10 Wild Horror Movie Weapons That Made You Squirm

With Weapons and Sinners in 2025, the Academy was forced to take notice of horror, something that hasn't always been the case. Though it's not unheard of for an actor to win an Oscar for a horror performance, it is rare.

In fact, when Kathy Bates took the trophy home in 1991, she was only the third person to achieve such a feat, and the first since Ruth Gordon in 1969 for Rosemary's Baby. This was thanks to her chilling portrayal of Annie Wilkes in Rob Reiner's Misery.

It was an outstanding performance, but there is still just one scene that sticks out more than any other, and neither Bates nor co-star James Caan is the star. Instead, it is a sledgehammer, and anyone who has seen it will not have forgotten it any time soon. 

This came when Annie held writer Paul Sheldon (Caan) hostage, forcing him to retcon the ending of his latest book. However, after he tried to escape, she took the now infamous sledgehammer to Paul's ankle, hobbling him and stopping him from doing so again. The build to the moment is excruciating, with the actual hammer blow being every bit as bad as anticipated. Yes, Kathy Bates may have been outshone in this particular moment by her weapon, but it's also fair to say that it may not have had such an impact had it been wielded by anyone else.