I have to say that 2018 wasn't a bad year for horror flicks. We had some quality films come our way along with some new classics. But today we're not here to talk about the best and the worst. That's for another time. Today we wanted to take a look at – if not the BEST films of the year – the best SCENES of the year. As we all know, especially in this genre which spawned GHOST SHIP, a crummy flick can sport an all-time great sequence. That said, let it be known that there are movies I've missed thus far this year that supposedly have some killer scenes, such as the "breakdancing" scene from the recent remake of Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA or basically any scene from Lars von Trier's THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. But again, I haven't yet had the pleasure of sitting down with these flicks yet, so (wa, wa) let's move on. Another note: This one should kinda go without saying, but let's go ahead and do it for the cheap seats all the same. These entries contain SPOILERS so if you haven't seen the movie in question listed below, just skip on by it and come back after you've had the chance to peep said scene. You know what, I'll mention it again below in bigger font for those who skim.
Sure we waited years for this follow up to Bryan Bertino's THE STRANGERS and sure the final product was a little underwhelming. But that said, Johannes Roberts' THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT contains one truly great sequence. To set the scene for you guys, Bill Pullman's son is chased around an abandoned trailer park in the middle of the night by our three masked maniacs. Eventually, the kid makes his way to the park's pool by Pin-up Girl, and then – what the hell?! – kills the absolute hell out of her. What's going on here? I dig it! And no sooner can we try to process that, then who should appear with ax in hand than the notorious Man in the Mask. Little Pullman and The Man in the Mask then go man-to-man, toe-to-toe – and it's all set to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." I love cheesy 80's music so this sequence would have been a joy if it only sported that aspect, but the scene is also cleverly directed with the going above and below water bit being my favorite. And this sequence and the 80's music touch altogether was just what THE STRANGERS series needed – a bit of fun thrown in with the doom and creeping gloom.
Maybe this sequence from Corin Hardy's THE NUN didn't scare most people as much as it did me. But I'm claustrophobic and being buried alive has been a top fear of mine – but not THE top fear (I'm keeping that one to myself thank you very much) since I saw THE VANISHING back in high school. And for those who might not know what I'm talking about here, the scene follows Father Burke (Demian Bichir) who is forced into a coffin and then buried alive in a haunted cemetery with only a bell to keep him company… and maybe something else… I remember watching this scene with my girlfriend and having a panic attack at just the buried alive part. Then I screamed "Oh, wait! Oh, no! This is The Conjuring Universe! That means…" And sure as shit, things were kicked up a notch as someone or something grabs him out of the dark. It's like the powers that be behind the scenes watched THE VANISHING and KILL BILL and thought, "This is, you know, kinda scary, but how do we make it shriek in front of your girlfriend on a Friday night and embarrass yourself for a week straight scary? They think. "Oh!" screams screenwriter Gary Dauberman from the back of the room. "I've got it!"
This one was a toss-up. While I wasn't over-the-moon about Blumhouse and director David Gordon Green's direct sequel to John Carpenter's classic prototype slasher film, HALLOWEEN, I have to say that it contained a few killer scenes. My top favorites where the one-take trick or treating scene where Michael kills an old woman and a younger-ish woman – but passes by a baby – and this opening scene. As you can see, at the end of the day I chose this scene. Maybe it's because this scene, which features a British podcaster trying to interview Myers, and resorting to bringing out his classic mask when Michael refuses to speak to him, was the first of the film. Maybe it's because it worked in tandem with the killer opening credits sequence which saw the classic Halloween jack-o-lantern reformed from rot. Or maybe it was just because this scene is ominous and intense as hell. The inmates giggling and then losing their shite, the dog barking at the evil rising back to the surface within Michael. All of it. Brrr. Side Note: Shouting "Say something!!" at a patient at a mental institution is about the quickest way to get your ass kicked out of an insane asylum, British Dude.
This was the first horror movie scene I saw this past year that I said, "New classic for sure!" And while the rest of A QUIET PLACE never quite lived up to the harrowing opening sequence on the bridge (how could it?) the movie is one of the undisputed best films – horror or otherwise – released this year. But this bridge sequence is a masterpiece. Not only is it a tour de force of acting all around, but it hails director John Krasinski as a major talent to watch behind the camera for years to come. This sequence builds its suspenseful sinister surprise perfectly and when the silent shit hits the silent fan and things go all Zack Snyder slow motion, we know that Papa Krasinski is never going to reach loud baby Krasinski in time. But still, we have to watch and we hope. And as if it was all inevitable from the moment we heard the toy rocket go off, Krasinski gives us our resolution and we have our worst fears confirmed. A roaring monster, the child gone in seconds. Silence. Cue opening title card. Slow clap. As a new father, this scene hit me hard. But you know, not as hard as another sequence this past year. A QUIET PLACE's death scene was elegant, lyrical. This next one, a gut-punch to the soul.
I think you know what I'm talking about…
As if it could have been anything else, come on now. Sure THE NUN and all her spook-a-boo-ing was "scary." Sure the monster-aliens from A QUIET PLACE were a force to be reckoned with. And sure we all know Michael Myers is prone to giving us a nightmare or two. But none of those (relatively) silly shenanigans holds a candle to what writer-director Ari Aster had in store for us with his debut film HEREDITARY. Like the above mentioned A QUIET PLACE, HEREDITARY has many sequences that are shit your t-shirt scary (creepy Collette up in the corner anyone?) but this sequence by far takes the cake (no pun intended). During a teen party, young Charlie eats some nut-filled cake and has a deadly reaction. Her older brother and protector drives her at top speeds to the nearest hospital. He swerves to miss a dead deer in the road and Charlie leans her head out of the speeding car to try and get some fresh air into her collapsing lungs. Then… Charlie's head, meet light post. Light post, meet Charlie's head. Holy. Shit. Right? I don't know what was worse, this scene of the following where we only HEAR momma Collette find her head-less baby in the backseat the next morning. But both of these truly ungodly horrific bits play one after the other (and the head and the ants dear God!) so we'll call it all one sequence and then make sure to fast forward through this part for the rest of our lives. Sounds like a plan to me.
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And there you have it, those are our picks for the Best Horror Scenes of 2018. What do you think of this list and what were your five favorite horror scenes from this year? Should THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT and SUSPIRIA have made the list? Let us know below!