10 MORE Horror Movie Moments Everyone Was Waiting For (That Never Happened)
I didn't expect that to happen... because it didn't happen.
Chekhov's gun is a literary principle stating that if something dramatic is introduced early in a story, it will play a major role later.
This concept plays an integral part in films, especially horror. In a whodunnit or slasher, there's usually hints of the serial killer's identity before the inevitable unmasking. The Final Destination franchise masterfully utilises this principle, repeatedly indicating how key characters are going to bite the dust. And since horror abides by a formula, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out how things are going to pan out.
But that's not always the case, as we mentioned on our previous list, 10 Horror Movie Moments Everyone Was Waiting For (That Never Happened). Viewers can sit through a movie, waiting for a certain scene to occur, especially if it's teased over and over. By the time the credits roll, they realise that moment never came.
Sometimes, this is done deliberately to subvert expectations. Other times, the posters and trailers mislead viewers, so the film doesn't play out like they assumed.
Whether the entries on this list turned out for better or worse, they left almost everybody blindsided.
10. Rusty Nail's Identity - Joy Ride
Also known as Roadkill, Joy Ride is an action thriller centred around three young people called Lewis, Fuller, and Venna, who decide to take a road trip to New Jersey.
On their journey, they pick up a radio signal from a nearby trucker called Rusty Nail. Out of boredom, the trio play a prank on Rusty, making him believe a beautiful lady called Candy Cane is waiting for him at a nearby motel. When Rusty realises he's been tricked, he becomes hellbent on hunting down Lewis and his friends.
Since most horrors involving unseen killers follow a whodunnit formula, you'd expect some sort of epiphany surrounding Rusty Nail's identity.
But Joy Ride isn't that kind of movie. Much like Duel, the vengeful driver is never seen directly. Not only that, we never learn a single thing about him.
However, keeping details about Rusty Nail vague works in the film's favour. With no face to picture, it's easy to perceive Rusty's truck as his true form, which makes it more terrifying when its trying to run Lewis off the road or crush him under its wheels.