Monster poll

[Harpo]

We haven’t had a general ‘monsters’ thread in years, so it’s time for a new one. With a poll.

Multiple votes allowed, because it’s not easy to choose just one.

 

[Phyrebrat]

I limited myself to three. Top would be Audrey II from the remake, second is Velociraptors and third is Alien Queen.

Ooh, all women-monsters…

 

[elvet]

The ones I picked were all for different reasons.
King Kong - a hero monster. Rooted for him the whole way through.
Werewolf - felt sorry for, took pity on.
Dracula - the sexy one
Velociraptor - scared the bejesus out of me

 

[CupofJoe]

I voted for:
King Kong - From 1933 onwards, and never been bettered
Godzilla - Destroyer of cities or protector of humanity since 1954
The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man - What need be said?
I like to add in
The Thing - if it is the one from The Thing from Another World
The Xenomorph - played by Bolaji Badejo in Alien

 

[Elckerlyc]

Alien Queen, because she is royally mean.
Sandworm, because he (h)ate anything that makes rhythmic sounds, as do I. (not the eating part... yet)
Frankenstein's monster, because that's truly a monster, one that never should have been... assembled.

King Kong is not a monster, he's just a bit oversized softy.

 

[Foxbat]

The only one that gives me the willys isn't on the list and is the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth. Apprently inspired by Tenome, a legendary Japanese monster.

As for muckle monsters, Godzilla for me. The 1954 movie still stands up well today.

I've never viewed Frankenstein's creation as a monster. Rejected at the moment of creation, the real monsters are the ones that don't give him a chance just because of his appearance.

 

[paranoid marvin]

I think it depends on how you define 'monster'. If it's non-human, then the coolest is the Terminator, the scariest is Kane from Robocop 2 (in his mechanised form), the one that has always stood out in my mind is the demon from 'Night of the Demon' and the most inventive is the car from the movie 'Christine'.

Of the ones you've included, Dracula is the most iconic, and vampires and werewolves usually make for good movies (Teen Wolf, Fright Night, American Werewolf, Christopher Lee Hammer movies, Dusk til Dawn, Lost Boys etc)

 

[Cloudy_Day]

I thought I'd repressed the Graboids but I'm glad someone remembered them. Definitely a silly monster watching those movies now, but they hit some primal fear for me as a kid. Sort of like 'the floor is lava' but more terrifying.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

The classics for me - Frank's Monster, Werewolf and Dracula and for the other - Zombies!

 

[AllanR]

...of the id.

 

[Phyrebrat]

the one that has always stood out in my mind is the demon from 'Night of the Demon

It’s interesting that is one of my most memorable, too. I was 5 when I watched the movie and adored it (in that I’m-terrified kids way). It gets a lot of hate but I really liked it and it is the archetypal look of a demon in my opinion.

What’s interesting also (to me, at least) is that my reaction to things like vampires/zombies/werewoofs is ‘they’re not monsters’ (but I know they are) because they have become so archetypal in themselves, that they occupy their own category.

Do monsters have to be one-offs then, in my mind?

 

[Vince W]

I gave a few votes but frankly you only need The Thing since given the opportunity it could simulate the rest.

 

[paranoid marvin]

It’s interesting that is one of my most memorable, too. I was 5 when I watched the movie and adored it (in that I’m-terrified kids way). It gets a lot of hate but I really liked it and it is the archetypal look of a demon in my opinion.

What’s interesting also (to me, at least) is that my reaction to things like vampires/zombies/werewoofs is ‘they’re not monsters’ (but I know they are) because they have become so archetypal in themselves, that they occupy their own category.

Do monsters have to be one-offs then, in my mind?

Yeah the demon at the beginning of the movie is unusual, in that it isn't often that you get the reveal so early on. It kind of makes the rest of the movie more terrifying, because you know what's in store for whoever gets that piece of paper; no ifs and no buts. Which is completely contrary to M R James' story, because there's always the possibility (albeit an improbability) that it could all be fanciful dreams and coincidence. But in the movie it works very well (and is much better than the later ITV version that was done).

Yes I think 'monsters' have to stand out from the crowd; generic werewolves, mummies, vampires are genres of creatures rather than genres of monster. After all, they aren't always bad guys.

 

[BAYLOR]

King Kong

 

[Boaz]

I love King Kong (1933).

I enjoy the silliness and the lack of explanation for the Grabboids.

I love the singing, the voice, and the design of Audrey II. Levi Stubbs was phenomenal. The film seems so light hearted and campy, but it is sinister.

 

[Yozh]

The whatever-it-is from “Nope”

 

[Harpo]

Godzilla is 70 years old this year

 

[mosaix]

Polymorph from Red Dwarf.

 

[BAYLOR]

The whatever-it-is from “Nope”

That was a terrific film

You might want to check out

The Horror of the Heights by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Wide Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies by John Langan


The fist is one Doyle's short stories the second is an anthology contain that story. both quite good.