Monsters University: 10 Easter Eggs You Might Have Missed

5. The Wilhelm Scream

Wilhelm In my first entry in this ongoing series of easter eggs in big blockbusters, I showed my distaste for the recurring in-joke the Wilhelm scream. It was so obvious and well known that to use it nowadays seems lazy. But since then it seems Hollywood have listened to my complaint (or I€™ve grown less cynical, although I prefer the first option), because it€™s not only become a more hidden element of the films, but it actually works. The scream hasn€™t appeared in many Pixar films, which helps in it€™s hidden nature here. When Mike takes up the job of floor sweeper, he ends up distracted by revision and sweeping up a few monsters along the way, one of whom has a very familiar squeal. For those not in the know, the Wilhelm scream comes from the film Distant Drums, but is named after an unfortunate character from The Charge At Feather River who yelps the soundbite after being hit by an arrow. It was only in 1977, when Ben Burtt reused the effect for a falling Stormtrooper in Star Wars that it became popular. Although still Burtt€™s joke, it€™s now used by filmmakers of all types.
Contributor
Contributor

Film Editor (2014-2016). Loves The Usual Suspects. Hates Transformers 2. Everything else lies somewhere in the middle. Once met the Chuckle Brothers.