We love the smell of blood in the morning! There are so many components in a good horror movie, blood, creepy music, blood, scares, blood, a terrifying villain, did we mention blood? But, there’s nothing quite like an epic death to really round out this powerhouse genre. There are countless examples; some inspire shock and awe, while some inspire a well-placed yawn. So we’ve cut the middleman out (figuratively of course) and made things easy for you. In no particular order, here are the 5 most epic deaths in horror movie history.
5. David’s Decision in The Mist
Why it made the list: You know it’s good when Stephen King approves of the movie’s different ending compared to the novella. Mr. King even said, “there should be a law passed stating that anybody who reveals the last 5 minutes of this film should be hung from the neck until dead.” So we won’t ruin it for you, but let’s leave it at this, these deaths are still shocking 11 years later. The timeless, ever relevant message present in The Mist is that hope is never lost.
No Clip of the scene on account of not wanting to piss Stephen King off.
4. Jason’s Sleeping Bag Soiree in Friday the 13th Part VII: New Blood
Why it made the list: Ahhh young people in the woods. What is it about teens in the woods that get a serial killer’s blood pumping? Judy hides in her sleeping bag but finds eternal rest when Jason takes her out for a smashing evening. While there are many notable deaths in the Friday the 13th franchise, this one gets points for simplicity and relatability. We’ve all wanted to put someone in a sleeping bag and throw them against a tree. Right? Jason is just speaking for the masses here. We live vicariously through you Jason.
3. Norris’s Heart Attack in The Thing
Why it made the list: The Thing went from box office flop to horror fan favorite for many reasons, including this death! Norris has what the team thinks is a heart attack, but it’s actually a heart stopping performance by the Thing (too soon?). While Copper tries to revive him, Norris’s chest opens up in order to keep Copper at “arms length”. Norris is assimilated by the Thing and turns into a lovely humanoid creature that is incinerated shortly thereafter. Talk about a two for one!
2. Kane’s Chestbuster in Alien
Why it made the list: In space, no one can hear you scream. Even if you have never seen Alien (how dare you) you know this scene. Kane (played by John Hurt) convulses in pain and to his surprise (and demise) a small alien bursts out and disappears into the bowels of the ship. The cast didn’t know what was going to happen, making the reactions genuine and that much more epic. It’s so iconic and has been parodied so many times, even by Hurt himself several years later in the film Space Balls.
1. Glen Lantz in A Nightmare on Elm Street
Why it made the list: You can’t talk about horror deaths without giving this one a nod. Forget about the monsters under your bed, it’s the monsters IN your bed you need to worry about. Johnny Depp makes his acting debut in this classic film. And there is blood. So. Much. Blood.
