As the general populace enters a horror renaissance, it’s not surprising that we’ve been seeing both a renewed interest in classic horror, and fresh takes in contemporary horror. With so many horror films out there to enjoy, it’s pretty much impossible to know everything about every single one.
That’s where trivia comes in — the perfect way to learn all about the movies you haven’t seen, and even the movies you have. Most people have approximate knowledge of many things — let’s see if that extends to horror movies!
Who was offered the role of Dr. Loomis before Donald Pleasence?
Though many find it impossible to imagine anyone else in the iconic role of Dr. Sam Loomis, Donald Pleasence was not the first person to be offered the role. Instead, that honor went to award-winning actor Christopher Lee, who turned down the role when it was offered to him.
After that, Donald Pleasence went on to give a phenomenal and remarkably memorable performance as Dr. Loomis. Christopher Lee later said that turning down this role was the biggest mistake he had ever made in his entire career.
What perfume does Clarice Starling wear?
When Clarice Starling comes to visit Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, they discuss how he has a powerfully keen and accurate sense of smell. In fact, his sense of smell is so strong that he tells her he can smell that she uses Evian skin cream.
He also tells her that he can smell that she wears L’Air du Temps, but only sometimes. He’s so good, he can even tell that today is not one of those times.
Which two Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed actors first starred in iconic horror films?
The live-action Scooby-Doo movies — Scooby-Doo, from 2002, and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, from 2004 — are two of the funniest movies in the Scooby-Doo canon. Completely underrated and totally awesome, the second film also stars two iconic horror actors.
The first is the more obvious of the two: Matthew Lillard stars as Shaggy Rogers, but he also starred in 1996’s Scream as Stu Macher. The second is less well-known: Seth Green plays museum curator Patrick Wisely in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, but he also played Richie Tozier in 1990’s IT.
What is the Leatherface family name?
Many are often surprised to find out that Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre wasn’t named Leatherface at birth, nor is this his only name, like Madonna, or Cher. When Tobe Hooper directed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it doesn’t seem that he had a name yet in mind, exactly, for Leatherface, especially since a canonical name doesn’t come until later in the series.
However, he does have named family members in the movie — including Nubbins Sawyer (“The Hitchhiker”) and Drayton Sawyer (“The Proprietor”), which makes the Leatherface family name “Sawyer.”
How did Roy Scheider get the role of Martin Brody in Jaws?
There are countless rumors about other actors possibly playing Martin Brody, but, in the end, the role went to Roy Scheider, who made Brody into the iconic role he is today. It was just a coincidence that Roy Scheider ended up in this leading role at all, though.
As it turns out, Roy Scheider was at a party when he overheard Steven Spielberg talking about the scene in the movie when the shark jumps up onto the boat. As soon as he heard that, Roy Scheider went to Spielberg and immediately asked him for a role in the movie, and he got one. Not just any one, either: the main role!
How did Jack Nicholson pull off the iconic “Here’s Johnny!” scene in The Shining?
There are many iconic moments and bits of trivia in and around the classic horror film The Shining. This one, hopefully, you haven’t heard before: a little trivia about stunt work! How did Jack Nicholson pull off that iconic “Here’s Johnny!” scene, exactly?
They didn’t use a stunt man, a prop door, or even a fake axe. Because Jack Nicholson had actually been a volunteer firefighter and knew how to use an axe correctly, they let him use a real axe on the fake door. He then proceeded to destroy the fake door with such speed that they had to replace it with the real one, which he also destroyed for the movie.
How many people were set on fire while filming Night of the Living Dead?
Shockingly, the answer to this question is not zero. While filming Night of the Living Dead, no less than three total people were set on fire on set. In an attempt to make the zombie scenes more realistic, co-writer John A. Russo and actor Bill Hinzman were both literally lit on fire.
Hinzman even went the extra mile and poured lighter fluid all over his suit so he could go up in flames during the take. The third person to be lit on fire actually happened by accident, when a crew member named Gary Streiner tried to add more gasoline to a prop chair and ended up lighting himself on fire in the process.
How did Leigh Whannell stay underwater in Saw?
Leigh Whannell, who wrote and created Saw with James Wan, also stars in more than one of the movies in the Saw franchise as a character named Adam Stanheight. The movie opens with Adam waking up underwater in a bathtub, in a scene that was actually the very first scene shot for the movie.
How did Leigh Whannell stay underwater, though? He actually performed his own stunt and had a crew member stand on his chest to keep him under the water for the shot.
What did Alfred Hitchcock do to control Psycho viewings?
Alfred Hitchcock was not only known as a phenomenal director, but also a controlling creator, and he wanted a very specific format for viewers seeing Psycho for the first time in theaters. To ensure that people would be in the theater when the movie started, he had a record made up by the studio to play in movie theater lobbies before the movie that would tell audiences how long it was until the movie started.
He also had cardboard cut-outs of himself pointing to his watch made up; the signs attached read: “The manager of this theatre has been instructed at the risk of his life, not to admit to the theatre any persons after the picture starts. Any spurious attempts to enter by side doors, fire escapes or ventilating shafts will be met by force. The entire objective of this extraordinary policy, of course, is to help you enjoy PSYCHO more. Alfred Hitchcock.” He would not let anyone into viewings of Psycho after they had begun, either!
What does Regan say to the astronaut at her mother’s party?
In The Exorcist, when Regan becomes possessed by the demon Pazuzu, she starts to slowly deteriorate because of the demon’s influence over her mind. One of the most shocking moments early in the movie is when Regan comes downstairs during her mother’s party and stares at the guests gathered around the piano.
She then looks up at the astronaut attending the party and says to him, “You’re gonna die up there,” before she pees on the floor and her mother takes her upstairs for a bath. Unsettling.
