The Top 10 Monster Reveals that Ruined Horror Movies, According to Reddit [Video]
A good monster makes all the difference.
Even if the story or characters are slight, a good monster is usually enough to elevate an entire movie. Thematically, Antlers doesn’t do anything unconventional, but I could look at its monster all day. Pumpkinhead as a movie is good. Pumpkinhead as a monster is even better. Even last year’s Dark Harvest is augmented considerably by Sawtooth Jack.
While those movies are made all the better by their monsters, what about the inverse? A monster reveal that has the opposite effect? Reddit user Fairyliveshow, in a post that generated more than 1,200 comments, asked just that. What monster appearances totally ruined the movie?
Check out some popular responses below:
The responses are a solid mix of classic and more contemporary monsters. Broadly, every horror fan knows the axiom that what we don’t see is scarier. I agree, but I do think the modern horror scene has made remarkable progress in culling from the darkest recesses of our minds with tangible, visible monsters that work.
There’s nothing innately wrong with showing your monster, but inevitably, it will alienate some audience members. Think of the scariest thing you can do. It’s probably wildly different than mine. When someone is petrified by a specter off-screen, everyone can fill in the blanks with what scares them most. Your audience is split in two when it emerges from the shadows into the light.
There are many factors at play, and I’m not in a position to fully understand the reasons why. Some point to the advent of more accessible computer technology and the shift from proximal monsters to CGI baddies. Others point to a kind of unintentional homage where every new monster starts looking like every old monster. Think Barbarian, Blair Witch, Mama, and Lights Out.
Wherever you land, it’s a fascinating thread. As a bonafide monster fan, seeing where my thoughts overlap or diverge from public opinion is always exciting.
What do you think? What’s your favorite movie monster? Conversely, which movie monster ruined the movie for you? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
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