they’d be examples of the perpetual dread brought on by effective monochrome
dread brought on by effective monochrome
dread brought on by effective monochrome in movies when I say that I want these
in movies when I say that I want these
in movies when I say that I want these things I mean that I want them and I
things I mean that I want them and I
things I mean that I want them and I don’t want to have to ask again welcome
don’t want to have to ask again welcome
don’t want to have to ask again welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
to watchmojo.com and today we’re
to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 movies that would be scarier in black
movies that would be scarier in black
movies that would be scarier in black and white I’ve seen this tree before it
and white I’ve seen this tree before it
and white I’ve seen this tree before it was on the tape know I’ve been there for
was on the tape know I’ve been there for
was on the tape know I’ve been there for this list we’re focusing on color films
this list we’re focusing on color films
this list we’re focusing on color films that would likely become a bit more
that would likely become a bit more
that would likely become a bit more agitating if they were viewed in black
agitating if they were viewed in black
agitating if they were viewed in black and white we’re not saying these films
and white we’re not saying these films
and white we’re not saying these films aren’t scary as they are but rather
aren’t scary as they are but rather
aren’t scary as they are but rather we’re exploring how a different visual
we’re exploring how a different visual
we’re exploring how a different visual approach would heighten the scares
obviously we’re excluding films that
obviously we’re excluding films that were shot in black and white to begin
were shot in black and white to begin
were shot in black and white to begin with
number ten it follows look somebody
number ten it follows look somebody broke the window that really happens no
broke the window that really happens no
broke the window that really happens no girl in the kitchen as one of the
girl in the kitchen as one of the
girl in the kitchen as one of the surprise indie hits of the decade this
surprise indie hits of the decade this
surprise indie hits of the decade this David Robert Mitchell flick scared the
David Robert Mitchell flick scared the
David Robert Mitchell flick scared the bejesus out of most viewers through
bejesus out of most viewers through
bejesus out of most viewers through subtext alone but with a black and white
subtext alone but with a black and white
subtext alone but with a black and white touch visuals of a creepy grandma or a
touch visuals of a creepy grandma or a
touch visuals of a creepy grandma or a bloodied half-naked lady carry even more
bloodied half-naked lady carry even more
bloodied half-naked lady carry even more weight I need water
weight I need water
weight I need water oh I got any water hey I’ll get you some
oh I got any water hey I’ll get you some
oh I got any water hey I’ll get you some no stay here this is not a horror film
no stay here this is not a horror film
no stay here this is not a horror film that relies on gobs of red blood
that relies on gobs of red blood
that relies on gobs of red blood splashed against the wall nope
splashed against the wall nope
splashed against the wall nope it follows gets in your head it’s a
it follows gets in your head it’s a
it follows gets in your head it’s a psychological study and when framed in
psychological study and when framed in
psychological study and when framed in monochrome even that brilliant disaster
monochrome even that brilliant disaster
monochrome even that brilliant disaster piece score becomes creepier thus
piece score becomes creepier thus
piece score becomes creepier thus building the tension as each character
building the tension as each character
building the tension as each character succumbs to the fear
number nine Nightcrawler my motto is if
number nine Nightcrawler my motto is if you want to win the lottery you have to
you want to win the lottery you have to
you want to win the lottery you have to make the money to buy a ticket meet Leo
make the money to buy a ticket meet Leo
make the money to buy a ticket meet Leo bloom he’s motivated he’s business savvy
bloom he’s motivated he’s business savvy
bloom he’s motivated he’s business savvy and he’s also a bit deranged even so
and he’s also a bit deranged even so
and he’s also a bit deranged even so these are some good qualities to have
these are some good qualities to have
these are some good qualities to have when you’re a freelance videographer in
when you’re a freelance videographer in
when you’re a freelance videographer in Tinseltown what if my problem wasn’t
Tinseltown what if my problem wasn’t
Tinseltown what if my problem wasn’t that I don’t understand people but that
that I don’t understand people but that
that I don’t understand people but that I don’t like them considering that we’ve
I don’t like them considering that we’ve
I don’t like them considering that we’ve seen the usual la landscapes many times
seen the usual la landscapes many times
seen the usual la landscapes many times over in cinema and given that nothing
over in cinema and given that nothing
over in cinema and given that nothing especially stands out thanks to the
especially stands out thanks to the
especially stands out thanks to the ominous color palette Nightcrawler could
ominous color palette Nightcrawler could
ominous color palette Nightcrawler could have adopted somewhat of a lynchin vibe
have adopted somewhat of a lynchin vibe
have adopted somewhat of a lynchin vibe with sharp black-and-white visuals you
with sharp black-and-white visuals you
with sharp black-and-white visuals you filmed him dying that’s what I do it’s
filmed him dying that’s what I do it’s
filmed him dying that’s what I do it’s my job as the narrative unfolds Lew
my job as the narrative unfolds Lew
my job as the narrative unfolds Lew becomes increasingly unstable and
becomes increasingly unstable and
becomes increasingly unstable and nothing says unstable more than a
nothing says unstable more than a
nothing says unstable more than a monochromatic image of a man screaming
monochromatic image of a man screaming
monochromatic image of a man screaming at a mirror number eight seven do you
at a mirror number eight seven do you
at a mirror number eight seven do you like what you do for a living these
like what you do for a living these
like what you do for a living these things you see no no I don’t darkly lit
things you see no no I don’t darkly lit
things you see no no I don’t darkly lit and with location unknown this David
and with location unknown this David
and with location unknown this David Fincher classic works just fine in its
Fincher classic works just fine in its
Fincher classic works just fine in its present form but there’s a certain
present form but there’s a certain
present form but there’s a certain wild-card factor that could help make
wild-card factor that could help make
wild-card factor that could help make the case for black and white let’s call
the case for black and white let’s call
the case for black and white let’s call him John Doe you know what we’re talking
him John Doe you know what we’re talking
him John Doe you know what we’re talking about wanting people to listen you can’t
about wanting people to listen you can’t
about wanting people to listen you can’t just tap them on the shoulder anymore
just tap them on the shoulder anymore
just tap them on the shoulder anymore you have to hit them with a sledgehammer
you have to hit them with a sledgehammer
you have to hit them with a sledgehammer how about this seven is a film that
how about this seven is a film that
how about this seven is a film that becomes a new kind of war with a
becomes a new kind of war with a
becomes a new kind of war with a specific shade to represent the
specific shade to represent the
specific shade to represent the underlying dread I’m not talking
underlying dread I’m not talking
underlying dread I’m not talking standard black and white but a tone all
standard black and white but a tone all
standard black and white but a tone all its own he had a gun and he made it he
its own he had a gun and he made it he
its own he had a gun and he made it he made me do it there’s something to be
made me do it there’s something to be
made me do it there’s something to be said for the way a character like David
said for the way a character like David
said for the way a character like David Mills is lit whether he’s musing about
Mills is lit whether he’s musing about
Mills is lit whether he’s musing about life with detective Somerset or coming
life with detective Somerset or coming
life with detective Somerset or coming to a disturbing realization black and
to a disturbing realization black and
to a disturbing realization black and white perfectly fits the bill across the
white perfectly fits the bill across the
white perfectly fits the bill across the board especially for the final reveal
board especially for the final reveal
board especially for the final reveal seems that envy is my scene know what’s
seems that envy is my scene know what’s
seems that envy is my scene know what’s in the box take it give me what’s enough
in the box take it give me what’s enough
in the box take it give me what’s enough you box lit a gun
you box lit a gun
you box lit a gun you just don’t you number seven the mist
you just don’t you number seven the mist
you just don’t you number seven the mist the blood of human sacrifice must come
the blood of human sacrifice must come
the blood of human sacrifice must come from them
from them
from them now here’s a sci-fi horror that will
now here’s a sci-fi horror that will
now here’s a sci-fi horror that will break your heart directed by Frank
break your heart directed by Frank
break your heart directed by Frank Darabont a man well-versed in the art of
Darabont a man well-versed in the art of
Darabont a man well-versed in the art of freaking out viewers the Armageddon
freaking out viewers the Armageddon
freaking out viewers the Armageddon narrative of this film works on a
narrative of this film works on a
narrative of this film works on a variety of levels those bugs like it has
variety of levels those bugs like it has
variety of levels those bugs like it has ever seen but consider the effects of
ever seen but consider the effects of
ever seen but consider the effects of insect attacks depicted in black and
insect attacks depicted in black and
insect attacks depicted in black and white in other words the mist becomes
white in other words the mist becomes
white in other words the mist becomes much scarier when the pure horror isn’t
much scarier when the pure horror isn’t
much scarier when the pure horror isn’t explicitly shown through conventional
explicitly shown through conventional
explicitly shown through conventional genre cliches but through more creative
genre cliches but through more creative
genre cliches but through more creative scare tactics like ominous shading
in that final scene lit just screams out
in that final scene lit just screams out black and white
interestingly Darabont included a
interestingly Darabont included a black-and-white version on blu-ray as
black-and-white version on blu-ray as
black-and-white version on blu-ray as that’s how he originally intended to
that’s how he originally intended to
that’s how he originally intended to shoot the film you don’t have much faith
shoot the film you don’t have much faith
shoot the film you don’t have much faith in humanity do you
in humanity do you
in humanity do you none whatsoever number 6 the fly for the
none whatsoever number 6 the fly for the
none whatsoever number 6 the fly for the average person insects are usually
average person insects are usually
average person insects are usually equated with four and in the realm of
equated with four and in the realm of
equated with four and in the realm of cinema it only makes sense to highlight
cinema it only makes sense to highlight
cinema it only makes sense to highlight the various color forms of a scientist
the various color forms of a scientist
the various color forms of a scientist turned bug
turned bug
turned bug especially when it’s a David Cronenberg
especially when it’s a David Cronenberg
especially when it’s a David Cronenberg production saying I’m an insect who
production saying I’m an insect who
production saying I’m an insect who dreamt he was a man I loved it but now
dreamt he was a man I loved it but now
dreamt he was a man I loved it but now the dream is over but with such a
the dream is over but with such a
the dream is over but with such a director who primarily focuses more on
director who primarily focuses more on
director who primarily focuses more on the mindsets of his characters rather
the mindsets of his characters rather
the mindsets of his characters rather than colorful visuals the fly would
than colorful visuals the fly would
than colorful visuals the fly would become timeless in black and white as
become timeless in black and white as
become timeless in black and white as opposed to it currently being an obvious
opposed to it currently being an obvious
opposed to it currently being an obvious product of the 80s sure you’d have to
product of the 80s sure you’d have to
product of the 80s sure you’d have to edit the film differently but a stripped
edit the film differently but a stripped
edit the film differently but a stripped down palette would elevate the movie
down palette would elevate the movie
down palette would elevate the movie from a modern cult classic to an
from a modern cult classic to an
from a modern cult classic to an enduring horror production be afraid be
enduring horror production be afraid be
enduring horror production be afraid be very free number five The Omen
very free number five The Omen
very free number five The Omen like many films of the 70s this iconic
like many films of the 70s this iconic
like many films of the 70s this iconic horror possesses a certain beauty in its
horror possesses a certain beauty in its
horror possesses a certain beauty in its color and setting but come on the
color and setting but come on the
color and setting but come on the Antichrist calls for black and white and
Antichrist calls for black and white and
Antichrist calls for black and white and when you factor in the casting of
when you factor in the casting of
when you factor in the casting of legends such as Gregory Peck and Lee
legends such as Gregory Peck and Lee
legends such as Gregory Peck and Lee Remick well everything becomes a bit
Remick well everything becomes a bit
Remick well everything becomes a bit creepier with the absence of tones and
creepier with the absence of tones and
creepier with the absence of tones and tints the trout is that
tints the trout is that
tints the trout is that he breeds too for a moment then he
he breeds too for a moment then he
he breeds too for a moment then he please nothing shadowy figures and
please nothing shadowy figures and
please nothing shadowy figures and photographs scarier in black and white
photographs scarier in black and white
photographs scarier in black and white extended screaming and death sequences
extended screaming and death sequences
extended screaming and death sequences scarier in black and white look at me
scarier in black and white look at me
scarier in black and white look at me Damien it’s all for you in fact it’s
Damien it’s all for you in fact it’s
Damien it’s all for you in fact it’s actually surprising the omen wasn’t shot
actually surprising the omen wasn’t shot
actually surprising the omen wasn’t shot in black and white number four Jaws
in black and white number four Jaws
in black and white number four Jaws you’re gonna need a bigger boat it’s a
you’re gonna need a bigger boat it’s a
you’re gonna need a bigger boat it’s a common misconception that beach movies
common misconception that beach movies
common misconception that beach movies have to be filmed in color the blue sky
have to be filmed in color the blue sky
have to be filmed in color the blue sky the sandy beaches the summer styles but
the sandy beaches the summer styles but
the sandy beaches the summer styles but in the case of Jaws there’s something
in the case of Jaws there’s something
in the case of Jaws there’s something inherently bothersome about witnessing a
inherently bothersome about witnessing a
inherently bothersome about witnessing a shark gobble up humans and not actually
shark gobble up humans and not actually
shark gobble up humans and not actually seeing the blood
there’s nothing especially fun about the
there’s nothing especially fun about the narrative itself so when you remove the
narrative itself so when you remove the
narrative itself so when you remove the visual flare from the equation there’s
visual flare from the equation there’s
visual flare from the equation there’s more focus on the characters themselves
more focus on the characters themselves
more focus on the characters themselves that’s it fine I’m not gonna waste my
that’s it fine I’m not gonna waste my
that’s it fine I’m not gonna waste my time arguing with a man who’s lining up
time arguing with a man who’s lining up
time arguing with a man who’s lining up to be a hot lunch I’m gonna see you
to be a hot lunch I’m gonna see you
to be a hot lunch I’m gonna see you later of course you don’t need black and
later of course you don’t need black and
later of course you don’t need black and white to understand the thinking errors
white to understand the thinking errors
white to understand the thinking errors of Martin Brody yet it would bring a
of Martin Brody yet it would bring a
of Martin Brody yet it would bring a certain depth to the film as a whole I
certain depth to the film as a whole I
certain depth to the film as a whole I can do anything I’m the chief of police
can do anything I’m the chief of police
can do anything I’m the chief of police number three the Terminator I’ll be back
number three the Terminator I’ll be back
number three the Terminator I’ll be back so there are some types of iconic movie
so there are some types of iconic movie
so there are some types of iconic movie characters that need color to accentuate
characters that need color to accentuate
characters that need color to accentuate their personality but this isn’t
their personality but this isn’t
their personality but this isn’t necessarily so for the t800 model 101
necessarily so for the t800 model 101
necessarily so for the t800 model 101 he’s a stone-cold assassin
and monochrome would actually even
and monochrome would actually even heighten his cool factor okay through
heighten his cool factor okay through
heighten his cool factor okay through that looking back on the Terminator
that looking back on the Terminator
that looking back on the Terminator everything holds up just fine I’ll
everything holds up just fine I’ll
everything holds up just fine I’ll accept some of the more obvious 80
accept some of the more obvious 80
accept some of the more obvious 80 styles so that’s where a monochromatic
styles so that’s where a monochromatic
styles so that’s where a monochromatic hue could terminate some of the films
hue could terminate some of the films
hue could terminate some of the films retro vibes
and with a post apocalyptic narrative
and with a post apocalyptic narrative front-and-center
front-and-center
front-and-center black and white would only increase the
black and white would only increase the
black and white would only increase the drama while producing more crisp visuals
number two alien in space no one can
number two alien in space no one can hear you scream which essentially means
hear you scream which essentially means
hear you scream which essentially means that you’re isolated from everything
that you’re isolated from everything
that you’re isolated from everything even yourself still don’t understand
even yourself still don’t understand
even yourself still don’t understand what’s at the end listing in Ridley
what’s at the end listing in Ridley
what’s at the end listing in Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror classic there’s
Scott’s 1979 horror classic there’s
Scott’s 1979 horror classic there’s actually not a lot to be seen aside from
actually not a lot to be seen aside from
actually not a lot to be seen aside from the obvious physical terror that emerges
the obvious physical terror that emerges
the obvious physical terror that emerges that is God so with Ripley and company
that is God so with Ripley and company
that is God so with Ripley and company obviously dealing with their own
obviously dealing with their own
obviously dealing with their own psychological and physical drama the
psychological and physical drama the
psychological and physical drama the colour doesn’t necessarily add anything
colour doesn’t necessarily add anything
colour doesn’t necessarily add anything to heighten the tension this thing bled
to heighten the tension this thing bled
to heighten the tension this thing bled acid who knows what its gonna do when
acid who knows what its gonna do when
acid who knows what its gonna do when it’s dead sure the bloodbath scenes are
it’s dead sure the bloodbath scenes are
it’s dead sure the bloodbath scenes are effective but it’s nothing new and of
effective but it’s nothing new and of
effective but it’s nothing new and of course the alien itself isn’t the most
course the alien itself isn’t the most
course the alien itself isn’t the most aesthetically flamboyant of creatures so
aesthetically flamboyant of creatures so
aesthetically flamboyant of creatures so there you go black and white baby
before we unveil our number one pick
before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable mentions
I ate his liver with some fava beans and
I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti number one the thing the
a nice Chianti number one the thing the
a nice Chianti number one the thing the find of the century in the Antarctic
find of the century in the Antarctic
find of the century in the Antarctic some horror films thrive on props and
some horror films thrive on props and
some horror films thrive on props and explosive colors but for the thing
explosive colors but for the thing
explosive colors but for the thing scored by the brilliant annual Morricone
scored by the brilliant annual Morricone
scored by the brilliant annual Morricone it’s all about the pacing I don’t know
it’s all about the pacing I don’t know
it’s all about the pacing I don’t know what the hell’s in there it’s weird and
what the hell’s in there it’s weird and
what the hell’s in there it’s weird and pissed off whatever it is exteriors and
pissed off whatever it is exteriors and
pissed off whatever it is exteriors and interiors psychology and physical
interiors psychology and physical
interiors psychology and physical medicine this is another film that
medicine this is another film that
medicine this is another film that channels the horrors of classic
channels the horrors of classic
channels the horrors of classic Hollywood and with the reveal of the
Hollywood and with the reveal of the
Hollywood and with the reveal of the monster it’s not the color or lighting
monster it’s not the color or lighting
monster it’s not the color or lighting that scares viewers it’s the effect of
that scares viewers it’s the effect of
that scares viewers it’s the effect of just seeing the dang thing as pure
just seeing the dang thing as pure
just seeing the dang thing as pure nonsense doesn’t prove a thing
nonsense doesn’t prove a thing
nonsense doesn’t prove a thing I thought you’d feel that way Gary so
I thought you’d feel that way Gary so
I thought you’d feel that way Gary so when viewed through a monochromatic lens
when viewed through a monochromatic lens
when viewed through a monochromatic lens everything becomes a bit more potent and
everything becomes a bit more potent and
everything becomes a bit more potent and powerful if you don’t believe us just go
powerful if you don’t believe us just go
powerful if you don’t believe us just go watch the 1951 black and white flick
do you agree with our list want me to
do you agree with our list want me to agree with you and you want me to say
agree with you and you want me to say
agree with you and you want me to say yeah yeah right which movie do you think
yeah yeah right which movie do you think
yeah yeah right which movie do you think would be scarier in black and white for
would be scarier in black and white for
would be scarier in black and white for more jaw-dropping top 10s published
more jaw-dropping top 10s published
more jaw-dropping top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to
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