Top List Thursdays – Top Ten Movie Monsters

There’s something in us, that just thrills at watching a movie wherein the lead characters have to survive against the most unlikeliest of threats, fending off creatures and monsters that make no sense whatsoever.

Monster movies have been a part of the industry since it began, keeping up with the times by inventing new and horrible threats for every generation. Here’s a look at ten such mindless monsters, abominations that act on pure instinct alone.

Brundle-Fly (The Fly, 1986)

Curiously, not a combination of legendary F1 driver and commentator Martin Brundle, what we have here instead is the merger of man and fly. Originally advantageous, Jeff Goldblum’s character slowly mutates in something far more horrid, a creature with the innate desire to mate and make audiences around the world wretch in unison.

Interesting fact: That “vomit” used by Brundle to help digest his food? That was made from honey, eggs and milk. All the enzymes you need, to start the day off right!

The Blob (The Blob, 1988)

I have no idea why this movie creeped me out, but the idea of a growing creature that eats and digests everything in its path, is just one of the many reasons why I scream whenever I accidentally walk past a plastic surgery house.

Gremlins (Gremlins, 1984)

Imagine a colony of frogs, only meaner, smarter and with an impulse to wreck all technology in sight. Or in other words, the anti-Foxxcon factory. Deceptively charming, these little buggers could have ruled the planet, had they not a rather crippling weakness to water and sunlight.

I don’t care how cute a Mogwai is, those things need to be shot the moment they’re spotted.

Xenomorph (Aliens franchise)

You’ve got a monster that is lightning quick, can scale walls and ceilings, doesn’t make a sound, is built for the kill and breeds like rabbits on steroids. How do you make this walking phallic nightmare even worse?

By allowing it to breed through face-raping.

The Thing (The Thing, 1982)

I dare anyone to watch this film, and not be grossed out by that scene where this ghastly alien abomination transforms from cute sled-dog, to pure nightmare fuel. I double dares ya!

This was a creature, built with the broken dreams of a horror novel writer, and fused with lethality of remorseless killer, a creature, while decades old in its construction already, is still potent in its visual execution, to this day.

Zombies (28 Days later, Dawn of the Dead, modern day zombie films)

Sure, zombies are unnerving, but unless they’re in a group, they’re actually kind of easy to deal with. That shambling walk, the speed of a snail and the durability of a wet tissue made for a foe that was as dangerous as a killer tomato, really.

And then a new generation of film-makers had to go and give them the ability to run, and attack with the ferocity of a pissed-off MMA fighter. Thanks a lot for the pleasant dreams Hollywood!

The Killer Rabbit (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975)

Fluffy, white, able to leap this far (extends hands), and armed with a set of fangs that could rip your head off in one fell swoop. Not even King Arthur, his bravest knights and Sir Robin could stop this deadly beast, a creature so powerful, that not even the master of Baysplosions, Tim the Enchanter, would dare face it.

Werewolves (Various movies)

They’re hairier than the legs on an eastern-European volleyball team, can only be killed with silver, and much like a Duran Duran single, they’re hungry like a wolf.

Yep, werewolves have been around for eons now, attacking and infecting all manner of people, until there current incarnation, as shirtless monsters who somehow never lose their pants.

Still, after quite a few decades of entertainment, we won’t hold that against them. At least until we can finish loading our silver bullets into this revolver, you see…

King Kong (King Kong franchise)

This is King Kong. He’s a gigantic ape who fights dinosaurs, kicks ass, kidnaps aspiring actresses, climbs massive skyscrapers and swats down planes, before plummeting to his death.

What did you do today?

Godzilla (So, so many movies)

Without a doubt, Gojirra here, is the real king. Dozens of movies,TV shows, cartoons, comics and one hell of a bad film starring Matthew Broderick, and the big reptile is still around, fighting all kinds of movie monster rejects.

He’s been terrorising the Japanese for decades now, knocking over buildings, sometimes saving the day, and then turning around to cause all kinds of havoc.

Besides, we all know that once you destroy something Asian, you’ll just have an urge to do so once more in another hour.

Yes, I’ve left a couple of other monsters out, so please don’t lynch me. Or even better, let us know which movie monster you happen to find particularly cool/terrifying/alluring.

Last Updated: July 19, 2012