10 More Horror Movies With The Worst Monster Reveal
9. The Jangly Man - Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark
In this adaptation of Andre Ovredal's work, Stella and her friends discover an insidious book that manifests monsters into reality when read. Though Harold the Scarecrow and the Pale Woman are unsettling, the most terrifying creature is saved until the end.
In the climax, Stella finds herself being hunted by the Jangly Man; an entity that can detach any of his body parts. By ripping off its arms, legs, and head, the distorted being can pass through almost any enclosure, making it nearly impossible to hide from.
Sadly, the Jangly Man is let down by a trope everyone is sick to death of: excessive special effects. What's worse is the twisted beast could've been a hundred times scarier if practical effects were utilised.
Since the actor portraying the monster, Troy James, is a master contortionist, he was able to perform all of the abnormal movements of the Jangly Man for real. Unfortunately, little of James' hard work can be seen, since it's slathered in overly stylised CGI.
Even though the Jangly Man is creepy, he would've been pure nightmare-fuel if the filmmakers kept things natural.