HORROR TEN SPOT: Top 10 Awesome Lines

January 25th 2008, 12:03pm

Last Updated on August 3, 2021

There’s not much more satisfying in this world than a good one-liner. Especially in horror flicks where we don’t always get treated to the top tier screenwriting talent that other genres tend to enjoy.

So what is it that makes ’em work when they do? It can be situation, presentation, or sometimes we even get unbelievable writing. And of course everybody has their personal faves. So make sure to Spit Bullets if your most loved doesn’t make the list. Share and share alike!

1. Regan Teresa MacNeil/Pazuzu, THE EXORCIST

THE EXORCIST specializes in nastiness. Peeing on the floor, masturbating with a crucifix, spewing pea soup, and all delivered by the angelic countenance of young Linda Blair. But when it comes to top of the line verbal throwdowns, nothing beats a pre-teen taunting a priest about his damned mothers oral dexterity. No question that little head-turner would have kicked ass at playing the Dozens.

2. Pinhead, HELLRAISER

We will tear your soul apart!”

A lot of times lines like this work great for trailers, but it’s difficult to make them ring true in the context of a scene. Not here. When the Cenobites first reveal themselves to Kirsty it’s one of the best villain entrances ever. It has so much exposition that it should fall on it’s face, but no, we get a seminal moment in sack tightening history.

3. Carol Anne Freeling, POLTERGEIST

“They’re heeeerrrrrreee.”

Life isn’t fair. If it was then sweet, talented young girls wouldn’t die at age 12, POLTERGEIST curse or not. But here’s the thing, with two little words Heather O’Rourke managed something most people never achieve – immortality. She scared us, fascinated us, and left a lasting mark on the cinematic landscape. Not too shabby.

4. Jack Torrance, THE SHINING

“Heeere’s Johnny!”

I do not love this movie. I think it’s one of Kubrick’s weakest and most obvious efforts. Part of the problem is that we know Jack is gonna go all Jack on us, and that’s what we want. So there’s nothing scary about his character arc. Still doesn’t change the fact that when it comes to badass badassery, there’s nothing better than seeing Nicholson take an axe to that bathroom door and announce his presence with authority.

5. Buffalo Bill, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

“It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.”

Sure Lecter gets all the props in SOTL, but for sheer creepy factor I have to go with cross-dressing psycho who talks about you in the third person while you’re stuck in a pit. Don’t believe me? Try “Have the lambs stopped screaming, Clarice?” and this line in a bar and see which one gets the more terrified response. I’m just kidding of course. We prefer our readers stay out of jail whenever possible, but you see what I mean.

6. Various Psychos, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS

“Do you read Sutter Cane?”

This is the first movie quote I ever wanted to get made into a t-shirt. Of course, I’m lazy as hell so it never happened, but still, the impulse was there. My favorite aspect of the quote is that it gets repeated throughout the film by multiple people (or not depending on how you look at it) and it gets creepier each time as the understanding of just what it means grows. So tell me, do you read Sutter Cane?

7. Chief Brody, JAWS

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

Has there ever been a better example of an understatement? We’ve hardly seen the shark at all by this point in the film, and the chase is just bordering on monotonous. Even Brody has started to relax a bit out on the open sea, and suddenly we’re all right in the middle of it. Rickety old fishing vessel vs. the biggest, baddest sea predator around. Damn straight you’re gonna need a bigger boat!

8. Norman Bates, PSYCHO

“A boy’s best friend is his mother.”

The line is subtle, probably worth little notice at first if you don’t know what’s coming. But the whole damn film is contained in the sentence. From the wording, to the tone and intonation, the body language, it’s all top quality. There are scarier moments in PSYCHO, but none as indescribably unsettling.

9. Ellen Ripley, ALIENS

“Get away from her, you bitch!”

Part of the reason ALIENS is such a great sequel is that it stays true to the universe while creating a completely different film. The vibe, tension and purpose are all its own. A one-liner like this in the first film would have been out of place and completely ridiculous, but with the follow-up’s amped up, pedal to the medal, action/sci-fi extravaganza firing on all cylinders it’s a joy when Ripley goes Alpha Mom on the Alien Queen to save little Newt.

10. Leslie Vernon, BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE AND FALL OF LESLIE VERNON

“You have no idea how much cardio I have to do. It’s ridiculous.”

This flick is one of the best horror gems I’ve seen, and a lot of it had to do with lines like this. Nathan Baesel gives an amazing performance as Vernon, managing to make me laugh with lots of goofy antics early, but then bringing the sauce pretty hard core when it comes time to be scary in the last block.