Along with theatrical trailers and poster designs, a movie's tagline is a one-sentence sales pitch to get viewers to see the film. Almost every newly released film has its own tagline, but few are as catchy, memorable, or quotable as those in the horror genre. Similar to a two-sentence horror story, a horror flick's tagline has to be just creepy enough to entice a future viewer. Here are ten of the best from some of the icons of the genre.
10 “Heads will roll.” (Sleepy Hollow)
Let's get things started with a little tongue-in-cheek quote from this Tim Burton masterpiece. Though it's not as chilling as some of the others on our list, few words fit a film starring the Headless Horseman better than those three. With that in mind, the tagline also becomes fulfilled more than a few times throughout the film, even with a sprinkle of black comedy for good measure.
9 “The night HE came home.” (Halloween)
In 1979, John Carpenter unleashed one of the greatest cinematic slashers ever put to film. To further drive home that mysterious air of foreboding, the iconic poster came with this little teaser of a line. Going in blind, a typical audience member might be wondering who "HE" is, why he came home, and what would he be doing with that enormous knife.
8 “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.” (Jaws 2)
It's the only sequel on the list, but it's definitely a line that's been used enough to become ingrained in the collective consciousness of modern movie culture. Jaws marked the birth of the summer blockbuster and presented a horror creature that scarred beachgoers for years. A sequel, though a tad outlandish, only put more chum in the ocean. The proceeding films, unfortunately, would only get weirder and less bearable.
7 “I warned you not to go out tonight” (Maniac)
Is it possible to be threatened by a movie poster? Maniac thinks so. The poster alone is just a teaser for the true insanity that lives within this exploitation-horror flick. As 80s slashers go, it's definitely a bit darker than something like A Nightmare on Elm Street—though the tagline does read like a Freedy Krueger quip—venturing into gritty realism. But, hey, viewers were warned.
6 “He’ll tear your soul apart.” (Hellraiser)
Although a bit on-the-nose, isn't this the one line fans of Clive Barker's insidiously grotesque series remember the most? It's a touch corny today, but, when this film first premiered, it was a definite promise coming from the likes of Pinhead. Although the accompanying "Demons to some, angels to others" line would have worked just as well, it's this little bite that earns a spot on the list.
5 “Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous. (Gremlins)
Don't be fooled by those big puppy eyes and the fluffy exterior, this creative descriptor for Gizmo and the rest of his brood. One exceptional quality of the quote is how it gradually crescendoes from fun to lightly threatening. While it's understandable that the Mogwai easily fits the first two statements with just a hint of the third, one midnight snack can easily change that.
4 “Man is such a warm place to hide.” (The Thing)
With or without the sci-fi horror flick behind it, this line is grossly unsettling. Context aside, it sums up the scare factor of John Carpenter's The Thing in less than ten words. Although "Watch the Skies" from the original did fall under consideration, it's this skin-crawling sentence that earns a top tier spot on the list.
3 “Sometimes dead is better.” ( Pet Sematary)
Stephen King is an absolute master when it comes to writing great horror. But, out of all his theatrically related features, Pet Sematary takes the gold. Not only is it a line from both the novel and the previous film, but it's practically the message of both in King's creepy cautionary tale. In short, it's just making good use of the author's writing.
2 “In space, no one can hear your scream.” (Alien)
There is probably no greater example of sci-fi horror franchise than Ridley Scott's Alien, and, if it's one quote people take away from the original film, it's the tagline. The tag for the movie not only sells its horror but its feeling of isolation long before the previews even start. After all, what else can be expected from a slasher film in space?
1 “Be afraid, be very afraid.” (The Fly)
Simple, straightforward, and scary, this is what all horror movie taglines should aspire to be. It's quotable, it's memorable, and, above all, it's true. David Cronenberg is notorious for creating stomach-turning examples of body horror, and his remake of The Fly is no exception. Jeff Goldblum's transformation into the gross Brundelfly is more than enough to make a viewer's skin crawl. Be very afraid, indeed.
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