10 MORE Horror Movie Monsters That Shouldn’t Have Worked… But Did
Who would have thought a book or a jack-in-the-box would be so scary?
Monsters are endlessly fascinating since they encapsulate the fear of the unknown. Monsters tend to be huge, ugly, and vicious, which are traits that should naturally amplify anxiety. With this in mind, it's no surprise to see the majority of movie monsters are tailored to tap into such primal fears.
But the horror genre excels when it pushes new ideas, which is why some creature features utilise a less conventional approach. Rather than dealing with an alien, werewolf, or vampire, our heroes may face something else entirely.
Now, it goes without saying that this strategy can backfire. Having a movie centred around a murderous rabbit, bed, or beaver may be thinking outside the box, but that doesn't mean the end result is going to be great. However, sometimes, a creature that sounds laughable on paper ends up being terrifying. The beast's non-traditional look can cause viewers to let their guard down, making it easier for them to be scared.
Some monsters in this list have turned out so well and have become staples in pop culture, to the point where the masses forget how silly they sound.
10. Graboids - Tremors
In Tremors, the small town of Perfection, Nevada, is invaded by giant man-eating worms, compelling two local handymen, Val and Earl (Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward, respectively), to save the day.
Though Tremors is a cult classic, it's understandable why the premise can evoke skepticism. Even the lead star, Kevin Bacon, thought the plot was ridiculous and the film would ruin his career.
But Tremors works well because it takes the threat seriously despite being a horror-comedy. The Graboids are hyper-sensitive to vibrations, so it's almost impossible to run away from them. They're bulletproof, so taking down one of the burrowing beasts is daunting, even when the civilians are armed to the teeth.
On top of that, Tremors does a terrific job at the golden rule of storytelling: Show, Don't Tell.
The Graboids feature sparingly, leaving viewers' imaginations running wild. The ground shakes when the Graboids are nearby, but there's little indication when they're going to strike or who they're targeting. As such, the tension is through the roof, even when the subterranean critters are nowhere to be seen.