You don't generally encounter these moments in the realm of classic horror (Val Lewton and HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL aside), but here are a few of my favourites -
THE VAMPIRE BAT: The sleeping woman being devoured by a great black shadow, her scream stifled midway. My all-time favourite shocker.
FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN: That mighty (read: VERY LOUD) growl Bela Lugosi unleashes just before Dr. Mannering comes over to examine him in the castle ruins. Also when Lon Chaney Jr. leaps on to the village policeman, with another impressive snarl.
THE BAT: A fairly gruesome body found trapped behind the grandfather clock. A nice, shrill scream accompanies this shot.
13 GHOSTS: The zombie leaping out from behind the girl's bedroom curtains. Also Dr. Zorba's portrait crashing down to the floor. But most of all, the postman emerging from the solid wall of blackness surrounding the family home, his hand reaching out for teh man's shoulder. That makes me start even now.
THE TERROR: That cheap gag of the skeletal corpse being thrust in front of the camera just before the main credits, for some reason shrieking. Is that possible...?
Tell me about some of your favourite "pop 'n' boo" moments.
THE VAMPIRE BAT: The sleeping woman being devoured by a great black shadow, her scream stifled midway. My all-time favourite shocker.
FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN: That mighty (read: VERY LOUD) growl Bela Lugosi unleashes just before Dr. Mannering comes over to examine him in the castle ruins. Also when Lon Chaney Jr. leaps on to the village policeman, with another impressive snarl.
THE BAT: A fairly gruesome body found trapped behind the grandfather clock. A nice, shrill scream accompanies this shot.
13 GHOSTS: The zombie leaping out from behind the girl's bedroom curtains. Also Dr. Zorba's portrait crashing down to the floor. But most of all, the postman emerging from the solid wall of blackness surrounding the family home, his hand reaching out for teh man's shoulder. That makes me start even now.
THE TERROR: That cheap gag of the skeletal corpse being thrust in front of the camera just before the main credits, for some reason shrieking. Is that possible...?
Tell me about some of your favourite "pop 'n' boo" moments.
"Hideous Half-Man, Half-Beast Who Terrorized Millions!" - Tagline, WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935)
