ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

1 year, 10 months ago - Antosh Wojcik

Hi George,

Sorry about the writer's block, you'll get through it! I'm a big fan of the Godzilla movies.

The monsters in each Godzilla movie are great, but specifically, the sound design for the monster is always amazing. It's not quite a horror film, but it inspires the sound of creatures which always gets my writing ideas going (I'm a writer and a sound designer). Also, Hellboy 1 and 2. I'll be watching those this Halloween!

Antosh

1 year, 10 months ago - cath le couteur

Yes good luck with breaking through the block. You will get there!

I'm not sure if the human-insect Jeff Goldblum hybrid from The FLY counts as a monster?? But his skin falls off and there is a ton of green goo. That Cronenberg film has stayed with me foreverrrr. And for me, I feel like the best monsters in films, often reflect or exaggerate key human flaws in super dark and funny ways. That scene where he begs Geena Davis to end his suffering also felt so powerful.

Not sure this helps - but gawd it's an amazing film if you want to watch something in that genre(-ish), that's super compelling.

Cath

1 year, 10 months ago - Jim Read

Not super-helpful on the low-budget end but it's always weird anamorphic body horror which gets me with my eyes glued to the screen...

Think The Bear from Annihilation, or Moder from The Ritual.... I do think alot of that is in the foley/sound design - bones cracking/weird guttural noises, shadows can do a lot of the leg work for you too.

Although on the low-budget end, THE KID FROM VIVARIUM. I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SIMULTANEOUSLY TERRIFIED BUT ALSO WANTING TO JUST LASH OUT AND SCREAM "SHUT UPPPPP" at something.

Also Skinamarink wasn't my cup of tea but made huge waves last year and was made on a crazy low-budget! Defo worth a watch.

1 year, 10 months ago - Tim Benjamin

For me, the first time I saw a micro-short based on the "somebody under my bed" meme (inspired by an ancient reddit post, https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1iwylh/what_is_the_best_horror_story_you_can_come_up/)
For example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNQIdEv-Emo but there are loads of them!

The worst monsters look just like us, after all.

In general I like monsters that you never actually see, or only get a mere glimpse of, where all the tension is what makes the film. Like "10 Cloverfield Lane", off the top of my head, or the first Alien in many ways, where I think the Alien is far more terrifying before you actually see it. I guess it's an instance of inverting the usual advice, and going for "tell, don't show"!

1 year, 10 months ago - Xenia Glen

I don't know if these all count as 'monsters', but off the top of my head:

- Pan's Labyrinth, the Faun, the Pale Man, and the brilliant big toad :)
- Uncle Boonme, the character of Boonsong
- Labyrinth, the Fireys (majorly freaky especially because of the dancing)
- The Fly, the giant man/fly hybrid

Also, when I was a kid, the aliens in Signs were hardcore terrifying - I'm going to give it a rewatch this Halloween! Let's see if the scares hold up...

Xenia

1 year, 10 months ago - Meik V. Fischer

Hi George,

You'll get through this block sooner than you think. It happens when least expected.
As for the "creatures" that scared the piss out of me, or just freaked me out, it's always monsters that seem indestructible in a physical sense.
That "thing" in The Ring that crawls out of the TV and "flickers" its way towards you. Or that "being" in The Grudge that materializes under your blanket (or in your hair as you shower) once you hear that typical throaty sound.
Or imagine being in your bed, and then something grabs your ankle and yanks you out of bed like in The Conjuring.
And when it comes to FX creatures, I'll confess that the Xenomorph in Alien is my favorite.
But, if I want to scare someone I'd probably write something that visits you when you least expect it.In the shower or sleeping. Or just enjoying a book in the living room. The Grudge and The Ring do some awesome scares in normal everyday situations. Those beings fucked me up the first time I saw the (original) movies.
Other than that I pretty much dig Zombie movies. Train to Busan (2016) and Dawn of the Dead ( 2004) are just awesome. Sprinting zombies are one of my worst nightmares.
Hope you find the inspiration you're looking for.

Keep on keepin' on,
Meik

1 year, 9 months ago - David Hughes

Max Cady from Martin Scorsese's CAPE FEAR

1 year, 9 months ago - Yen Rickeard

These all sound good, but I fear monsters that we don't know, the ones we mistake for the kind helper, the gentle one who needs help, the seemingly defenceless old or young person or animal who is really quietly, or more forcefully, weaving traps, putting on pressure. Hard to mistrust, but totally without heart, whether they are visible person, or beast, possibly a shape shifter, but definitely evil, and especially when unveiled, discovered or cornered. The horrid results of their evil keeps appearing, but the hero often goes to them for help, not realising.

1 year, 9 months ago - Peter Spencer

Hi George,
for me, I go deep into the classics - for example THE BLACK CAT (1934) despite it's lack of 'modern' effects still manages to shock. It explores areas of true horror that would be controversial today (man married to his daughter, ex-wives kept in jars filled with formaldahyde etc) Best of luck

1 year, 9 months ago - Tina Walker

Hi George and everyone,

So many brilliant films have been listed here!

Not 'scary' but Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. is a classic monster in my books. His monster design is perfect. I re-watched it for Halloween and it holds up more than TWENTY years on...

But in terms of genuinely scary, David's suggestion of Max Cady from CAPE FEAR tops my list.

Though, "The Simpsons" Cape Feare episode still gets me...

Tina

1 year, 9 months ago - Mike Myshko

Romero Zombies + the xenomorph from Alien - The fear of death, stalking you constantly. They work slowly but they will get you eventually.
The Shape / Michael Myers from Halloween - The pure embodiment of evil. Hulking, stalking, shadowy figure. Your deepest, dreamlike fears.
Freddie Kruger - Your worst fears made real. The fear of sleep, what if you don't wake up? Becoming an adult.
The Excorcist / Pazuzu - Loss of control, innocence, faith, mental health.
Another nod to The Thing - Fear of communism / loss of individualism.
Jaws - Thalassophobia (the less you see, the more powerful the fear)
The Terminator - Our own technology will destroy us.
Demon Seed / Proteus IV - Loss of control, the patriarchy, our own technology will surpass us.
Invisible Man 2020 - Voyeurism, stalking, gaslighting, emotional abuse.
Misery / Annie Wilkes - Mental health, captivity

1 year, 9 months ago - George Wright

This. Is. Amazing.

I still have writer's block, but now I also have a brilliant list of films to watch through. Some I haven't seen before, and some will be great to rewatch.

Thanks all,
George

1 year, 9 months ago - Robyn Hargreaves

Hi George,

One that sprung to mind is It from 'It Follows'. A sort of paranormal sexually-transmitted demon that slowly follows you until it gets close enough to kill and maim you. It changes form so could look like any person, but has a dead look in its eyes. The fact it could be anywhere and quietly blend into the crowd is eerie enough. And, though it's slow, it always follows you, you're plagued by it. You have to keep running. Which is terrifying. What's worse is no one else can see it except the people who've had it before.

So it's something horrific, unknown, disguised, isolating, and you're cursed with it