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David Harley Looks Back on 13 Memorable Death Scenes of the Decade

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When thinking back on all the cinematic gore and grue of the past decade, it’s apparent that there’s one art form that hasn’t been lost: the almighty death scene. Whether we’re musing about the latest slasher flick or whatever Jigsaw has been up to recently, we can all appreciate a good kill, whether it’s over-the-top and elaborate or a simple, dramatic stab. Hell, in many cases, the film doesn’t have to be good to have a memorable death scene (as is evident by the list below); it just has to have a moment where everyone in the theatre/living room drops their jaw to the floor and says, “That. Was. Awesome.” So here they are, 13 memorable death scenes from horror films in the past decade.

Ghost Ship – Down To The Wire

In what is probably Dark Castle’s most forgotten film (well, besides for The Reaping), Gabriel Byrne stars as the captain of a salvage crew who finds a long-lost cruise ship floating in the middle of the ocean and decides to tow it back to port, malevolent spirits and all. While most people claim Ghost Ship was loosely based on Death Ship, it’s actually closer to a film of the same name made in 1952 and was originally intended to be a psychological thriller with very little splatter. It’s a shame that the opening credit sequence, which kills almost everyone on board in the blink of an eye, was just a tease and not a true sign of things to come. If only the rest of the film had been that good!

Silent Hill – Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

Sure, the screenplay/dialogue is pretty dire and the acting is questionable, but you can’t knock the atmosphere, aesthetics and soundtrack that accompany the gruesome happenings in the small, cult-filled town. If anything, I would say Silent Hill is on par with some of the lesser and more senseless Fulci and Argento flicks – and this is coming from someone who loves both directors. In what was one of the biggest WTF theatre moments I had this decade, Pyramid Head decides to make an example out of one of the town’s inhabitants by skinning her alive and throwing her epidermis up against the cathedral-style doors. Oddly enough, that is not the biggest blood sacrifice the town has ever seen.

Jason X – Cool As Ice

Jason X has a few things going for it but two really stand out to me. The first is that it’s actually a fun film, which can’t be said for any of the sequels after Jason Lives – at least, in my eyes. It’s so over-the-top that I couldn’t help but laugh with delight at every moronic moment (and there are plenty). The second one happens to be one of my favorite death scenes in the entire series, where after thawing out, Jason decides to freeze a helpless intern’s face in a sink full of liquid nitrogen and then smash it open on the countertop. I also give big kudos to the sleeping bag death but we’d already seen that in The New Blood more than a decade before.

Hatchet – Say Aaaaaaaah!

After creating an army of support (literally), Adam Green burst onto the horror scene in a big way with Hatchet. It was everything I expected it to be: over-the-top, campy and a pretty decent throwback to the 80s, making it one of my favorite slashers of the decade. In what is probably the greatest one-two punch of gore I’ve seen in quite a while, Victor Crowley manages to dispatch a husband and wife – the Permatteos – in the most gruesome way possible. And while watching someone get hacked up with unholy amounts of blood spurting about is great, it’s the 360 head splitting that really deserves the kudos.

Feast – Puke-O-Rama

Kid death in a horror film is often hard to come by – because it’s not PC or something like that – but Feast definitely steps it up in that department. In one of the more memorable scenes in the film (of which there are actually quite a few), one of the creatures gobbles up a kid and then vomits all over the place. And while Gulager would feature some fairly ridiculous baby deaths in the sequels, it’s this death that always made me laugh the hardest.

Let The Right One In – Hold Your Breath

Let The Right One In is possibly the most grotesquely beautiful film I’ve ever seen. It’s a coming-of-age story about love, friendship and the awkwardness and confusion that surrounds adolescence. Oh, and there’s vampires in it, too. In fact, many of the other writers on the site agree that this film is amazing – well, enough to put it at number one on our `Top Twenty Horror Films of the Decade’ list. While some people might point to the infamous cat scene or maybe the hospital fire as the most memorable moment in the film, I’d argue that the pool deaths register much higher on an emotional level, since it’s sweet in the most morbid way possible.

House of Wax – The Hilton Pole Vault

What is there to be said about Dark Castle’s House of Wax, aside from the fact that it’s more of a remake of Tourist Trap than the Vincent Price classic or Fay Wray version? Oh, that’s right, PARIS HILTON GOT A POLE STUCK THROUGH HER HEAD. I remember leaving an early screening of the film and getting handed a `I saw Paris Hilton die’ pin; WB knew exactly what they were doing – marketing an awful film on the basis of getting to see a very maligned heiress die. And on that level, the film succeeds tenfold.

American Psycho – F*** Me Gently With A Chainsaw

Whether you consider American Psycho to be a horror film or one of the best black comedies ever (I’m in the former camp), I think we can all agree that Patrick Bateman is a very memorable character and that, in a way, we all have had really bizarre thoughts like him – though hopefully not as severe! There’s a few key scenes in the film that really resonate with me – most of them consisting of gore and witty banter – but the chainsaw scene stuck with me the most because of its mean-spirited nature and full on display of testosterone.

Final Destination 2 – A Car Accident Waiting To Happen

I don’t think anyone is ever going to say that the Final Destination series is important or necessarily “good” but let’s face it: we keep watching them because the death scenes are hilarious and over-the-top. The original FD was thought to be really innovative – but not really, since Sole Survivor did almost the same thing in 1983 – but Part II always worked the best for me, simply because it embraced its overall sense of humor more and the deaths were REALLY mind blowing. I wish I could include the whole film as one entry on this list but, to be fair, I’ll just use the opening car crash, which is easily the most intense “premonition” of the entire series. And just in case you’re wondering, I’d rank the BBQ scene at the end next.

Mother Of Tears – Of Course There’s A Monkey Watching

After not working on the series for over 20 years, Dario Argento finally return to his beloved witch trilogy with Mother of Tears, which turned out to be the goriest film of his career. While the entire thing is pretty batshit insane, it’s the woman getting strangled with her own intestines that kind of takes the cake. But – let’s be honest – it’s the inclusion of a monkey that’s the cherry on top.

Saw III – Talk About Hanging Yourself On The Cross!

I’m going to be upfront with everyone: I’m not a fan of the Saw series at all – though, I’d say that out of the ones I’ve actually watched, Part II was my favorite – but I realize that it’s the only major horror franchise I’ve been alive for from beginning to end and it has really shaped the horror trends of the past decade. But even though I don’t care for them, I’d say that, more often than not, the traps and kills are really impressive. Much like Final Destination, I could probably populate this whole list with nothing but really cringe-worthy scenes from the series but the crucifixion trap always made me squirm the most – go figure it’s from the entry that I dislike the most! The trap held its captor in place with a spike through each hand and foot, and a rotating lock held his head in place. Each section could rotate 180 degrees, breaking all the bones in his arms, legs, and neck.

Hostel II – Bathing In The Blood Of Virgins

If any torture film this decade could manage to be entertaining in a very strange way, Hostel and its sequel would be the best bets. While the first film manages to blend frat humor and grisly tension pretty seamlessly, the sequel was more of a slow-burn, harkening back to films from the 70s and perhaps a hint of Audition thrown in there for measure. Both films have their fair share of ghastly torture but the Bathory scene is the most memorable simply because it’s the most sensual death scene this decade.

Inside – C-section

In the time between High Tension and Martyrs, Inside ruled the horror scene as THE French gore film to watch. It’s commentary on motherhood and abortion was fairly interesting but what kept most people watching was the immense amount of blood that overtook every frame and the fast pace. Shotgun blasts and scissor wounds are pretty prominent but the primitive c-section by La femme is just really… well, nasty.

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The 10 Scariest Moments in the ‘Ghostbusters’ Movie Franchise

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scariest Ghostbusters

WARNING: The following contains mild spoilers for the Ghostbusters franchise. 

Yes, Ghostbusters is a horror movie – gateway horror to be exact. Setting aside the fact that the title literally contains the word “ghost,” a foundational element of the scariest genre, the franchise follows a group of paranormal researchers who battle entities attacking from beyond the grave. After countless rewatches, the classic films and newer sequels may not scare us much anymore, but how many times have we as genre fans asserted that a film does not have to be “scary” to be considered horror?

Genre classification is nebulous and any film that centers on ghosts has a place in the sprawling house of horror. Yes, it’s true that most viewers over the age of thirteen will find more to laugh about than scream while watching a Ghostbusters film, but each entry contains a handful of terrifying moments. With Gil Kenan’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire uniting three generations of the parascientific warriors, perhaps it’s time to highlight the most frightening moments from each phase of this legendary franchise. 


Ghostbusters (1984)

A Haunted Library

scariest Ghostbusters movie

Ivan Reitman’s original film begins with a campfire tale come to life. We follow an unsuspecting librarian as she ventures deep into the stacks to reshelve a book. With her hair blowing from a spectral breeze, we watch a hardcover float across the aisle to the opposite shelf. A second book follows, but the librarian remains unaware. She finally notices the disturbance when card catalog drawers open on their own spewing cards into the air like literary geysers. She flees through the maze of narrow stacks only to come face to face with a mysterious force who blows her back with a powerful roar. We won’t see the Library Ghost (Ruth Oliver) until a later scene, but this introduction firmly positions the film that follows in the world of horror. On first watch, we can only speculate as to the ghost’s malevolence and whether or not the librarian has survived the encounter. It’s the perfect introduction to a world in which ghosts are not only real, they will pounce on unsuspecting humans at the drop of a … book. 

Shaky Ground

The original finale may not be the film’s most terrifying moment, but it has become the franchise’s most iconic image. When faced with choosing a form for Gozer (Slavitza Jovan), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) inadvertently conjures up an image from his childhood. Moments later, a set of once-cheery eyes peer through the skyscrapers. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man towers over the city, stomping and destroying everything in its path. While there’s definitely something terrifying about a jovial mascot turned deadly killer, what happens moments before is arguably scarier. 

The Ghostbusters arrive at the luxury apartment building to throngs of adoring fans. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) plays into this hero-worship and promises an easy solution to a supernatural problem. But before they can enter the building, lightning strikes the upper floors sending massive chunks of brick and cement raining down on the barricaded street. The ground begins to shake and a giant fissure swallows the entire team. It’s a destabilizing moment made all the more terrifying by its shocking reality. Speculation about the existence of ghosts may vary from person to person, but there’s no doubt that sinkholes are very real. It’s entirely possible that the ground we’re standing on right now could spontaneously begin to crumble, sucking us down into a seemingly bottomless void beneath the earth. 


Ghostbusters II (1989)

Runaway Baby

Ivan Reitman’s sequel begins with a sly update on the life of a beloved character as Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) pushes a baby carriage containing her infant son Oscar (Henry and William Deutschendorf). When last we saw the attractive cellist, she was kissing Venkman in the wreckage of Gozer’s demise and the thought of this loveable lady’s man becoming a father may be more nerve-wracking than anything contained in the first film. We never learn much about Oscar’s real father, but we do discover that fate has a sinister plan for the adorable child. While Dana chats with her landlord, Oscar’s carriage rolls a few feet away. Dana reaches for the handle, but the buggy begins speeding down the sidewalk careening through the busy crowds. As if guided by unseen hands, the carriage twists and turns, then abruptly swerves into oncoming traffic. Cars honk and veer out of the way, but the racing carriage marks a collision course with an approaching bus. The wheels screech to a halt moments before what would surely be a deadly crash and Dana rushes to embrace her vulnerable child. This harrowing scene is likely to terrorize any parent who’s experienced the fear of trying to protect a baby in an unpredictable world.  

Sewer Screams

scariest Ghostbusters scene

While investigating the second film’s primary villain, Vigo the Carpathian (Wilhelm von Homburg), three of the Ghostbusters venture into the sewers hoping to find a growing river of slime. Ray, Winston (Ernie Hudson), and Egon (Harold Ramis) trek down an abandoned subway line while speculating about the hordes of cockroaches and rats they hear scurrying behind the walls. These vermin may be scary, but there are more malevolent monsters lurking in the dark. Ray and Egon both amuse themselves with the tunnel’s echo but Winston’s “hello” goes unanswered. Moments later, a demonic voice bellows his name from the dark end of the corridor. Waiting behind him is a severed head floating in the empty tunnel. As he tries to retreat, the team finds themselves surrounded by dozens of ghoulish heads that disappear faster than they materialized. Moments later, a ghostly train hurtles towards them, swallowing Winston in its spectral glow. Egon theorizes that something is trying to keep them from reaching their destination with effective scares designed to frighten the Ghostbusters and audience alike.  


Ghostbusters (2016)

Haunted Basement

Like its predecessor, Paul Feig’s remake opens with a spooky vignette. Garrett (Zach Woods) gives a tour of the Aldridge Mansion, a 19th century manor preserved in the middle of the busy city, and walks visitors through a troubling history of excess and cruelty. Hoping to inject a bit of excitement, he pauses near the basement door and tells the horrifying story of Gertrude Aldridge (Bess Rous), a wealthy heiress who murdered the house’s many servants. Hoping to avoid a public scandal, her family locked her in the basement and her restless spirit can still be heard trying to escape. Garrett triggers a trick candlestick to fly off the shelf, hinting at the spirit’s presence, but a late night incident shows that the deceased murderess may actually be lurking in her ancestral home. While closing up for the night, Garrett hears ominous noises from behind the barricaded door and watches the knob rattle against the heavy locks. An unseen attacker hurls him through the house and eventually drives him down the basement stairs to a sea of green slime pooling on the floor. The stairs crumble leaving the tour guide hanging on to the door frame for dear life as a spectral figure glides toward him with menacing hands outstretched. Once again, we won’t see the fully revealed ghost of Gertrude Aldridge until later in the film, but this terrifying opening sets the stage for a dangerous showdown with an army of the dead.

Mannequin On the Move

The scariest moment of the 2016 remake is arguably the vicious online hatred sparked well before the film’s release. In response to brutal comments posted to the first official trailer, the cast returned to film an additional scene in which they react to dehumanizing negativity. But another sequence may cut closer to the heart of this upsetting experience. The Ghostbusters respond to a call at a concert venue and split up to cover more ground. Patty (Leslie Jones) enters what she calls a “room full of nightmares” and immediately reverses course to avoid a multitude of mannequins stacked haphazardly in the dark. As she walks out the door, one of the faceless creatures turns its head her way. Walking on its own, this sentient prop follows her down the hall, pausing the moment she turns around. Eventually breaking cover, the mannequin chases Patty down the hall to the rest of the team. They unleash their proton packs and make quick work of the gargoyle-like ghost. Though this connection is surely unintentional, it’s a terrifying parallel to a faceless monster sneaking up to attack a woman simply trying to do her job. 


Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Smoke and Monsters

While Ghostbusters: Afterlife is nowhere near as scary as the horror films playing in the local summer school science class, Jason Reitman’s legacyquel does contain its share of frights. The film opens with a harrowing scene as we join Egon (Oliver Cooper) in the last moments of his life. Racing away from a sinister mountain, Egon’s truck collides with an unseen force and flips upside down in a field of corn. The elderly scientist races back to his crumbling farmhouse with a trap in hand, intent on ensnaring this invisible being. Unfortunately, the power fails and Egon has no choice but to hide the trap under the floorboards and wait. He sits in a comfortable old chair as a horrifying cloud of smoke drifts in behind him, momentarily forming the shape of a fanged beast. Demonic hands grab him from within the chair, likely causing the heart attack that will be listed on his death certificate. But his abandoned PKE meter below the chair activates, reminding us that Egon may be deceased, but he is far from gone.  

The Terror Returns

scariest Ghostbusters moments

Ghostbusters: Afterlife turns out to be a touching tribute to Harold Ramis as his friends and family unite to complete the beloved scientist’s heroic mission. In addition to a tearjerker ending, Reitman also includes a bevy of callbacks to the original film. Not only do the Spenglers square off against the team’s first enemy, Gozer (Emma Portner), the nonbinary entity brings back the Terror Dogs that once possessed Dana Barret and Louis Tully (Rick Moranis). These demonic beasts first rear their ugly heads while Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) stops by Walmart to buy a midnight snack. While the horde of mini marshmallow men are eerie in their gleeful self-destruction, the ghostly canine that chases him through the store is the stuff of nightmares. Early iterations of this fearsome creature are hindered by ’80s-era special effects, but Reitman’s version feels frighteningly real. While Gary frantically tries to find his keys, this Terror Dog snarls at him from atop his car dashboard, leaving the endearing science teacher with no way to escape. 


Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Frozen Dinner 

After a film set in a small mountain town, the opening of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire takes us back to New York circa 1904. We see the fire station in its early years as a horse-drawn carriage responds to a call. Arriving at the scene, a fireman tests the door for heat and watches in horror as his hand instantly freezes. Inside, they find jagged shards of ice surrounding and piercing a frozen dinner party. Guests are posed in various states of ice-covered surprise while an eerie record skips in the corner. A figure covered in brass armor we will come to know as a Fire Master is crouched in the corner clutching a mysterious orb. When the fireman touches this rippling sphere, the frozen diners’ heads begin to explode, an ominous precursor to the chilling threat awaiting the newest Ghostbusting team. 

Lights Out

If Ghostbusters: Afterlife featured the lo-fi gear of the 80s, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire hurls us into the future. Wealthy financier Winston Zeddemore has been surreptitiously building a new containment unit to relieve pressure on the original model along with a secret lab designed to study ghosts and haunted objects. In addition to fancy new gadgets and gear, this facility contains several captured spirits like a fanged Wraith and a speedy Possessor. Lab techs assure the astonished Spengler team that they are perfectly safe, but it seems they’ve overestimated the facility’s security. Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and Lars (James Acaster) are studying the aforementioned orb when the power goes out, leaving them stranded in the dark with a cache of haunted objects. Not only does the ancient sphere hold a deadly spirit, the proton fields containing the captured ghosts have just been disabled. These terrifying creatures begin to drift through the walls toward the defenseless lab techs, perhaps at the bidding of an evil commander. Thankfully the generator kicks on in the nick of time, drawing the ghosts back into their cells. It’s a tense moment reminding us that no matter how charming the Ghostbusters may be, they still spend their days with evil spirits just waiting for an opportunity to wreak havoc.  


The Ghostbusters franchise excels at mixing humor and fear, practically setting the blueprint for the modern horror comedy. Moments from the original two films terrified a generation of gen-xers and elder millennials and newer iterations are currently scaring their kids. The fifth franchise installment effectively passes the proton pack torch to a new generation of Ghostbusters and we can only hope additional films will continue to induct future generations of Ghostbusters fans into the horror family as well. 

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now playing in theaters. Read our review.

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