5 Best Movie Corpses of All Time
May 7th 2008 03:02
There’s nothing like a good corpse in a movie. Well… good plot, characters, direction, music, script and cinematography are probably better, but a good corpse can really get things going too.
So, here’s a brief list of the best corpse moments in films. I’m not talking about actual deaths here… rather when we come across some unlucky sod who has already shuffled off the mortal coil, leaving only a breathing-impaired bag of meat to shock and delight our indelicate sensibilities.
So, without further ado…
5 – Seven. No, I’m not referrig to the fat dude in the tighty-whiteys with his face in his porridge. I’m actually referring to Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box. In addition to being one of the great movie endings in modern cinema, it’s also Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box. Even though you don’t actually see the head, it’s still Mrs Coldplay’s finest performance to date. In a perfect world, all movies would end with Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box. Especially Shakespeare in Love.
4 - Weekend at Bernies. Okay, so Bernie’s not actually the most gruesome corpse to grace a movie screen, but he has more charisma than your average worm-food. Besides, when I finally kick the proverbial bucket, I’d love it if someone was motivated enough to animate my lifeless corpse, Weekend at Bernies-style.
3 – Jaws. The scene I’m referring to is the one where the severed head pops out of the sunken boat. Man, as a young ‘un, that disembodied noggin scared the bejeebus out of me. It’s an image that has always stuck with me, hence it’s inclusion here.
2 – Raiders of the Lost Ark. You know the one I mean. In the opening scene where Indy discovers a mouldering corpse who ran afoul of some big sharp spikes. Later Alfred Molina, after betraying Indy for the little golden idol, would impale himself on the very same spikes. Take that for betrayng Indy, you cad!
1 – The Ring. The girl in the closet has gotta be one of the creepiest corpses ever to be discovered by screaming teenagers. Man, that’s one ugly cadaver. I think it’s the unnaturally wide-open mouth that does it… I know how she feels though - I felt the same way after coming across a “cursed” videotape in my parents bedside drawer.
I’m sure I’ve made some glaring ommissions, so please feel free to highlight my ignorance in the messages below.
So, here’s a brief list of the best corpse moments in films. I’m not talking about actual deaths here… rather when we come across some unlucky sod who has already shuffled off the mortal coil, leaving only a breathing-impaired bag of meat to shock and delight our indelicate sensibilities.
So, without further ado…
5 – Seven. No, I’m not referrig to the fat dude in the tighty-whiteys with his face in his porridge. I’m actually referring to Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box. In addition to being one of the great movie endings in modern cinema, it’s also Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box. Even though you don’t actually see the head, it’s still Mrs Coldplay’s finest performance to date. In a perfect world, all movies would end with Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box. Especially Shakespeare in Love.
4 - Weekend at Bernies. Okay, so Bernie’s not actually the most gruesome corpse to grace a movie screen, but he has more charisma than your average worm-food. Besides, when I finally kick the proverbial bucket, I’d love it if someone was motivated enough to animate my lifeless corpse, Weekend at Bernies-style.
3 – Jaws. The scene I’m referring to is the one where the severed head pops out of the sunken boat. Man, as a young ‘un, that disembodied noggin scared the bejeebus out of me. It’s an image that has always stuck with me, hence it’s inclusion here.
2 – Raiders of the Lost Ark. You know the one I mean. In the opening scene where Indy discovers a mouldering corpse who ran afoul of some big sharp spikes. Later Alfred Molina, after betraying Indy for the little golden idol, would impale himself on the very same spikes. Take that for betrayng Indy, you cad!
1 – The Ring. The girl in the closet has gotta be one of the creepiest corpses ever to be discovered by screaming teenagers. Man, that’s one ugly cadaver. I think it’s the unnaturally wide-open mouth that does it… I know how she feels though - I felt the same way after coming across a “cursed” videotape in my parents bedside drawer.
I’m sure I’ve made some glaring ommissions, so please feel free to highlight my ignorance in the messages below.
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Comment by Bianca S
Wicked Gross!!!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Technically Se7en and Jaws aren't "corpses" per se, as a corpse refers to a body, and they were disembodied heads ... but hey, I'm being pedantic.
My pick is the roasted corpse of Helen Mirren's lover at the end of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover. Tasty.
Or the arrow-addled body of the warrior king in Kurasawa's version of Macbeth, Throne of Blood.
... or to be a smart-arse, the corpse that wasn't actually a corpse at the end of Saw
Comment by Brad Gaylard
Mens Zen
Nice one with The Cook, The Thief etc... it's been a while I saw that but, doesn't she end up eating his... uh... tummy bratwurst?
I wonder if I'm the only person who thinks Gore Verbinski's Ring is better than the Japanese one.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I thought the US remake of The Ring was very good, but I preferred the creepiness of the Japanese original, same goes for The Grudge.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Lemonheads have a song called "here comes Gwyneth's head in a box" on their Car Button Cloth Album.
Comment by Holly Go Lightly
Movie Mage
Comment by May
Music Dime
The pictures that is...not the content. I don't mind descriptions about cadavers left out too long with or without fomaldehyde preservation...i just can't handle visuals....and scary atmosphere.
I gather you are not a fan of Ms Paltrow then??
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
Who was the corpse in "The Big Chill?"
A. Kevin Costner. (Gotta be true--I read it on the Web!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Anonymous
gotta love celluloid