50 Questions That Only A True Horror Movie Fan Will Know How To Answer

Everyone has a visceral reaction to horror movies. When they’re brought up, a person will either split a smile and name something they saw recently, list a few favorites or others to avoid, or they will just change the subject. Maybe the former will talk about an affection for schlock or an exhaustion with a type of sub-genre. But there’s excitement there, very obviously.

Then there are the ones that frown and dismiss it. The ones who are either put off by the idea of purposely using something to scare yourself, or maybe they can’t muster the suspension of disbelief they need to sit through trope-heavy, formulaic slashers or outlandish supernatural excursions. It also doesn’t help that you have to wade through a fair amount of crap in order to get to the good stuff. But there’s plenty of great entries here. And even the bad ones do have some merit.

But that’s why this quiz is fun. Established fans can test their knowledge and those curious obtain a guide to the good stuff. Be warned, of course, because this quiz is cumulative—referencing films that are over a hundred years old and one that is still in theaters. There will be blood and spoilers. Now gird your loins because these are 50 Questions That Only A True Horror Movie Fan Will Know How To Answer.

Question 1

Who was the villain in the original Friday the 13th?

Friday13th

There are 12 movies in this series. Given that this quiz is being written on an actual Friday the 13th, we can’t help but think that Paramount made a mistake by not having the 13th film release today. But, of course, there are other Friday the 13ths available. And, to be fair, maybe 12 is a good enough of a place to stop. When was the last time one of these movies entertained? 1983? My god. The actual horror has transferred into the real-world knowing that there are still people wanting to see this series continue.

Question 2

A Nightmare on Elm Street takes place where?

A Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Krueger

There is a timelessness that A Nightmare on Elm Street has. Of course, the clothes, the hair and the production values have dated it, but its core story—about fear, about growing up—is one that anybody can identify with. Even its suburban setting is bland and familiar to at once make the audience comfortable and underline the horror that’s undermining its picturesque, Anywhere, USA feel. However, the film did bother to name the little slice of Norman Rockwell bliss. Of course, it’s not often mentioned, so we hope you were paying attention.

Question 3

Who did Captain Elliot Spencer become?

Hellraiser

I’m not the biggest fan of villains receiving backstories. Our imaginations, along with general ambiguity, make them scarier because they are forever unknown to us, and the idea that they could really be anyone. Once we can categorize and understand them, their mystery is undermined. They can become familiar. It isn’t a deal breaker, of course—or at least not always—but this is a perfect example of an unnecessary backstory. It’s also not the worst by any stretch, so there’s that at least.

Question 4

Do you want to play a game?

The Saw franchise has left us with many questions over the years: How does Jon Kramer have all this time and money? Didn’t he die in Saw 3? How are these characters so stupid? How does Cary Elwes still get work? However, for all its questions, we’re always left with one important statement. One we’ll never forget. That creepy little doll Billy riding up on his little bike, echoing Tobin Bell’s gravel: “I want to play a game.” So, if you’ve seen the movie, you’ll know what games are about to be played.

Question 5

How many Michael Myers Halloween movies are there?

Michael Myers Halloween 5

God knows this franchise has seen so many shifts in continuity that Halloween exists in more universes than carbon. Later this year, the franchise will see a relaunch with Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role as Laurie Strode. The film will not be a sequel to H20 or Resurrection, or even Halloween 2, which revealed that she and Michael Myers were related. Rather, it is a sequel to the original film, retroactively eliminating every film between the two.

Question 6

Should characters get together in a horror film?

This is an easy one. God knows, the Scream franchise hammered this trope home, but hell, even if it didn’t, you had to have noticed it yourself. Especially by the late-1990s. Whether intentional or not, sex was made a large part of horror movies from the very beginning; used either as a way to add to the salacious danger of the proceedings, or to play to the sex and death drives that psychology claims are so intertwined (and admittedly, they are correct).

Question 7

“Why are you doing this?”

The-Strangers

Sometimes motives are best left unknown. The Strangers decides to answer that question rather glibly. It’s likely meant to be taken at face value, and if true, speaks to a kind of nihilism that reflect our own feelings to the modern world which is so rife with tragedy that one can’t help but grow somehow callus to it. The Strangers understands this, though in its slasher-throwback design, it is often lost. Funny Games—with its bright, sterile coloring—also reflects this current numbness.

Question 8

What is the name of the camp from Sleepaway Camp?

sleepaway_camp_maxresdefault

Maybe I’m too much of a city slicker, but I never was much interested in going to camp as a kid. I disliked the idea of nature and the hygiene deficiencies of a shared bathroom and living space. Not to mention having to deal with other children. Any rational society would either kill me or leave me to my books. That was a Red Dragon reference, folks. Anyway, Sleepaway Camp provides—even by the standards of the day—a very strange take on adolescent children. It, naturally, ends on an insane twist that would undoubtedly ruffle the obnoxiously politically correct feathers of 2018.

Question 9

How many versions of The Thing are there?

It started out life as a novel that was eventually adapted to the screen. But the story doesn’t end there. Of course, for this question, we’re only counting versions of The Thing that made it to movie theaters. You remember the rest: the bleak paranoia, the lack of women, the freezing cold and the decreasing supply of alcohol. There were no steaks to eat. Just a group of ornery jerks who have to stop a bunch of aliens from colonizing the world from the least habitable place on said world.

Question 10

What is this object?

Lament Configuration Hellraiser

The story goes, there was a French toymaker named Philip Lemarchand, who created this object in the late 18th century. Depending on which version of the story you’re familiar with, Lemarchand was either a mass murderer who used human bone and fat to create this device, or he was the kind, ingenious man whose masterpiece was perverted by the brutal Duc de L'Isle. Either way, this story has a bad ending for everyone involved, especially those who are unaware with this object is.

Question 11

What inspired the fictional relationship between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter?

You can just as easily apply this to the Clarice Starling/Hannibal Lecter relationship; we just went with Graham because he was first. Both FBI investigators sought out an incarcerated Hannibal Lecter’s advice with a case—the Tooth Fairy and Buffalo Bill, respectively. The strategy, and the effect it had on the FBI agents, was based largely on real-life events. You might complain about needing outside knowledge for this one, but they even made a movie about the real-life incident too. Where did the relationship come from?

Question 12

Finish the quote: “Agnes, it's me--"

Black Christmas is one of the first slashers ever made. Unfortunately, unless you’re already a horror movie fan, it’s likely you’ve never heard of it. The story: a sorority house is being harassed via phone calls by a pervert. Things escalated on Christmas to the point of murder. We never know the killer’s motives, or even see his face. Unless you’re counting the awful remake, which elucidates everything. The quote we’re using here, is one of the last lines of the movie, and it’s as close as you’ll get to closure.

Question 13

What is Randy Meeks’ favorite scary movie?

Randy Meeks Scream

The Scream series hasn’t aged entirely well. The first one itself is still…fine, I guess, but it certainly loses its pop after repeated viewings. As one of the few mainstream horror movies, even people who never saw any of the films will remember the famous refrain of the killer: “What’s your favorite scary movie?” Randy Meeks was one of the character savvy to the clichés and tropes of horror films and helped the core group stay one step ahead of Ghost Face. Of course, he was eventually targeted, and asked the question himself.

Question 14

Which statement about Freddy Krueger is false?

Oh, charmer of charmers. Fred Krueger; the bastard son of a hundred maniacs. From the very beginning we’ve been given bits and pieces of his origin story. Unfortunately, due to Hollywood’s tedious remake policy, we have to mention that this question indeed covers both the remake and the original; fair is fair. Also, it makes things more confusing, and as a fan of X-Men the Animated Series, it’s something I approve of. Anyway, question’s self-explanatory. Answer it.

Question 15

What infamous episode of the X-Files was banned from television?

Okay, we’re breaking the rules a bit. Sure, The X-files—and the subject of the question—is based on TV and not a film. That said, the series was incredibly popular, and did eventually produce two films and two revival miniseries that can be categorized as horror for all the wrong reasons. Anyway, there was an episode of The X-Files that was initially banned from television, and only played twice in syndication. Even by today’s standards, the episode was brutal. What episode was it?

Question 16

What movie does this describe?

A supernatural entity has connected itself to a select piece of media. One a hapless individual is exposed to this media, said entity targets and kills them. The spirit is a vengeful one, though it doesn’t mind attacking others outside of its planned targets. Eventually, deep secrets are revealed, the entity isn’t quite defeated but is somewhat sated (leaving things open for a sequel) and a vague comment on modern technology is made so the audience can feel smart.

Question 17

What is the first creature Jay sees in It Follows?

God, I love this movie. Not only because of its dream-like design or the fact that I have a crush on Maika Monroe. It’s the fact that it thinks outside the box; that it employs tropes of the genre only to undermine them with its own creativity; that the characters are nuanced and that the story is developed with subtlety, care and is rife with ambiguity. And, my god, Richard Vreeland’s soundtrack has to be one of my all-time favorites.

Question 18

Which movie does this quote “They’re coming, Barbara!” come from?

If you don’t know this one, you’re taking the wrong quiz. But, by all means, finish it anyway. I have gambling debts that need to be paid and my thumbs don’t need to be broken again. Also, even if you don’t do so well here, the movies I bring up are all almost entirely worth exploring. Honestly, I never cared much for Texas Chainsaw Massacre of Jason Voorhees, and perhaps my affection for the Cenobites says things about me I’d rather not confront, but I stand by my beliefs.

Question 19

Which horror icon has the highest body count?

We all have our favorite horror movie icons. We all think we’ve chosen correctly, but really it all comes down to what scares us the most. We’re attracted to fear. Also, it really helps if the character has a cool design, good dialogue and an interesting story. But if you go by the numbers, one of these maniacs just has the highest kill-number of them all. By a surprisingly large margin as well. Kinda makes me wish Pinhead had succeeded in enslaving the world in Bloodline. But, oh well. Maybe next time.

Question 20

What is the name of Leatherface's family?

An old, isolated, rural family turns out to be a group of incestuous, serial killing cannibals. Color me surprised. Like many of the best horror franchises, it was a cheap production. Like all horror franchises, its accidental success guaranteed that sequels would be made, and each would be worse than the last. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the perfect example of diminishing returns, and given how rarely the many sequels, prequels, reboots have fared, even audiences are sick of the shtick.

Question 21

What was the controversial scene in Don’t Look Now?

Don't Look Now

Don’t Look Now gained a great deal of attention even before it debuted. Adapted from the novel by acclaimed novelist Daphne du Maurier and directed by Nicolas Roeg, the film starred Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland—two very big names for a horror film. Further setting the film apart is the attention to character and plot, and the Italian setting creating a sense of history, a loss of place, and a growing isolation. Oh, yeah, and then the twist. It’s not so much of a twist as it is a bizarre and brutal murder, but, yeah, you were surprised weren’t you?

Question 22

Which of these horror movies has never seen a remake?

Scream 4 spent a good 16 minutes having Kirby recite all of the horror movies that had been remake up to that point. That was in 2011. Gird your loins because the list is longer than Santa’s and no less ridiculous. And yet some horror movies, for better or for worse, have flown under the radar. The Hollywood elite have somehow overlooked one of the movies on this list for the tedious, modern (and likely PG-13) remake. Admittedly, the other alternative would be an equally soulless straight-to-DVD/Netflix remake.

Question 23

Finish the quote: “All work and no play--"

Ready Player One was a bilious piece of creative and cultural bankruptcy. The fixation on 80s nostalgia reaches Chernobyl meltdown levels. It’s an overrated decade, and the nostalgia to follow—90s, early-aughts—will be just as unearned and inescapably empty. Hell, that movie doesn’t even complete its thought on the said emptiness of nostalgia that it revels in. But, I digress. The only enjoyable part of that movie (aside the electric blue coloring) is its recreation of the Overlook Lodge from The Shining. And we don’t mean the Stephen King book or his remake, we mean the real one: the Kubrick.

Question 24

What perfume does Clarice Starling use?

When Clarice Starling walks down the row of cells in the Maryland State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, she’s greeted by creeps you’d expect; the leering, the babbling, the catatonic. Multiple Miggs hisses at her, claiming her can smell something of hers. When finally reaching Dr. Lecter, he gives the air a whiff and shows off his great senses. He tells her what skin cream she uses and the type of perfume she wears (“but not today!”). What was the name of that perfume?

Question 25

What is Pinhead’s real name?

Pinhead Hellraiser

In Clive Barker’s original story, The Hellbound Heart, the character of Pinhead was merely referred to as “The Engineer.” The popularity of Hellraiser had fans call him Pinhead since he was simply called “Lead Cenobite” in the feature. In the universe Barker created, the character itself became cognizant of the Pinhead nickname and found it unflattering. He took specific joy in torturing those who called him that. In the “final” Pinhead story, The Scarlet Gospels, Barker reveals Pinhead’s true name.

Question 26

How many people died in The Babadook?

Let me tell you how much I love Jennifer Kent. Not only did she create the sensational Babadook film, but when asked about creating a sequel, she shot it down immediately. In an interview, she revealed that she completely owns the rights to the film and a sequel was never in the cards. “It was always seen as an enclosed story,” she said, as my heart beamed. And that’s what an artist is, folks. Someone who won’t sell out.

Question 27

Which of these is NOT a George A. Romero film?

George A Romero

George A. Romero struck gold with Night of the Living Dead. It made his career. He used it to launch a franchise and fund his other writing ventures outside of zombies. For those of you who aren’t aware, yes, he had many other projects outside of the Dead series. He wrote and directed for TV shows and films—usually remaining in horror or in something horror adjacent—but he clearly wanted to flex his muscles beyond the living undead.

Question 28

What’s “the secret” of Michael Myers’ mask?

To say the first Halloween movie was made on a shoestring budget is an understatement. Its budget was so thin you could floss with it. When it came time to actually dress Michael Myers, production designer Tommy Lee Wallace literally went to a costume shop and picked up whatever he could with the money he had in his wallet. At one point Myers was going to be dressed as a clown—a reference to the beginning of the film—but this was abandoned. You still see the costume hanging in the costume shop in the film.

Question 29

What’s the most difficult thing to do in a horror movie?

Horror movies rely on their tropes. Sometimes it's fine. Audiences like to feel comfortable. The only problem is, horror isn't supposed to make you feel comfortable. Regardless, here we are with the commonalities that bind almost every single horror movie despite sub-genre. You can be in a haunted house, or be chased by a serial killer in a cemetery and you'll still see this one specific thing happen. It's a small qualm, but evermore eye-rolling. I can't remember a time where the audience didn't audibly grown when this happened.

Question 30

How many sequels to Cabin Fever are there?

cabin fever

Cabin Fever exists in a weird time in American horror. The slasher revival had dissipated, and we had only just begun making PG-13 remakes to Japanese films and torture porn was not yet a thing. Cabin Fever was about anxiety and isolation, but also marked by occasional and unforgettable gore. Not so much violent as it is heavy with inevitable dread, it was surprisingly warmly received by critics along with fans. It didn’t build beyond that one flash in the pan, but it was nice while it lasted.

Question 31

How did the Blind Man lose his sight?

Don’t Breathe is such a breath of fresh air (tee-hee-hee). Character motivations are established, the directing is tight and claustrophobic, and not a moment is wasted. Hell, even the acting is good. Of course, there’s the twist, which plays not only with expectation, but makes us consider our own preconceptions of good and evil. We saw the Blind Man as a victim in every sense of the word but were shocked to find he was hardly one to remain that way. It takes a ballsy movie to have no hero, and it takes a great one to do it well.

Question 32

Finish the quote: “Long live--"

Videodrome

Like most David Cronenberg films, Videodrome isn’t necessarily horror, but a horror-subgenre. It is Cronenbergian-horror. He’s so good, and so specific with it, that it demands its own classification. Videodrome is rife with violence, body-horror and satire. Historians say that films like Network predicted our current media landscape. Not even close. It was Videodrome. Crongenberg correctly predicted our fixation on sex and violence, and the media’s ratings obsession by treated tragedy as a product. The television screen is the retina of the mind's eye. But remember: it bites.

Question 33

Which of the movies DOES NOT feature a killer clown?

Batman Joker Boner

Has something meant to be so innocent been so poorly received as clowns? You can write dissertations on what exactly it is that makes their jolly nonsense so off-putting, but whatever the case, the fear of them is so profound and common that it has its own listing in the DSM-V. Matter of fact, I once had a girlfriend who was afraid of them. When she left the room, I would change the wallpaper on her computer to clowns; happy ones, sad ones, scary ones, whatever. Scared the crap out of her every time.

Question 34

Don’t Breathe was inspired by what horror classic?

Fede Álvarez’s remake of Evil Dead was easily the finest entry in the franchise. It paid homage to the original while also going off in its own direction. It did so without the shlock and was scarier than any of the previous entries (or anything else in the decade before it). But critics are schmucks. They said that it was a good movie, but not original enough. So Álvarez made Don’t Breathe. While, yes, it takes inspiration from a movie on this list, it is a supremely original and effective creation.

Question 35

A Quiet Place was original meant as a sequel to what film?

a-quiet-place

Personally, I prefer Don’t Breathe—and funnily enough, Don’t Breathe largely inspired director John Krasinski to take a risk with A Quiet Place. And it clearly paid off. I believe in no small part because it was allowed to be a standalone feature and not part of an established franchise, which has taken a beating in public support of late. In another’s hands, A Quiet Place still would have sputtered—as a standalone or as part of a franchise—but Krasinski made it work.

Question 36

What is the estate Maxim de Winter lives in?

Rebecca (1940)

Debuting in April of 1940, Rebecca was one of the first horror movies. It’s also become exceedingly rare. Back before streaming, I had to import a DVD of this American movie from South Korea in order to watch it. Like living in the Stone Age. Anyway, the plot: an unnamed woman comes to live at the estate of the aristocrat Maxim de Winter. They marry, only for strange things to begin happening at the house. As she starts to fear for her life, she also comes to believe that Maxim may have murdered his previous wife Rebecca and may have designs to kill her as well.

Question 37

What was the first “true” ghost story in film?

movie_ghost-1990

Prior to the release of this movie, ghosts in film were played for comedy, or found out to be some elaborate hoax. This film upended that notion. Not only were ghosts real, they were pissed. This movie is the fountainhead of many horror movie tropes: haunted houses, seances, insane asylums and revenge from beyond the grave—it all started here. Take that into account the next time you see any other haunted house movie you think has any credibility and realize they’ve all been retelling this one’s story.

Question 38

How many Amityville movies are there?

amityville

Speaking retelling stories into infinity, here’s the Amityville franchise. My god, how many times can you tell the exact same story? Had it not been for the “based on a true story” claim, and had Ed and Lorraine Warren not attached themselves to the media frenzy, we might have let the DeFeo family find peace in death. But no. We have to pretend ghosts and goblins and not the evil of one man was behind the mass murder.

Question 39

"They’re here” is the iconic line from what horror film?

For all the crap horror movies have to eat from critics, it boasts more iconic dialogue than any other genre out there (second only, perhaps, to action movies). This movie made a bland, simple observation into an unforgettable moment thanks to the lilting, melodic and almost cheerful line-reading by Heather O'Rourke. Sure, I may be give you too many hints here, but really, this isn’t a hard question anyway. Also, did you know Steven Spielberg co-wrote the film? Good stuff.

Question 40

What movie was believed to be a real snuff film upon its release?

The 1970s was the most experimental time in American film. It’s not a surprise that the best and riskiest films were released in that decade. In the horror genre, exploitation had become exciting. Grindhouse and splatter movies were making money and violence needed to be delivered. But that’s the thing. When you know it’s fake, the thrill isn’t the same. So, horror creators began to push limits. Some went so far as to purposely make movies that looked like snuff; one perfected that craft, to the point where its director was put on trial for murder. Now, if that isn’t a resume builder, I don’t know what is.

Question 41

What is the name of the demon from The Exorcist?

We can all safely agree that The Exorcist never should have become a franchise. As a standalone picture it was fine; with the ever-growing number of sequels, prequels, remakes and new adaptations, the legacy of the original gets tarnished. The demon at the center of the franchise—the one who took control of poor Regan MacNeil is central to the series—hardly receives any development. That is to the series’ advantage; less is more, especially in backstories. So what is the demon’s real name?

Question 42

What supernatural power do the Scanners have?

Scanner is like 24 with superpowers, with a dash of surreality and the usual Cronenbergian abstract horror. Naturally, its success spawned sequels and spinoffs, all of which were quite terrible. Cronenberg himself had nothing to do with any of the follow-ups. As per the current rules in Hollywood, the once fallow franchise is currently being fitted for a TV series, as announced in the fall of last year. Thankfully, nothing else has been announced since.

Question 43

What horror movie has the tagline: “We dare you to say his name 5 times”?

Movie Monster Quiz - Candyman

Horror movies have often taken on the idea of using urban legends. Some horror icons, however, become urban legends themselves in some way as their mythologies grow. There are even some movies, like this one, that establish its own horror icon as an in-world urban legend. Of course, it has become one itself due to its popularity. By taking inspiration from Bloody Mary and some good old-fashioned voodoo, Clive Barker created a unique character in a dark fairytale of a series.

Question 44

What horror movie is this magnificent image from?

They say that Heart of Darkness—the documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now—is better than the movie. Had a true documentary been made about the making of this movie, it would be not only better, but scarier. This film had a troubled production due to the inflated egos (and livers) of its leading men. There are good ideas here—Cronenbergian body horror, its satirical humor—but other things got in the way too. Like hiring an English warlock named Skip to bless the production with blood magic. We’re not kidding. Look it up.

Question 45

What fictionalized movie detailed the filming of Nosferatu?

There are only so many ways to mine a classic. This film turns the production of the seminal vampire film Nosferatu into a horror movie of its own. With little splashes of satire and a commentary on the self-aggrandizing directors do, this is indeed a horror movie, but it’s just as much about what goes into making horror movies and why we like them. It’s not perfect—it attempts to do too much—but it is worth a watch. You’ll even know it’s title once you answer the question.

Question 46

In what movie did Annabelle the doll first appear?

While everyone has done the creepy, possessed doll story before—the great “Living Doll” episode of The Twilight Zone, the crappy “Chinga” episode of The X-Files (which was written by overrated gasbag Stephen King)—Annabelle is based on a real evil, possessed doll. Of course, take this with a grain of salt; this is Ed and Lorraine we’re talking about. The story of the doll was enough to warrant its own set of movies, born out of the franchise based on Ed and Lorraine’s case files and stories.

Question 47

It Follows takes place in what city?

Unlike IT or A Nightmare on Elm Street, which parallel real places, It Follows uses a real city and makes it a character in the film itself. The dreary weather combined with the acknowledged urban decay of the area makes everything about the film into a nightmare. Sure, Jay is going through an internal struggle fighting off an entity only she can see, but the world around her reflects the same ugliness and desperation she is struggling with. In that way, he friends can identify with her struggle as much as she can’t escape it. Horror surrounds her without respite.

Question 48

Who/what killed Beth in The Descent?

Beth The Descent

The Descent is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. It’s a brutally vicious and emotionally exhausting. Rarely do you find a horror movie that makes its characters anything more than chattel to be fed to a thresher, but here almost everyone gets an opportunity to shine. Hell, even without the monsters there’s enough material here for a good drama. But there are monsters. And they’re not to be trifled with. Claustrophobic, bloody and seemingly inescapable, The Descent should be the blueprint for modern horror.

Question 49

Which vampire movie is this?

Byzantium

Even before the wave of material featuring them, I didn’t care much for vampires in the first place. However, both of the movies mentioned below are top-tier vampire movies. Love them both. However, let’s just focus on one. It features a mother-daughter vampire team trying not only to survive but evade a group of vampire bureaucrats who want to control/kill them. The daughter, meanwhile, has fallen in love with a dying boy and wants to save him by turning him into a vampire. The film takes absolute joy in being completely insane.

Question 50

What is the name of the first horror movie?

Follow branches stream back far enough and you’ll find a single wellspring from which it all flows. While scary stories—whether passed down through oral tradition or published as text—have always existed, there can only be one original horror film. It was released in 1896 and was only three minutes long. Look, like I said, it was 1896, you think you’re getting Angels in America here? Anyway, the surprisingly ambitious short depicts an encounter with the devil. Or a vampire. It’s kinda hard to tell.

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