10 Scariest Cursed Objects In Horror Movies
7. Laundry Press – The Mangler (1995)
Based on a short story by Stephen King, directed by Tobe Hooper and starring Robert England and Ted Levine, this tale of a cursed laundry press has all the ingredients to be a classic horror film, but ended up simply as a fun, gory B-movie.
The terrifying Mangler, which looks like a medieval torture device, is the main feature in Gartley’s Blue Ribbon Laundry service that becomes possessed and starts killing people after Bill Gartley’s virginal niece Sherry cuts herself on it and it comes into contact with a demonic ice box. Even without the demonic evil curse on it, it is a terrifying sight to behold, and the number of 'accidents' that proceed to befall the unlucky staff at this workhouse start to mount up, before the secret of the source of its power is revealed.
It turns out Gartley has made a deal with the demon possessing the Mangler and has agreed to sacrifice Sherry to it in return for wealth and power. The climax of the film shows a failed exorcism bringing the Mangler properly to life and allowing it to break its foundations and actually chase the protagonists down a crazy gothic staircase before it kills Gartley and possesses Sherry, who takes over as the owner of the laundry service.
Fun fact: the Mangler sounds were articulated by Jim Cummings, better known as the voice of Winnie the Pooh!