I learned it in the opening of Jaws. I was reminded of it in Open Water. Having to imagine what is happening is often more frightening than watching it play out before you. The makers of the Ryan-Reynolds-is-buried-alive film Buried seem to subscribe to that theory with their new teaser trailer. Watch it after the jump. Then tell us: Which of these kind of less-is-more moments still haunts you?
May 3
2010
01:30 PM ET
New 'Buried' teaser: Best examples of what you don't see being scarier than what you do?
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Freakin’ Awesome
So will this movie consists of Ryan Reynolds in a coffin for two hours? If Gob can come out after being buried alive at his father’s wake, so could Ryan.
The one that springs to mind immediately is the Doctor Who episode “Midnight”. Not only do you never see the “monster”, but is there really a “monster” at all? In my opinion it’s the best thing Russell T. Davies wrote for Doctor Who.
Agreed
I’m not claustaphobic but damn if my heart didn’t just skip a few beats here. Count me in for this.
There was a CSI episode about this, with Nick Stokes being buried alive across the span of 2 episodes. I think it was called “Gravedigger”
That was a great CSI ep – title was actually “Grave Danger” though; directed by Tarantino.
Anyone every see a Dutch film called “The Vanishing”? If you want a great, suspenseful movie I highly recommend it — however, the crappy remake with Jeff Bridges and Keifer Sutherland, avoid at all costs. It sucks AND they totally changed around the ending.
Thanks for the title correction. I agree, they were good episodes.
Good call on the original “Vanishing”…and an even better call on the American remake’s terrible ending.
I’m always reminded of the original film version of Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House.” While the remake with Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta Jones wasn’t very good, the 1960 original was moody and genuinely creepy, and we never saw a single ghost!
The banging on the walls and having it get closer and closer all the time is my favorite part of The Haunting. I’m getting chills just writing about it.
Good examples of movies with “less is more” would be Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity and Session 9 – more psycholgical movies. And a great buried alive scene would be in Kill Bill, Part II.
Blair Witch was my first thought too. I saw it years ago, and the final image of the guy on his knees facing the wall still freaks me right out – I love that we never saw the “Witch”.
The movie “The Descent” always terrified me, not because of the creepy cave dwelling creatures, but the whole notion of getting trapped in a cave system, with no way out, that’s scary.
I remember that Rotten Tomatoes gave that movie over 90% positive reviews.
I know a lot of people slam it, but I think “Signs” is a great example of “what you don’t see being scarier than what you do.”
Of course, “Signs” makes that case better than most because once you actually see what’s been terrorizing the family the entire time, it turns out to be a scrawny water-phobic wimp. Still, before the climax…I was totally into it.
I couldn’t get into this trailer because I kept thinking where’s the light from his mobile? When we couldn’t see it I assumed we were supposed to be just seeing a black screen. The problem was when he started trying to light his lighter to see it became obvious that we were really just seeing him with a mobile that has no backlight; which seemed kinda contrived really. Still we’re hoping the film will be worth a watch, even if the trailer seems to hint at a sloppy thought process, (most likely on the trailer makers’ part).
I like the Buffy episode with the fear demon who turns out to be 6 inches tall!
If only I had a nickel for each time I came here… Superb article.