Would you like to hear a fun fact about PapaSift(Dicer)? IT was the first movie the SiftFather and I watched together in a theater and I learned something interesting about Aaron that day. Despite being a certified giant in height, Dicer sits as still as a statue during movies. No matter how many jump scares they threw at us, he remained still. I’m (Blake) a huge fidgeter, so I marveled at his ability to stay still despite the film being one of the scariest movies on screen in years. If clowns make you squirm in your seat, the following ten movies will have you fidgeting in your seat like me.
You are probably wondering “wait, why is Halloween on this list?” You might even say “Halloween isn’t about a killer clown”. In fact, one of the most impressive scenes (the opening scene at that) is centered around a clown costume. Most people will always remember the plot of Halloween taking place on one Halloween night as Michael Myers, decked out in a creepy white mask, stalks young woman in the town of Haddonfield. But the opening scene starts much earlier in the dark and twisted life of Myers. And at that point, he preferred a different mask (a clown’s in fact). This opening sequence is so memorable with Carpenter’s expert choice to follow young Michael as the camera acts as his point of view. This is one of the creepiest shots in the history of horror films. You are in the point-of-view of the killer and you have no idea what comes next. The scene comes to a shocking conclusion as the camera turns to a clown with a bloody knife to only reveal the face of a child behind it. What better way to set the stage for a shocking and unnerving slasher film? (Shane Conto)
“You know who I am? In the field of local-live-home entertainment, I’m a god!” Clowns aren’t always scary. They can be fun and goofy but also crude. The local Pooter-the-Clown didn’t have a clue what he was getting himself into when he ended up at the Russell home. It was Miles’ birthday and Buck has to host the party and the local entertainment is on its way. Sort of. The clown comes to the door with a hangover. Uncle Buck notices it right off the bat, and wants the clown gone since he had himself some fun at a bachelorette party the night before. What kind of entertainment would he actually be for the young minds at that party? I feel like hilarity would ensue, but we don’t have a chance to see what could’ve happened. (Chantal Ashford)
This might an unpopular opinion, but I consider Dumbo to be the saddest film in the Disney oeuvre. A story about a circus elephant who’s born in a cage to a loving mother who is then inadvertently ripped away from him, all while being ridiculed by those around him – honestly it’s hard to watch. It’s saving grace, and probably the only thing that keeps me from throwing the DVD into the corner away from innocent eyes, is its absolutely magical animation. Only the 3rdanimated film in Disney’s history, you can start to see the glimpses of genius between the frames. The use of colour and music, the experimental brushstrokes that tickle the edges of every scene, it’s practically mesmerising to watch. It’s impressive in its innovation and marvellous in its spectacle. It should also be noted that there are quite a few moments that, with the 20/20 of hindsight, are quite questionable (e.g. Jim Crow [yeesh]), highlighting the time in which it was made and the different sensibilities and levels of ignorance of the era. It truly is a relic, in every sense of the term: animation style, story beats, political correctness and overall narrative. However, you can’t deny that when Dumbo flies for the first time, the heart soars for the little elephant that could. (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
Is it low hanging fruit to pick It when this weeks Best Ever Challenge is for It: Chapter Two? Probably…but I’m going for it! Stephen King has terrified people for years with his epically long horror novel. Television brought us all a nostalgically great adaptation which featured Tim Curry as Pennywise (a performance that haunted the dreams of many for years). But it was finally time to take this iconic tale to the big screen. Not since The Exorcist has a horror film taken the country by storm and become a box office phenomenon. Warner Bros. took a chance with a modest budget and Andy Muschietti made something special. Whether it is his crazy dance, waving a severed hand, or chilling in a gutter, Pennywise was brought to the big screen in an effective way that will haunt a new generation of kids for years to come. A group of extremely talented young actors carried this mammoth film on their shoulders and excited the world for the conclusion of their life long battle with the pure evil of Derry. And if a creepy and darkly funny clown wasn’t enough, a headless undead boy, a leper, and a creepy portrait of a woman can also haunt your dreams. More bang for your buck! (Shane Conto)
I think there could be a real argument that Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is one of the best Batman films to date. It has Kevin Conroy’s Bruce Wayne/Batman, Mark Hamill’s Joker and gives us a story that gives a whole new depth to these characters through the eyes of the Batman of the future, Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle). Throughout the series, Terry had come face to face with some of his mentor’s biggest adversaries. What set’s Return apart is its willingness to show the horrors of the Joker through Bruce’s aversion to even talking to the Joker and their last meeting shows how much the Joker weighed on him so many years after. Terry coming face to face with the Clown Prince of Crime is fantastic, and the animation and voice acting are great. It’s really hard to go into too much detail without spoiling much of what makes this film so great, but its stories like these that make me wish for a live-action Batman Beyond movie as there is so much to work with. (Evan Lucken)
Of course, it had to be a clown… F**k this clown.Maybe Zombielandisn’t the first movie you think of when you think of clowns, but it is certainly one of the first ones for me, for a few reasons. First of all, I love this movie with my whole heart. I saw it in theaters and am so excited it gained a following and eventually a sequel coming out next month. But aside from that, Zombieland does something that many have tried and only few have succeeded: it is a really entertaining Zombie film. And beyond that, it is really funny too. The only movie that achieves both well and is a really solid movie is Shaun of the Dead. Zombies are a little outlandish, so they have never really scared me, but I still love watching zombie movies. Clowns, on the other hand, are something that I have a pretty irrational fear of. Maybe it’s because of the culture I grew up in or maybe I just saw the It miniseries a bit too young. But because of that fear, I saw something that I really hadn’t before: a zombie clown. And boy oh boy, was it scary and sooooo satisfying to watch Jesse Eisenberg take a hammer to his red nose and obliterate its face. But Zombielanddoes something different with a clown that other zombie clowns (i.e. Left 4 Dead 2) don’t: it gives purpose to it being there besides a creep factor. While the zombie clown isn’t around for very long, it is clear based off of the monologue and character motivations that the zombie clown becomes a pivotal change in character for our lead. It’s a representation of growth and development and, oddly enough, is one of the most slowed down, emotional, parts of the movie. Who would have that that a zombie clown would pull emotions out of me other than fear? (Aaron Schweitzer)
12 years ago, The Simpson’s made their big screen debut. For as long as I can remember, The Simpson’s is easily one of the funniest tv shows of all time. When it was time to hit the big screen it was a bit difficult wondering if the writers could come up with enough for a feature length film, and luckily it sticks the landing. The transition from tv to film is so clear, the movie itself likes to poke fun at the idea. All cast members return reprising their respected roles, and you can tell that they’re having major fun with these characters. Sometimes if I can’t decide on an episode, I just turn this on, sit back, and watch my favorite TV family go on an adventure. (Alex Henderson)
What is there to say about Billy Madison that hasn’t already been said? People give Adam Sandler a hard time for (mostly) being a one note actor. His characters are usually men teetering on the emotional edge of still being considered children, the movies he stars in offer more potty humor than the average 3rd grade classroom, and side roles are often filled by some of his closest friends that he wants to go on vacation with. This is all true. I won’t deny it. But if I refuse to deny that, you have to agree that you won’t deny that Billy Madison is the best film this list has to offer. The idea of a 25 year old man going back to school (allll the way back) is ridiculous. The final product is even more outrageous than the premise would have you believe. There is an assassination attempt, a multi-generational family of bullies, extra sloppy Sloppy Joes, a clown with a hemorrhage in his head, and Steve Buscemi applying lipstick while listening to ELO. It is all kinds of strange in ways I can’t even begin to explain but I assure you – if you sit back, let it flow through your veins, you will come out of it feeling grateful that you called that guy. (Logan Van Winkle)
Over the last couple of decades, David Fincher has built a reputation as a filmmaker who can deliver tightly wound thrillers, such as “Seven,” “Panic Room,”“Zodiac,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,”and “Gone Girl.” It was “Seven,”his second feature, that shined a light on a rising talent, presenting an emotional gut-punch of a thriller that shattered you with its uncompromising conclusion. He followed that up with another entertaining thriller, “The Game,” in which Michael Douglas plays an investment banker who’s given a mysterious gift, one where he becomes involved in a game that soon begins to take over his life. Although the story can reach the limits of implausibility, Fincher has such a talent for establishing unsettling atmospherics that you don’t have any other choice but to give yourself over to the addictive tension that would become common in Fincher’s thrillers that came after. The ending may prove divisive among viewers, but given how much fun you’ll have trying to unravel the mystery, you probably won’t mind that the ending doesn’t quite live up to that of “Seven,”which was an unenviable task. If you’re looking for two hours of suspense, which are anchored by a wonderful performance from Douglas, you’ll have a great time piecing the mystery together with him. (Vincent Abbatecola)
Comic book movies over the past 11 years have really cemented themselves as the premier movie genre. I think a lot of credit for that is due to the masterpiece of the genre that broke the proverbial glass ceiling, The Dark Knight. The sequel to Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins takes us back to Gotham as it’s being terrorized by the chaotic Joker, brilliantly portrayed by Heath Ledger. This film floored me back in 2008 when I first saw it. This was the first movie I saw 4 times in theaters and I would marvel each and every time. From the opening scene to the ending credits, I was captivated by the fact that I was watching a superhero film that was really just a crime drama. This elevated the comic book movie genre from being fun blockbusters, to Oscar contenders. The outcry was so large that when this movie was snubbed—yes, I said snubbed—a best picture nomination at the 81st Academy Awards, they expanded the category the next year to a possible 10 nominee field rather than the normal 5. If that’s not changing the game, I don’t know what is. It’s hard not to talk about this movie and not gush over the haunting performance of Heath Ledger as The Joker. This performance was raw, real, horrific, devilishly wicked, and bone chilling. Many frowned upon Heath Ledgers casting at the time calling him “the brokeback boy” and other derogatory terms, but Ledger would go on to captivate audiences and critics alike earning him a Best Supporting Actor Award at the Oscars. To this day, it is —I think—the single greatest performance of my generation and I will die on that hill. In short, I think The Dark Knight is the single greatest comic book movie of all time and should be held to the highest regard. (Ben Davis)
Honorable Mentions
Batman (1989)
Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight? This is the question Jack Nicholson’s Joker asks of all his prey. It’s amazing to think that 30 years ago, comic book movies weren’t a sure thing. Sure you had the original Superman film from the ’70s and its sequel, then its worse sequel, and its worst sequel… But aside from those, movies based on comics were few and far between. Tim Burton’s Batman saw that the industry needed an enema in this regard and Nicholson’s Joker played a huge part in that. From his menacing scary and funny Joker grin to his dancing to Prince while improving on priceless works of art. Jack Napier… I mean The Joker made for a thrilling villain for a then-modern superhero flick that left a hell of an impression. (Evan Lucken)
Poltergeist
In the year of 1982, Tobe Hooper directed one of the most influential and outstanding horror films entitled Poltergeist. While the premise is rather simple with a family being haunted by demonic forces beyond their comprehension, it is executed to perfection. It also helps when Steven Spielsberg is involved with writing your script (Along with Michael Grais and Mark Victor). The film is full of scares and it really ramps up the tension in the best ways possible throughout the runtime. One of the most memorable scenes is in Robie’s room where there is the creepiest Clown Doll featured in any film. It has the most sinister and morbid looking face possible that burns into your memory long after the completion of the film. You feel terrible for the poor Freeling’s that are being tormented by the spirits of the beyond. You really feel for the family and what they are going through and they truly feel victimized. Steve Freeling (Craig T. Nelson) is doing his damndest to protect his family to the best of his abilities, but there is no protecting them from the unknown entities they are exposed to. Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne Freeling has such a presence in this film and delivers the most iconic line of the film “They’re Here.” If you love paranormal horror there is none better than this classic. (Joseph Vargas)
Also See:
Finding Nemo, Quick Change, Poltergiest, Octopussy, Patch Adams, Shakes the Clown