Little Miss Horror Nerd’s Little Horror Blog 104

DON’T LOSE YOUR HEAD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Hey zombies, I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! Last week there were no turkeys from me. This week there will be no Santas. Instead I give you five of my favorite decapitation deaths from horror films. I did not choose these solely on effects, I also considered cinematography and creativity. As all of us horror fans know there is more than one way to lose your head! Here are my picks:

1. Maniac (1980) – The original Maniac, starring Joe Spinell, is the story of a disturbed young man who is scalping women in NYC. Tom Savini (who has a bit part as Disco Boy) also has the best death. Disco Boy is about to drive his date home. He has started the car when the killer jumps on the hood of the car and shoots Disco Boy in the head with a shotgun. When the bullet hits his head it completely blows apart in slow motion. Tom Savini may not be an amazing actor but his practical effects are simply genius.

 

 

 

2. Deadly Friend (1986) – This Wes Craven flick from the 80s is the story of an abused girl and the boy who has a crush on her. When Paul’s neighbor and crush, Sam, is left brain dead after her father pushes her down the stairs – he is devastated. He saves her by implanting a robot chip in her brain. Unfortunately, the new Sam is very dangerous. One of my favorite deaths of all time comes when Sam murders her neighbor — a meddling, mean old woman with a basketball. Sam throws a basketball at the woman’s head which literally breaks the woman’s head apart.

 

 

 

 

3. Joy Ride 3 (2014) – The third installment of this franchise isn’t great. They should have stopped with the original starring the late Paul Walker. The film itself may be inferior but it does include a pretty great death. Jewel and her boyfriend are snatched by Rusty Nail and while her boyfriend’s death is pretty quick Jewel isn’t so lucky. Jewel is tied to the top of the truck in a standing position. She then spends the next minute careening toward her death fully aware when the truck goes through the upcoming steel bridge she will lose her head.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Let Me In (2010) – Let Me In is the US remake of the Swedish film Let the Right One In. Let Me In is the story of Owen and Abby. Owen is a bullied little boy and Abby is a vampire child who has moved in next door to Owen. Abby (played by Chloe Grace Moretz) befriends Owen and they form a very strong bond. Owen’s tormentors catch him alone at the pool one day. One of them holds Owen’s head under water for over a minute. Just as he is about to pass out the other boy’s grip loosens and suddenly his head drops into the pool passing Owen as it sinks. Abby has murdered the whole lot of bullies. I chose this scene for cinematography and meaning behind it which is that you can love someone so completely that you would do anything to protect them.

 

 

 

 

5. Piranha 3DD (2012) – This is the follow up film to Piranha 3D which is a remake of the 1978 film, Piranha. These two films are basically a blood and boob fest. They are ridiculous and over the top much like the Sharknado films. One of the more amusing and surprisingly original decapitations I have seen comes from this movie. A little boy of about 8 is attempting to take a photo of one of the piranhas which is creeping out of the water. His mom tells him to get away from the water and he tells her the piranhas are slow on land. At that exact moment the fish takes a flying leap at the boy’s head and gulps it in one bite!

 

I’ve listed some of my favorite decapitations! Tell me yours in the comments.