Halloween treat from film critic Matt Zoller Seitz. A montage of the scariest locations, sets, and backdrops in movie history compiled with the help of readers. Good job, but I’m ticked that Matt didn’t use my suggestion.
How many can you identify at a glance?
It’s a nice touch that they’re not all from horror movies, although I would have liked to see a few non-genre films included. The scariest place in all the movies I’ve ever seen is still the hallway to the Wizard’s chamber in The Wizard of Oz. Then there’s the bog in The Hound of the Baskervilles, the deck of the Black Pearl by moonlight in the first Pirates of the Caribbean, the Well of Souls in Raiders of the Lost Ark and not because of the snakes, the elevator in Three Days of the Condor because Redford has to share it with Max von Sydow, the canyon in Fort Apache, the view from outside the house on the top of Mt Rushmore and the cornfield in North By Northwest, the streets of New York City as the sun sets in I Am Legend, and the swimming pool in Sunset Boulevard.
That first view of the Death Star, by the way, isn’t scary. It’s kind of awesome, in fact. Now, the trash compactor…
Your turn.
Oh, yeah. My suggestion for Matt’s collection? This place from one of the most frightening movies ever made.
The dentist office in Marathon Man.
The subway car in (original) Taking of Pelham 1,2,3
Brick & Maggie's bedroom in Cat On A hot Tin Roof.
Posted by: actor212 | Friday, October 30, 2009 at 10:34 AM
The whole ocean in Jaws.
The Toymaker's basement in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (because the Child Catcher -- the most terrifying character in any movie ever -- finds the kids there.)
The front row at Altamont in Gimme Shelter.
Posted by: Matt Duss | Friday, October 30, 2009 at 10:59 AM
audrey hepburn's kitchen in "wait until dark."
Posted by: peggy | Friday, October 30, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Anywhere in the Chocolate Factory, from the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Posted by: glaskow | Friday, October 30, 2009 at 12:18 PM
The little closet in "Carrie", with the bloody Jesus crucifix. Actually, Carrie's entire house. For me, the Marathon Man dentist's office and Audrey's kitchen are right up there as well.
Posted by: Larkspur | Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 07:01 PM