The movie death scene is a time-honored tradition and over the course of the past century or so of moviemaking, there are certain scenes that stick out in the head of every movie fan. Last year, Alexandre Aja’s Mirrors featured a memorable “Jaw-Dropping” death scene with Amy Smart. With that movie hitting DVD and Blu-ray on January 13th (order it here), we thought it was a good time to go through a list of some Bloody Death Scenes.
A Few Random Gruesome Death Scenes
Personally, I think the idea of a definitive list of the best death scenes is a preposterous endeavor when you consider that what affects each personal in particular is unique based on their experiences. For instance, while blood and guts doesn’t generally bother me, I must admit to being particularly quesy about anything involving eyes. As such, no eye scenes will be included on the list that follows. With these thoughts in mind, here is a list of some of personal favorites, along with a few classic fan faves peppered in to round out the list.
Mirrors: Jaw Scene
Leading off the list is Amy Smart’s Jaw seperating demise from Mirrors
The Omen: Decapitation
By today’s standards, this bloodless ‘70s decapitation is pretty tame, but you gotta have some respect for the forebearers. For a mainstream American release in the ‘70s, this was pretty shocking stuff. Besides that, does anyone think this scene may have been an early influence on the Final Destination series?
Suspiria: Glass Ceiling Death
In my humble opinion, this film is Argento’s best work and this death sequence is an artful masterpiece. Just Goblin’s score alone is enough to give you goosebumps. David Gordon Green’s proposed remake is certainly an interesting prospect, but could a modern interpretation ever live up?
Alien: Stomach Birth
One of the great classic scenes in movie history, I took some heat back in high school for featuring this scene in a reel of clips during a presentation highlighting the “Best ‘70s Movie Moments.” Today, everyone knows what’s coming whether they’ve already seen it or just been told what’s about to happen, but for sheer shock value back in 1979, this one was unmatched. It also helps that this is one of the greatest movies of all time.
The Thing: Stomach Arm Snack
Carpenter takes the Alien stomach birth scene to the next level in this nauseating little scene from the ‘80s classic. Coupled with The Howling, the countless classic scenes in The Thing are further proof that Rob Bottin has earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath with FX poster children Stan Winston and Rick Baker.
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Tina’s Ceiling Death
As a big fan of the Elm Street series, I am understandably biased towards Freddy’s resume of kills. Depp’s blood-gushing bed death is also good, but for me nothing tops Tina’s brutal slaying as she is dragged across the upside down room and flung down onto the bed to splatter blood on too-cool-for-school Rod Lane.
Dead Alive (Brain Dead): Death by Lawnmower
Watching this scene almost 17 years ago, did anyone think this guy would be the one to finally do the Lord of the Rings series justice? Creative and brutal all at once, this graphic mass mauling from Dead Alive (or Braindead) is fun because it is soooo over the top. Now if only Peter Jackson would use his “king of the world” status to direct the biggest budget brutal horror sequel of all time…
Jason X: Adrienne Cryogenic Freeze Death
Jason Voorhees and his mommy killed so many in so many great ways, how do you pick just one? The sleeping bag, the arrow through Kevin Bacon’s throat, the girl split in half mid-coitus? I always kind of liked the head being flung into the garbage can basketball-style in the otherwise dismal Jason Takes Manhattan, but I digress. My choice for the list is the cryogenic freeze death from Jason X. Once again, sometimes simplicity says it best. Plus, you gotta admit, this is kinda clever compared to the usual slasher sharp object bludgeoning. And yes, I look forward to your rants below lampooning my choice…
Final Destination 2: Plate Glass Death
Much like the Saw series, Final Destination has so many creative death scenes that it’s hard to pick just one. The plate glass death is my personal favorite because it’s so simple and brutal. That and any time you have the balls to kill a kid you get extra points in my book.
Saw II: Death Mask
Okay, I lied, one eye scene. I can stomach this one because he never actually does the deed. Picking a best death scene from Saw is tricky, both because there are so many and because they aren’t necessarily so much great death scenes as great set-ups for death. It’s more about the psychological question of “What would you do?” than the final moment when the trap actually does its thing.
Bonus Picks
The following are a few personal faves that probably don’t fall under the standard criteria for gruesome death scenes. For one reason or another, these are scenes that affected me personally and have stuck with me over the years.
Fargo: Wood Chipper Scene
The Coens have never directed a horror movie, but it’s fun to imagine the possibilities should they ever choose to do so. Over the course of their impressive career, this directing duo has crafted a few classic death scenes, but Peter Stormare’s Wood Chipper disposal of Steve Buscemi is a classic.
RoboCop: ED 209 Boardroom Shooting
For whatever reason, this scene has always stuck with me as particularly disturbing. Poor Kenny, just some office lacky chosen from a demonstration by a heartless CEO and he winds up turned into swiss cheese by a malfunctioning hunk of metal.
This Youtube clip repeats the shooting a few times for those of you that haven’t satisfied their blood lust the first time around.
Ok, so Scanners didn't make the cut? I know all lists are subjective, but if you wanna talk gruesome, the original head explosion is insane. If you wanna site a bonus Savini death, it's when he gets his head shot off in Maniac.
i liked the death from Jason x but i actually reckon that the Robocop death wasn't good enough i reckon that the decapitation in 30 days of night should have been there instead, or the other death in Final Destination 2 where the guy gets sliced in to three pieces from a barbed wire fence
nice list!! good Saw pick and yeah the kill in FD2 with the barbed wire was my fav for that series. Love the jason pick too-- thats the reason i actually Liked that movie was the several good death scenes in it. suspiria is best on list aaaand the thing scene also a personal favorite! well done!
"The Thing" was great, but the greatest death scene ever is missing. Quint's death in the film "Jaws". I can't imagine a more horrible way to exit this world than that. Scanners should be there, & I concur with Myers54. The shotgun death in "Maniac" is just outstanding. "No brain, no pain...think about it"----Pet Sematary II.
One of my personal favourites is in Freddy vs. Jason. Jason slams the machete in the back of the guy lying in bed reaching for a beer, then folding the bed in on him so his body folds the opposite way. Short, sweet and a good start to a decent movie.
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