Since the dawn of genre cinema, horror movies have been thrilling audiences with gruesome death scenes at the hands of monsters and madmen. Over time, filmmakers even came up with the Slasher subgenre to thrill bloodthirsty audiences with a specific hunger for over-the-top simulated murder.
Of course, some of these cinematic deaths were bound to be stranger than others, with killers often utilizing unexpected tools to get the gruesome job done. With that in mind, we recently published an article spotlighting six unusual weapons in horror movies, hoping to celebrate the creativity behind some of these iconic death scenes. However, with so many homicidal movies to choose from, we could never stop with a single list. That’s why we’re back with six more of the most unusual weapons in horror movies, this time featuring a couple of suggestions from readers like yourself!
Like last time, the list will be operating under a few rules. First, weapons will be selected according to the overall creativity surrounding their use, so it’s no use complaining that the rest of the movie wasn’t any good. Second, entries must have been actively wielded as a weapon, so no living creatures (like the alligator from Eaten Alive) or environmental hazards (like the liquid nitrogen from Jason X).
With that out of the way, don’t forget to comment below if you think we missed an important tool of the trade.
Now, onto the list…
6. Corn on the Cob (Sleepwalkers)
Written by Stephen King and directed by master of horror Mick Garris, Sleepwalkers is an odd yarn about a homicidal duo of shapeshifters looking for a virgin. While it’s often remembered as one of the worst King adaptations out there, I personally think that this reputation is undeserved, as the film is exceptionally fun if you appreciate it as an intentionally campy midnight movie.
A great example of this entertaining cheesiness is when genre veteran Alice Krige uses a corn on the cob to backstab an unsuspecting police officer, followed by a 007-esque line delivery in the form of “no vegetables, no dessert”. This moment is so ridiculous that it must be seen to be believed, which is why this lethal bit of corn makes its way onto the list.
5. Trombone (The Town That Dreaded Sundown)
Based on a real series of Texarkana murders, it seems odd that Charles B. Pierce’s classic The Town That Dreaded Sundown would feature one of cinema’s most absurd death scenes. However, when teenage musician Peggy finds herself helplessly tied to a tree, the Phantom Killer proceeds to stab her in a ridiculously elaborate way, attaching a pocket-knife to the end of his victim’s trombone and playing it into her.
While it’s technically the knife at the end of the instrument that kills the victim, this death just wouldn’t have the same impact without the killer’s bizarre penchant for performance art. Fortunately for fans of creative murder, the trombone would later reappear in 2014’s underrated sequel/reboot, directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.
4. The Sentinels (Phantasm)
One of the most under-appreciated masters of low-budget horror, Don Coscarelli is best remembered for his work on Phantasm, which follows a boy attempting to stop a villainous undertaker from enslaving our planet’s dead. While Angus Scrimm’s intimidating performance as the menacing Tall Man is scary enough, he also boasts a series of floating metal orbs that do his bidding and are responsible for the franchise’s most memorable kills.
In a world filled with generic axe murderers and machete-wielding madmen, it’s fun to see filmmakers think outside the box when coming up with iconic horror villains and weapons, which is definitely the case here. And with their ability to constantly evolve in between films, becoming more and more absurd in the sequels, the Sentinels are about as iconic as horror can get.
3. Holy Water Super Soaker (From Dusk till Dawn)
Calling From Dusk till Dawn a horror movie may be a bit of a spoiler (though the film is over thirty years old at this point, so you only have yourself to blame), but the second half of this Rodriguez/Tarantino mash-up features some of the most creative vampire-slaying ever put to film. In fact, it’s kind of hard to choose a favorite weapon from a movie that features Tom Savini firing a crotch-gun, but I’d have to go with the holy water Super Soaker.
Not only is it one of the film’s most deliciously schlocky ideas, but it’s also a great little piece of character development, with the emergency holy water serving as a sign of Harvey Keitel’s renewed faith. These water-guns were also accompanied by a series of holy water balloons, which are less stylish but equally effective.
2. Candy Razor (Trick ‘r Treat)
Rivalled only by John Carpenter’s iconic contribution to the slasher genre, Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat is one of the most Halloween-centric experiences of all time, with this seasonal anthology featuring almost everything we love about the spooky holiday. Naturally, this means that the movie references several urban legends that surround this festive occasion, including the classic “razor blade hidden inside Halloween candy”.
This sugar-coated trap is wielded by the deceptively cute Sam like a cheeky little pocket-knife, with the pumpkin-headed child memorably using it to slice Brian Cox’s Achilles’ tendons like stale candy corn. Unorthodox but effective!
1. Double-Sided Dildo (Deathgasm)
Jason Lei Howden’s Deathgasm is a bloody fun ride for fans of heavy metal and demonic horror comedies. Following a group of metal-loving teenagers as they accidentally unleash an ancient demon who possess the residents of their small New Zealand town, the film has no shortage of gory kills. However, a particular scene of supernatural carnage stands out due to its sheer absurdity.
Our heroes find themselves trapped by the murderous possessed, with the only weapons at their disposal being a creative assortment of sex toys hilariously hidden inside a box marked as “church stuff”. Naturally, a comedic battle ensues with the teenagers using a series of phallic objects to defend themselves, including the double-sided dildo. Not exactly my preferred zombie-slaying weapon, but it’s surprisingly effective when wielded like a veiny nun-chuck!