Jason, Michael or Freddy: Who Has the Fright Stuff?

Halloween is almost upon us — Rob Zombie's remake of the John Carpenter classic, that is — and thus my (sometimes dark) thoughts have turned to the big screen's best bogeymen.

I am not at liberty to "review" per se the new Halloween, which I had the opportunity to screen a few weeks back, but I will say that Tyler Mane (a past cohort of Zombie's, and X-Men's Sabretooth) makes for a most imposing Michael Myers. I always gave Michael a fair shake, as he does the most with the mentally wrong and silent type. One of the best screams came from Carpenter's original, when Michael, coat hanger still in his eye, propped himself up in the background, as an oblivious Jamie Lee Curtis cowered.

Freddy Krueger of the Elm Street pics always had an unfair advantage over mute murderers, able to win over the audience with his clever barbs and puns so bad they themselves nearly killed you.

Jason Voorhees, most memorably committed to celluloid in several of the Friday the 13ths by Kane Hodder (of the upcoming Hatchet), has to be admired for taking a licking and keeping on ticking, with warts and all (e.g., a half-cleaved head) to show for it.

But who gives you the best "Boo!"? Pinhead? That corny leprechaun guy? Chucky? Share your thoughts on film's most frightful faces, and as Oct. 31 comes closer, I'll set up a poll where we can vote on this issue once and for all.

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Posted by

Matt Webb Mitovich

Aug 22, 2007 3:00 PM

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One word: Candyman! That movie did it for me. When I was little I was scared to sleep in my room for a while because the view from my bedroom was a giant field and you would always get these shadows.
Posted by wycked Aug 22, 2007 3:21 PM Report Abuse

Tim Curry's "it" from It. Typing it creeped me out.
Posted by curluplw Aug 22, 2007 3:38 PM Report Abuse

Out of Jason, Michael or Freddy, I'd take Freddy anyday.

The movie that scared me so much must have been Children Of The Corn. To this day I can't make myself walk thru a corn field. Once I was on a trip, it was dark and we got to a corn field. I made my friend turn around because I wasn't going any further. We were going the wrong way anyway, so it's good I have that fear. If not, there'd probably be a movie about me somewhere.

Posted by Mannie_Annie

Aug 22, 2007 3:53 PM

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One word: Candyman! That movie did it for me. When I was little I was scared to sleep in my room for a while because the view from my bedroom was a giant field and you would always get these shadows.

Agree (as my number 2), wycked!! How about his creepy voice-"Heeeeeellllllllllleeeeennnnn! BE my victim!"
After we saw the movie when if first came out, my brother wrote "Sweets for the Sweet" on my other brother's windshield!
However, Michael Myers from the first Halloween will always be the number one soul-less slasher in my heart! :-x

Posted by Mr. Furley

Aug 22, 2007 4:15 PM

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No what's worse was at Halloween my brother had the mask, and everytime he would scare me with it, in the dark! Did anyone ever try saying Candyman three times in a dark bathroom?
Posted by wycked Aug 22, 2007 4:21 PM Report Abuse

What's even more terrifying is that Creepy Censor Lady from the commercial always trying to "block" all of my murderous friends!
Posted by Mr. Furley Aug 22, 2007 4:24 PM Report Abuse

My brother taped the mask to the outside of my bedroom window after dark one night. I win.
Posted by curluplw Aug 22, 2007 4:26 PM Report Abuse

I win. Have you seen what I have buried in my backyard?
Posted by Mr. Furley Aug 22, 2007 4:55 PM Report Abuse

We are talking about being scared, not scary, Mr Furley. I know you win when it comes to scary!
Posted by curluplw Aug 22, 2007 4:59 PM Report Abuse

Ha! OK, how about this- one day we were all camping-My brothers and I in one tent and my sister in the other. Well, we saw what we thought was the shadow of a bear, but actually it was my sister with a flashlight and........ wait a minute! I'm confused...">
Posted by Mr. Furley Aug 22, 2007 5:03 PM Report Abuse

Jason stunk, that was ridiculous!

Freddy and Michael, only in the first movies, scared the living day lights out of me. Freddy was always a little worse because you HAVE to sleep.

Pinhead is also pretty darn creepy and H*llraiser was such a crazy movie, especially that doctor in the second movie who had all those gadgets that came out of his head, that was nuts. John Carpenter must have visited h*ll at some point to come up with this stuff, who thinks up these things?

I'd have to go with Freddy as #1, Michael Meyers as #2 and Pinhead as #3.

Posted by buffybot

Aug 23, 2007 10:21 AM

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Oh Mr Furley, you are so wycked, oops I mean wicked! You are nice to your sister, right?
Posted by curluplw Aug 23, 2007 1:08 PM Report Abuse

As nice as Michael!!!">Actually, I HAVE to be nice! She's a Judge!!!
Posted by Mr. Furley Aug 23, 2007 4:12 PM Report Abuse

GREAT thread!!! The first "Candyman" scared the ba-jeezus out of me; I didn't sleep well that night and that movie still creeps me out. So, I vote for Candyman as my #1 film creep.

That being said, single most terrifying scene in a horror movie: The Exorcist III. Hospital scene. Nurse checking on patients. Nurse seemingly going to be ok after going into room of creepy patient. Nurse walking back to her station. Watch the movie to find out the rest of what happens...it's a 3 second scene that is absolutely jump inducing. I didn't sleep a wink that night. And I was an adult when I saw it.

My number two film creep: the King in the Burger King commercials. You know, the "Wake up with the King" ads, where the person rolls over in bed to find a person wearing a very large Toyman-esque crowned head and King Richard's Fair costume. WHAT IS THAT?!?

Posted by Smike

Aug 28, 2007 11:19 PM

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