What helps in making a movie monster memorable, or scary is usually how they're introduced to a story. A movie monster's introduction is everything, and that is the jumping off point for what makes them scary, and what makes them stick with you after the movie is over.

I remember when I watched my first horror movie when I was seven years old. I was watching TV in my parent's living room while my parents were in the kitchen talking with one of the neighbors. The channel I was watching was running a double feature of Halloween, and Halloween 2. I watched the beginning of the movie when little Michael Myers kills his sister in her bedroom, and that set the stage for a horrifying evening in front of the TV, but I stayed, and watched the entire movie, and the sequel that night. I couldn't sleep for a week after that; all I kept seeing was Michael Myers in my closet, or under my bed. On one of the few occasions I could fall asleep all I kept dreaming about was me trapped in that closet instead of Laurie Strode while the Shape was breaking his way in. So Michael Myers was the first movie monster I became familiar with, and one that scared me to my core as a young boy.

The second movie monster on the list of ones that scared me as a boy was Freddy. Nightmare on Elm St. was a terrifying experience as a kid, and after watching Freddy reek havoc on the kids of Elm St. it was tough trying to fall asleep with the thought that Freddy could be anywhere in my dreams with that horribly disfigured face, and that razor sharp claw. Yet again though that's what helped make Freddy memorable to me.

The next on my list has to be the alien from John Carpenter's The Thing. When The Thing starts transforming in the dog's kennel it was truly a memorable movie monster moment, and really how could any boy, or girl forget when those tentacles started to invade the bodies of the other dogs as the men led by Kurt Russell rushed in to see what the fuss was about.

There were tons of moments like that in The Thing, and one of the other ones has to be the Blood Test scene. That moment still gets a little jump out of me to this day, but now I just laugh it off, but when I was a kid it scared me to death. Along with the effects, excellent directing, and acting, The Thing is definitely on the top of the list as one of the most memorable movie monsters.

Of course what list wouldn't have old Leatherface on it? That Texas boy is definitely a memorable movie monster, and who could forget when he appears in that doorway, and slams that mini sledgehammer over that kids head. When Leatherface drags his body into the back, and slams that big heavy door shut immediately made an impact on me, and made me want more. Tobe Hooper made himself a memorable movie monster that will never be forgotten, along with a great film that will live on forever.

The next up has to be the Tallman from Phantasm. That movie scared me as a kid, and when the Tallman makes his entrance in the mausoleum it was a memorable movie monster moment. Just his look, and the sound of his voice was creepy enough for that scene, even though he didn't kill anyone, it still was a very cool introduction.

There's so many I could list so I'll just name the movie instead of the monster.

Alien
Friday the 13th
Hellraiser
The Exorcist

There's more, but I'll end it here. I hope your enjoyed my list of some of the most memorable movie monsters from my youth. Have a Happy Halloween.

Learn more about this author, Brian Rummel.
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