Bonus Horror Scene Of The Day: The End Of 10 To Midnight


The scene below is a major spoiler for the film 10 to Midnight so don’t watch if you haven’t seen the film yet.  And, to be honest, you probably shouldn’t even read the rest of this post, as the post itself is probably a spoiler as well.  There’s no way to truly talk about this film without talking about the ending.  10 to Midnight is a film that’s been on my mind a lot this year, largely because Charles Bronson plays a character who reminds me of my Dad.  Bronson’s relationship with his daughter (played by Lisa Eilbacher) also reminds me of my own relationship with my Dad.  I doubt there’s many people who get sentimental over a relatively unheralded vigilante horror film from 1983 but, as I’m still processing losing my Dad earlier this year, I am one of those people.

If you have seen the film, you know that this is one of the best endings that Charles Bronson ever filmed.  Indeed, in today’s chaotic world, there’s some very satisfying about both Bronson’s final line and his no-nonsense style of dealing with problems.  And indeed, with all the bad vibes that seem to have been unleashed on the world over the past few years, this scene feels like an exorcism of sorts.

Serial killer Warren Stacy (Gene Davis) thought he could game the system.  He thought he had everything figured out.  He smugly assumed no one could stop his reign of terror.

Well, Bronson disagrees.

And with that one wonderful final line, Charles Bronson brings this year’s Horrorthon to a close.

Scenes I Love: I Got A Rock!


This scene is from It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!  It’s a crime that this wonderful and sweet animated special is no longer aired during the holidays.  No wonder the Great Pumpkin hasn’t been seen this year!

What I love about this scene is that you can actually see the rock getting tossed into Charlie Brown’s bag while all of the other trick-or-treaters got candy.  Everyone in the neighborhood knows which ghost is Charlie Brown and they’ve all decided to give him rocks!

Poor Charlie Brown!

Horror Scenes That I Love: Dan O’Herlihy Tells Us What Halloween is All About in Halloween III: Season of the Witch


Tonight’s horror scene that I love is from the 1982 film, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, a film that has finally started to be recognized for being the horror classic that it is.

In this scene, Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy) explains not only the origins of Halloween but he also discusses how he’s going to make Halloween great again.  This scene is probably the best in the film and it’s almost entirely due to O’Herlihy’s wonderfully menacing performance as Conal Cochran.

“….and happy Halloween.”

Two Scenes From Young Frankenstein (In Memory of Teri Garr)


Today, everyone was saddened to hear about the passing of actress Teri Garr.  The veteran actress and dancer, who was best-known for her comedic performances but who also showed that she could handle drama, was 79 years old.

Since this is October, it seem fitting to share two scenes from 1974’s Young Frankenstein, featuring Teri Garr as Inga.

 

Horror Scenes That I Love: The Interview With The Chief From Night of the Living Dead


“Yeah, they’re dead …. they’re all messed up.”

There’s a lot of disturbing scenes in the original Night of the Living Dead but I’ve always loved this live, televised interview with the chief of police.  First, there’s the delivery of that classic line.  “….they’re all messed up.”  Yes, they are.  Then there’s the fact that the chief doesn’t seem to be particularly perturbed by the fact that the dead are coming back to life.  Instead, his attitude is very straight-forward.  It’s happening, we need to take care of it, let’s arm some civilians.

Of course, this interview sets up the film’s ending, in which we learn that those helpful civilians with guns are a bit trigger happy and sometimes, the living get in the way.  When you first see this interview, it’s easy to laugh at the sight of the chief’s posse and everyone’s odd confidence that the dead will somehow just go away.  (Death, after all, is the one thing that is guaranteed to happen to everyone eventually.)  Once you know how the story’s going to end, though, this scene becomes much more ominous.

In the end, the film suggests that it’s not just dead who are all messed up.

Horror Scenes That I Love: Christopher George Digs Up Catriona MacColl in City of the Living Dead


From 1980’s City of the Living Dead, directed by the amazing Lucio Fulci, comes today’s scene of the day.  In this scene, it turns out that Catriona MacColl was actually not quite dead when she was buried.  Can Christopher George dig her up without accidentally killing her in the process?

Watch to find out!

Horror Scenes That I Love: The Man Behind The Dumpster From Mulholland Drive


It’s not usually described as being a horror film but this scene from David Lynch’s 2001 Mulholland Drive literally made me jump the first time I saw it.

Personally, I think this is the scariest moment that David Lynch ever directed.

Horror Scenes I Love: “Names that Start With S” from Suspiria


Suspiria (1977, dir by Dario Argento, DP: Luciano Tavoli)

I can’t wait to re-watch Dario Argento’s Suspiria tonight!  Today’s horror scene of the day is one of my favorite scenes from that film.

As you probably guessed from the title of this post, that scene is the famous “Names that start with S” scene.  This is the scene in which dance student Suzy Banyon’s new roommate explains that names that start with S are often the names of snakes!  Suzy’s new best friend, Sarah, disagrees.

When I first saw Suspiria, this was a scene to which I, as a dance student, could immediately relate.  As odd as the dialogue may have sounded and as silly as the two students may have appeared to be, it actually felt very authentic.  By nature, dancers are competitive and we are dramatic.  If anyone is going to accuse you of having the name of a snake, it’s probably going to be dancer.

Admittedly, no one ever told me that I had the name of the snake.  But there was the girl who told me that I was “soooooo pretty,” or at least I would be pretty if I got the nose job that I obviously required if I ever had any hope of being happy or successful.  “But,” she added as she turned away from me, “I guess you’d have to figure out how you could possibly pay for it.”  Of course, she was also quick to explain that she was only telling me the truth and that she had the best of intentions.  I had about the same reaction to her advise as Sarah has to be calling a snake.

(Sarah stuck out her tongue.  I may have said something about her boyfriend not having any issue with the size of my nose when he was hitting on me the night before.  But basically, it was pretty much the same reaction…)

This scene made such an impression on me that, in the months after I first saw Suspiria, I would often randomly launch into the name of snakes monologue.  Unfortunately, I had failed to take into account that I was literally the only student at my high school who would actually take the time to watch an Italian horror film from the 1970s.  As such, no one knew what I was talking about and I lost a few friends named Susan and Sarah as a result.

Oh well!

Anyway, you can watch the scene below!  Pay special attention to the way Jessica Harper reacts to being caught in the middle of the conversation.  Dario Argento will probably never be known as a great director of actors but Jessica Harper is great in Suspiria!

Horror Scenes That I Love: Swimming With The Creature From The Black Lagoon


Today’s horror scene that I love comes from one of my favorite films, 1953’s Creature From The Black Lagoon.  In this scene, Julia Adams goes for a swim.  Little does she realize that, under the water, the Creature is following her every move.  Wonderfully directed by Jack Arnold, this creepy yet oddly lovely scene is one of the best of the 50s.

(By the way, I’m happy to say that I will be viewing this wonderful movie on the big screen this weekend!  I can’t wait!)