Shudder’s 101 Scariest Movie Moments encapsulates many of the most extraordinary scenes in horror cinema history. With input from a multitude of famous faces in horror, including but not limited to: Tom Savini, Rebekah McKendry, and Tony Todd, is it any wonder that by the time credits rolled on the eighth and final episode, we were left thinking about so much more than just scary movie moments? From behind-the-scenes trivia to director inspiration and our psychology, here are some of our favorite things that stood out while watching Shudder’s 101 Scariest Movie Moments of All Time.
What Gets Under Our Skin
While providing commentary on the eyeball skewer scene from Zombi (Zombie 2), film scholar Rebekah McKendry Ph.D. explains why eyeball horror is so effective. Since many of us have gotten an eye injury at some point, we can imagine the pain associated with what we’re seeing. For this reason, Rebekah McKendry explains that eyeballs, fingernails, and teeth are all parts of us “that we embody with” and tend to make effective scares when we see an injury to them on the screen.
The First Appearance of Jason Voorhees
Renowned special effects artist Tom Savini explained that Friday the 13th was initially scripted to end with the Mrs. Voorhees decapitation scene. However, inspired by the iconic ending in Carrie, Tom Savini insisted that the movie needed a “chair jumper” ending. Thus, the jump scare dream sequence was born, delivering the first depiction of Jason Voorhees.
Tom Holland’s Inspiration for Child’s Play
The horror film director that introduced the world to Chucky, Tom Holland, explains that while he was shooting Child’s Play, he wanted a creative way to display Chucky’s perspective. Thus, he took inspiration from the low-to-the-ground POV shots of the Zuni doll in Trilogy of Terror.
Unsung Heroes in Horror
One of the lesser-talked-about titles from the list, Black Sabbath marked a unique landmark in horror. Rebekah McKendry explains that this film is the first time we see a female actress not looking perfectly coiffed on screen. Black Sabbath set a new standard that is now commonplace in horror today.
Candy Man, Candy Man, Candy- Damn. That’s a Mouthful of Bees
Tony Todd, who played the titular Candy Man, reflected on the scene where his character opens his mouth, revealing a mouthful of bees. The bees were real, and as we all ask ourselves if we could go to those lengths as a performer, Tony Todd attributes his ability to tackle any experience to his background in theatre, citing, “We were taught to be fearless. And you approach every role as if it’s that thing […] that’s going to make that magic moment. I knew it when I read the script. Nobody’s ever done that before, and nobody’s done it since.” Though, he can still remember the buzzing feeling inside his mouth.
Stephen King’s Influence on Scary Movie Moments
While the widely acclaimed horror writer did not appear on the show, many movies based on his work did. Of the 101 films on the list, a Stephen King adaptation made up eight of them – a quarter of them directed by Mike Flanagan. Interestingly, Mike Flanagan explained that Doctor Sleep’s original “baseball boy scene” was a lot longer. But it was cut down after Stephen King’s comment to the horror director during a screening, remarking on the length of the brutal scene.
Mike Flanagan’s Favorite Movie Recommendation
Speaking of the director of Doctor Sleep, Mike Flanagan explained that whenever a person asks him for a movie recommendation, Lake Mungo is a go-to choice. He is such a fan of the film; he says it was a source of inspiration for his successful Netflix series Haunting of Hill House.
The Film that Made a Lasting Impression on Greg Nicotero
Master of special effects Greg Nicotero was nearly ten years away from landing his first significant job with 1985’s Day of the Dead when The Omen was released. On Shudder’s 101 Scariest Movie Moments of All Time, Nicotero explains that he was transfixed by how they achieved the multi-angled decapitation scene in 1976’s The Omen. Greg Nicotero now owns the prop head used in that scene as a testament to this adoration.
Vampires That You Won’t Fall in Love With
While scenes involving vampire films appear numerous times, a particular type of vampire was most welcome. As Joe Bob Briggs’ discussed what made Nosferatu so great, he attributes the film’s success to Max Schreck’s interpretation of the role and how he was able to highlight the vampire’s strangeness by moving “like an insect.” “This Dracula is a predator and a stalker,” Joe Bob Briggs states, not the type that will ever make the leading lady swoon.
A similarly functioning type of vampire was brought up later in a discussion about 30 Days of Night. Lydia Hearst and film scholar John Jennings spoke about the romanticism stripped from the vampires as a “species” that only wants to eat you. These vampires exude a particular type of horror because their viciousness cannot be swayed. To briefly reiterate a point I touched upon in “History of Vampires,” vampires are best when they’re bestial; therefore, it was refreshing to see this brand of vampire showcased and celebrated as such.
Inspiration and Meaning of Us
Tananarive Due spoke of Jordan Peele’s inspiration for Us. The whole storyline stemmed from one question: “What if you were getting on a subway train, and you looked across the platform and saw a replica of yourself?” Tananarive Due explains that Us is Jordan Peele’s attempt to answer that question. She remarked on the resulting message about privilege and how Us forces us to look at our own and asks us what we are doing with it.
If you haven’t seen it, watch Shudder’s 101 Scariest Movie Moments of All Time, streaming on Shudder. In a series packed with so much trivia, haunting imagery, and food for thought, all coming from some of the most notable voices presently in horror, choosing only ten standout moments is no easy task. Is there anything that stood out to you when watching that you wish had been included? Sound off in the comments, and let us know.
