5 - Poltergeist (1982)
In this unusual and threatening scene, a threatening crowd of spirits ooze out of young Carole Anne's room and filter down the living room stairs to where the rest of the family and some ghost hunters have set up some recording equipment. The stairs are central to the scene, and form a sort of downhill slope for which the ghosts slither.
4 - American Psycho (2000)
A naked, chainsaw wielding Patrick Bateman chases Christie through a corridor to a stairway, it's maze-like appareance adding to the surreal terror of the scene. Bateman waits patiently before dropping the chainsaw down the galley on to the fleeing victim. A brilliant and horrifying use of a staircase.
3 - Psycho (1960)
The second time Mother pops up and scares us silly is when she meets Detective Arbogast at the top of the stairs with a carving knife. The stairs feature quite heavily in the build up, and when watched retrospectively, almost hint at the central role they are about to play. The sudden burst of score adds a chilling terror to the moment when Arbogast reaches the summit of the stairs. The physics-defying tumble that Arbogast takes, is an iconic image, and it shows that surroundings can become an integral part of building tension.
2 - The Exorcist (1973)
Two scenes from this horrifying movie involve stairs - the shocking fall of Burke Dennings down the stairs, breaking his neck, and the disturbing scene of a demon-filled 12 year old girl runing down the stairs, arched over backwards, hissing and dribbling blood.
1 - The Shining (1980)
The Shining is without a doubt the most articulate and well-structured horror film in the history of the genre. One of the film's key scenes involves Wendy cowering from her insane husband Jack, whilst waving a baseball bat and stumbling backwards up the stairs. Never mind a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack part of an amazing scene.
Contact Safe Way Traction today to find out how we can make your stairs less scary!