead” starring Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo. Other frightful zombie films include “White Zombie” (1932) with Bela Lugosi, “Evil Dead” (1981) starring Bruce Campbell and “28 Days Later” (2002) with Cillian Murphy. 2004’s Shaun of the Dead was a blend of comedy and zombie horror. A group of Londoners try to make it to the safety of their local pub, the
Perplexing Places
Often in horror movies, it’s not a ghost or creature that’s creepy. It’s a place that’s the scariest part of the film. Haunted houses have long been a fixture in cinema. “The House on Haunted Hill” (1959) starred Vincent Price as a man who offers his guests $10,000 if they survive the night. The haunted house flick was remade in 1999 and starred Taye Diggs, Famke Janssen, Chris Kattan and Geoffrey Rush.
Vincent Price returned in another spooky haunt in 1960’s “House of Usher”. Based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe, Philip Winthrop (Mark Damon) follows his love, Madeline (Myrna Fahey), to her family’s secluded home, where she lives with her brother Roderick (Price). Will Philip find out the family’s secret before it’s too late?
Although it wasn’t technically haunted, the Bates Motel in “Psycho” (1960) is a place all horror fans remember. The hotel is run by the peculiar Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Is his mother a killer?
The Haunting took place at Hill House. The 1963 version starred Julie Harris as part of a study trying to prove the existence of ghosts. The 1999 version, starring Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lili Taylor and Owen Wilson was a study of fear under the guise of a group sleep study. Things go wrong when they realize that the house is haunted.
1979’s “Amityville Horror” and its 2005 sequel told the story of a family who move into a house on
George C. Scott starred in the 1980 horror movie “The Changeling”. When a man’s family is killed, he moves across the country and into a vacant house. It’s not long before strange things begin to happen.
“There here!” Another family would be tormented by moving into a seemingly ordinary house in 1982’s “Poltergeist”. Soon afterwards, the family has to fight for their lives against unknown forces!
Two recent movies took place in scary houses. 2004’s The Grudge starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and told the story of people who reach a horrifying end when they step inside a cursed house in
Who would have thought that a museum could be creepy? “House of Wax” (1953) proved just that. There are more to a man’s wax creations than meets the eye in this film starring Vincent Price and Charles Bronson. The 2005 remake starred Paris Hilton.
“The Shining” (1980) remains one of the scariest movies of all time. The movie takes place at the Overlook Hotel where a struggling writer (played by Jack Nicholson) takes a job as a caretaker during the winter. While he and his family are isolated, the man, with the help of the hotel and its past occupants, slowly slips into madness.
Cemeteries are some of the creepier places found in horror films. In addition to the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) and flying orbs, Mike (A. Michael Baldwin), Reggie (Reggie Banister) and Jody (Bill Thornbury) try to find out what’s going on at the town’s cemetery in “Phantasm”. 1983’s “One Dark Night” starred Meg Tilly. As part of her initiation into a high school click, a girl (Tilly) must spend the night in a mausoleum. Unbeknownst to her and the others, they’re in store for a night of terror. Based on the novel by Stephen King, “Pet Sematary” (1989) told the story of an old Indian burial ground where buried things don’t stay that way!
Creepy Creatures
A creature doesn’t have to be human, haunted or extraterrestrial to be creepy! Animals and insects can be just as deadly! Humans had to fight against the onslaught of mutated, giant ants in the film “Them!” (1954). A few years later, a small town would be terrorized by birds. Tippi Hedren starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1963 film “The Birds”. Spiders would also make their way to the screen. William Shatner starred in “
One of the most memorable creature films has been “The Fly”. The original 1958 version starred Vincent Price as the scientist whose experiment with teleportation goes horribly wrong when a fly goes unnoticed during the procedure. Jeff Goldblum would play the scientist in the 1986 version.
Snakes can also generate a few screams. 1997’s “Anaconda” found a team of filmmakers being stalked by a giant, deadly snake in the Amazon. The movie starred Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez and Jon Voight. The recent “Snakes on a Plane” (2006) starred Samuel L. Jackson as a federal agent who is escorting a government witness to
Calculating Killers
Maniacal and/or stalking killers have always given moviegoers a scare. Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) first hit the screen in 1974’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” when the masked killer hunted down a group of teenagers. The movie was remade in 2003.
Michael Myers (Tony Moran) was sent to a sanitarium when he was six years old for murdering his sister. Fifteen years later, he escapes the hospital and methodically stalks a group of teens. “Halloween” (1978) starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence.
Although he technically wasn’t the killer in the first “Friday the 13th”, Jason Voorhees still sends shivers down the spine of horror fans. The story of Jason and
Freddie Krueger slashed his way to the big screen in 1984’s “Nightmare on
Arnold Schwarzenegger played the title role in 1984’s “The Terminator”. The movie, which told of a deadly cyborg sent back in time to eliminate the mother of the resistance’s leader, also starred Linda Hamilton. However, the Terminator would be a “good guy” in subsequent movies, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991) where he fought T-1000 (Robert Patrick) and “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003) when he opposed T-X (Kristanna Loken).
A married couple move into the home of the man’s brother, who has had a deadly run-in with Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and the other Cenobites. How does the Lament Configuration figure into the situation and will they be able to stop the Cenobites? “Hellraiser” came to theaters in 1987.
Virginia Madsen portrayed a college student who is researching local urban legends in 1992’s “Candyman”. One legend states that if you say the Candyman’s (Tony Todd) name in the mirror five times, he will return. But will he come back with vengeance on his mind?
Ghostface first appeared in the 1996 film Scream. The killer methodically stalks and kills teenagers in a small town. The movie, and its two sequels, starred Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette.
Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses” (2003) and “The Devil’s Rejects” (2005) have featured the murderous Firefly clan (Sid Haig, Bill Moseley and Sheri Moon Zombie). In “House of 1000 Corpses”, a group of unfortunate teenagers happen upon the family (including Mama Firefly played by Karen Black) while traveling through the Texas backwoods, hunting down urban legends. “The Devil’s Rejects” takes up a few months later, with the Firefly clan on a murderous rampage, while being pursued by the law, including Sheriff Wydell (William Forsythe).
The Unseen
Sometimes what we don’t see is just as scary as things that pop up on the screen! 1933’s “The Invisible Man” starred Claude Rains and Gloria Stuart. In the movie, a scientist discovers a way to make himself invisible. However, his invisibility slowly sends him into a murdering madness. While “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968) could be more on the demonic side, it’s the anticipation of seeing the baby at the end that kept moviegoers on the edge of their seats. However, although Rosemary (Mia Farrow) picks the baby up, the features of the baby are never revealed. What the baby looks like is left to our imaginations! Carol Kane starred in the 1979 version of “When a Stranger Calls” (which was remade in 2006). A woman is babysitting when she starts to receive strange phone calls asking if she’s checked the children. Who’s calling? “The Blair Witch Project” (1999) told the story of three teenagers who went into the woods in October of 1994 to research the legend of the Blair Witch. Although the three teens were never heard from again, the video footage they shot in the forest was discovered. In the movie, we never see the witch, but the last few moments of the film make us wonder who’s behind the person holding the camera!
Space Creatures
Whether in outer space or landing on Earth, aliens and other space creatures often send us running for our lives! The H.G. Wells story “War of the Worlds” told of an alien attack on mankind. Broadcast as a radio program by Orson Welles on
What happens when people in a small town are systematically being replaced by aliens? This is what happened in 1956’s “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” starring Kevin McCarthy. The movie would be remade in a 1978 film starring Jeff Goldblum and Donald Sutherland.
A team of scientists find themselves on another planet. Soon they must fight to stay alive when they discover an alien that’s bent on killing them. “Alien” (1979) and its subsequent sequels starred Sigourney Weaver as Ripley.
Scientists at a facility based in
The hunters became the hunted in “Predator” (1987). The movie starred Arnold Schwarzenegger who was part of a task force being hunted down in the jungle by a cunning alien. Danny Glover appeared in the film’s sequel which also spawned an “Alien Vs. Predator” movie in 2004.
What happens when alien and human DNA are mixed? The answer is Sil (Natasha Henstridge). “Species” (1995) also starred Marg Helgenberger, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina and Forest Whitaker.
“Independence Day” (1996) provided a mix of sci-fi and action when aliens arrive bent on destroying the Earth. The movie starred Bill Pullman and Will Smith.
“The truth is out there” in 1998’s “X-Files: The Movie”. Based on the popular TV show, the movie found Moulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigating alien life forms on Earth.
“Signs” (2002) starred Mel Gibson as a man who has lost his faith. Also starring Joaquin Phoenix, the story tells of the strange events that start to take place after mysterious crop circles are found nearby.
“Slither” (2006) was a mix of comedy and horror. A town has to fight for survival when an alien force starts turning its citizens into zombies and other strange creatures.
Unusual Creatures
Sometimes a creature in a scary movie can’t be classified as human, animal or even alien. Dr. Jekyll was a scientist that transformed into the menacing creature Mr. Hyde. “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” has come to the silver screen in several movies including a 1931 film with Fredric March and again in 1941 starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner. John Malkovich would play the dual roles in 1996’s “Mary Reilly” with Julia Roberts.
After a meteor crashes a strange form starts to destroy everything in its path. “The Blob” (1958) starred Steve McQueen.
Lance Henriksen starred in the 1989 horror movie “Pumpkinhead”. A strange creature takes revenge on those responsible for the death of a small boy.
The citizens of a small town were terrified by underground, worm-like creatures in “Tremors” (1990). The movie starred Kevin Bacon, Michael Gross and Reba McEntire.
An unusual type of creature was the Creeper (Jonathan Breck) in “Jeepers Creepers” (2001). The Creeper terrorized a brother and sister who happened upon him during their spring break. The movie starred Justin Long who also briefly appeared in the 2003 sequel.
“Feast” (2005) starred Eric Dane and Jason Mewes. In the film creatures terrorized the patrons of a remote, roadside bar.
Ghosts / Paranormal
Ghosts have scared us in plenty of movies over the years. The 1938 French film “J’accuse” starred Victor Francen as Jean Diaz. After serving time in the armed forces, Diaz devotes his life to building a machine that will put an end to war. When other forces manipulate his work, Diaz conjures up the ghosts of those killed during battle.
There have been two movies with the Thirteen Ghosts theme. The first was released in 1960 and the other, starring Tony Shalhoub and F. Murray Abraham was released in 2001. The 2001 version found a family fighting for their lives when they are trapped in a house where thirteen deadly ghosts are being released one by one.
A few movies provided a perfect blend of horror and comedy. Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis starred in Ghostbusters (1984) and its 1989 sequel. The team had to save
Before making movies about middle Earth, Peter Jackson first made “The Frighteners” (1996). A sinister force is at work in a small town whose citizens are being murdered one by one. The movie starred Michael J. Fox.
Haley Joel Osment played Cole in 1999’s “The Sixth Sense”. Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) tries to help the tormented boy who has the ability to see and communicate with the spirits of the dead.
Nicole Kidman starred in the spooky 2001 film “The Others”. Who is haunting the house that a woman lives in with her two children?
Ghost Ship (2002) starred Julianna Margulies and Gabriel Byrne as part of a salvage team who venture to an old, abandoned ship in the middle of the ocean. However, sinister forces start to murder the salvage crew one at a time.
It’s Not All Child’s Play
Sometimes a movie’s youngest characters can be the most terrifying. There was something not quite right about the children in 1960’s “Village of the Damned”. Twelve children are born on the same day in a small town and not only look similar but have the same mysterious ways. 1973 was the year “The Exorcist” was released. Linda Blair portrayed Regan, a young girl possessed by the devil. The movie is still considered one of the scariest of all time.
“The Omen” (1976) starred Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. The couple raises Damien (Harvey Stephens) as their own son but after some gruesome occurrences, it becomes obvious that all is not right concerning the child. The movie was remade in 2006.
Also released in 1976 was the Stephen King story “Carrie”. Sissy Spacek starred as the teenager who seems to be an outcast at school. When some of her classmates pull a cruel prank on her at the prom, Carrie gets even.
“Good Son” (1993) starred Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood. This psychological thriller told the story of a young boy (Wood) who goes to live with his cousin’s family. The cousin (Culkin) is not what he appears to be as his psychotic pranks soon prove.
Samara (Daveigh Chase) comes to claim those who have watched a peculiar video seven days after he or she has seen it. In “The Ring” (2002), Rachel (Naomi Watts) tries to solve the mystery of Samara before the young girl comes for her and her son (David Dorfman).
“The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005) starred Jennifer Carpenter in the title role. Is a girl possessed or is there another explanation to what is happening to her? When Emily dies after an exorcism, the priest (Tom Wilkinson) who was with her faces murder charges.
While the movies didn’t have a young central character, there have been plenty of creepy movies related to childhood things. “Child’s Play” (1988) told the story of the possessed doll, Chucky (voice of Brad Dourif) who was intent on murdering people. The killer doll came back in several sequels including “Bride of Chucky” (1998) featuring Jennifer Tilly. “It!” (1990) was a Stephen King novel based on the murderous clown, Pennywise (Tim Curry). Will those (including Richard Thomas and John Ritter) who were tormented by the clown as children be able to overcome their fear of him as adults and put an end to Pennywise? “Snow White: A Tale of Terror” (1997) put a twist on this favorite children’s tale. Starring Sigourney Weaver and Sam Neill, the fair maiden’s (Monica Keena) evil step-mother (Weaver) has plans for the girl’s demise.
Witches
Witches have made their presence known in movies since the early days of film. The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) has been an everlasting film icon. This witch from The Wizard of Oz (1939) was determined to get the ruby slippers, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her little dog too!
The 1960 Italian film “Black Sunday” featured Barbara Steele in dual roles. Centuries after a witch is killed, her spirit returns, intent on vengeance.
“The Witches of Eastwick” (1987) featured an all-star cast that included
It’s up to a black cat to stop three witches who have returned to cause havoc after three hundred years. “Hocus Pocus” (1993) starred Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker.
A girl must fight magic with magic in 1996’s “The Craft”. When four teenagers start dabbling in witchcraft, it’s up to Sarah (Robin Tunney) to battle the wicked tendencies of the others (Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell and Rachel True).
Not only did Sleepy Hollow (1999) have a headless horseman, but there were also a couple of witches in the mix as well. Ichabod (Johnny Depp) and Young Masbeth (Marc Pickering) happen across a witch in the woods while they’re trying to track down the horseman. Katrina (Christina Ricci) and Lady Van Tassel (Miranda Richardson), who controlled the horseman, also dabbled in witchcraft.
In 2005’s The Brothers Grimm, it’s up to Jacob and Wilhelm to stop the Mirror Queen and rescue the children she’s taken. The movie starred Monica Bellucci, Matt Damon and Heath Ledger.
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© 2006 by Tammy Cordani. To use the above content you must first obtain written permission. Please contact Tammy Cordani. All rights reserved.