Humans have been imagining and creating monster mythologies for hundreds of years. Perhaps to project their own fears into fiction, or perhaps because we believe that monsters are the only really believable match for us. With all the technological and societal advancements in recent history, the depictions of these giant monsters have become more intelligent and ruthless, and seemingly indestructible.
To celebrate the release of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, we are taking a look back at the most terrifying giant monsters throughout film history!
King Kong (1933, 2005)
King Kong, one of the most iconic characters in film history, displays the characteristics of a giant ape. Kong is incredibly strong and upholds astounding acrobatic skills, best displayed in the infamous scene on top of the Empire State Building. King Kong’s immense strength and ruthlessness is further demonstrated when he breaks out of the iron chains that bound him captive. Though King Kong is scary, he is shown to have a gentle side when caring for Ann, the female protagonist in his story, ultimately risking his life to protect her.
The Unknown, Cloverfield (2008)
This monster is truly terrifying because audiences never actually find out what exactly ‘The Unknown’ monster is… it is cleverly left up to the imagination, which some might argue can be worse than anything CGI can create. This means that the suspense is built from a fear of the unknown, rather than fear of the actual monster itself! At the start of the film, the audience are warned of mass destruction, but are only shown glimpses of the monster, creating an overwhelming sense of foreboding. The monster shows resistance against modern weaponry, but it’s most lethal weapon is this tiny parasite that lives on its skin, dropping off viciously to attack any living thing it sees. Any unfortunate soul who gets bitten by these parasites tends to end up exploding. Terrifying enough for you?
The Megalodon, The Meg (2018)
The Megalodon is the largest shark ever discovered, possessing the most powerful bite known to man. With 276 teeth in 5 rows, the shark can consume whales in one bite! ‘The Meg’ reaches lengths of up to 60-70 feet, with an estimated maximum weight of over 60 tons. This terrifying giant monster starred in The Meg, munching his way through most of the cast by attacking a deep-sea submersible and trapping the crew at the bottom of the Pacific. We should all be glad that this shark is now extinct!
The Thing (1982, 2011)
‘The Thing’ is an extremely hostile, shape-shifting, extra- terrestrial organism and the primary antagonist in John Carpenter’s The Thing. ‘The Thing’ has the ability to assimilate the form of any other living being, so it can survive and spread whilst disguising itself as anyone in the crew, thus turning the remaining survivors against each other. The most terrifying aspect of this organism, however, is how ‘the Thing’ is able to successfully separate its victims, swiftly and completely assimilating them – (swallowing them whole!) Pretty nauseating!
Godzilla: King of the Monsters, 2019
And finally, ‘Godzilla’, the ultimate King of the Monsters. ‘Godzilla’ is a dinosaur-like creature with deadly spikes on his back. The very name ‘Godzilla’ is a metaphor in itself for nuclear war, illustrating his completely destructive ability – such as his ‘atomic breath’. This is a lethal skill, enabling him to destroy any threat from a safe distance with a swift blast of radiation. Godzilla also seems to possess a mysterious sixth sense, enabling him to sense oncoming threats, giving him time to prepare for the battles ahead and have the upper hand on all his enemies.
GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, is out on DVD, Blu-rayTM, 3D Blu-rayTM and 4K Ultra HD on October 14, and Digital Download on September 21.
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