"The Top 10 Monsters, What Are They?" Topic

What are your 10 Favorite Monsters?
Please feel free to give examples, if you list something as general as a Vampire.
…and don't say: "Evil Humans"

This topic is about MONSTERS.

My List:

1) Mutants (Resident Evil, Ninja Scroll, Fist Of The North Star)
2) Werewolves (An American Werewolf In London, The Howling)
3) Zombies (The Return Of The Living Dead, Dawn 04)
4) Godzilla (Classic)
5) Large D&D Monsters (Trolls, Ogres, Gnolls)
6) Small D&D Monsters (Kobolds, Goblins)
7) Vampires (The Lost Boys, Bram Stokers Dracula, Fright Night)
8) Mystical Beings (The Cyclops in; The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad, and other Ray Harryhausen Creations)
9) Spiritual Beings (Angels, Demons, Call Of Cthulhu/Eldritch Things, Ghost and so on…)
10) Constructs (The Terminator, Flesh Glomes, Frankenstein's Monster, Animated Statues…)

What is yours?

Joe

Ooh this is hard, favourite to fight or favourite to encounter :p

1) Zoooombies! (I love all zombies from shamblers to rage)
2) Fey (Evil faerie like spirits)
3) Godzilla!
4) The Colossus (Jason and the Argonauts)
5) Skeletons (Jas & Argies again, any Ray Harryhausen)
6) Fallen Angels (Dogma style :P)
7) Giant Mutant rats
8) Kraken (Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean)
9) Vampires (Nosferatu, Interview with a Vampire, Blade)
10) Marshmallow Man (Ghostbusters!)

1. My Ex Wife … still gives me shivers LOL 8)

The one I just catch sight of out of the corner of my eye.

Any undead
evil primates ( killer chimps/baboons, even albino gorillas)
Anything rat-like
giant sharks et al
Aliens ( the thing)
Aliens ( Aliens)
The killer slug things from KIng Kong
Sucubii
Possesion spirits
Politicians

Daleks, Daleks, Daleks, Daleks, Daleks, Lawyers, Daleks, Daleks, Daleks, Daleks

Paris,
Britney,
Lindsay….

doppleganger from the old tv show-Nightstalker…it would appear as your grandmother,then kill you

This is a fun question!

1. Orcs (All of them)
2. Goblins (The wickedly intelligent sort)
3. Zombies (any deadite variety)
4. Vampires (Strahd, Von Carstien)
5. Skeletons (see zombies)
6. Kerabus (lvl 6 half-orc fighter/rogue cannibal)
7. Beastmen (as in the sacrifice you to the Chaos gods type)
8. Ratmen (as in Skaven)
9. Liches (as in pure evil)
10. Alien Bugs/Daemonic Things (as in devour the world)

1. Dragons (Smaug, Vermithrax)
2. Orcs & Goblins (Tolkien's variety)
3. Vampires (Strahd and Bela Lugosi's Dracula. None of that modern emo/goth )
4. Skeletons (Ray Harryhausen)
5. Medusa (Harryhausen, or D&D "babe with a snaky hair-do")
6. Hydra (Harryhausen, but with the "2 for 1" head deal.)
7. Ogres (Classic "waylay travelers" or "Puss-in-boots" type)
8. Barrow-wights (Tolkien)
9. Trolls (Tolkien, Norse)
10. Giants (fought too many of them in G1-G3 not to give 'em a nod!)

People.

Mine are a mix of movie types and gaming:

1. Monster from the Id (Forbidden Planet)
2. Dragons (particularly the type that can fly. I include Rodan in this group)
3. Aliens (from the movie)
4. Dinosaurs (T-Rex and Velociraptors)
5. Godzilla/Gorgo
6. The Blob
7. Giant Apes of Barsoom
8. Nazgul
9. Kraken
10. The Ymr

the beast of 20000 Fathoms ( eats NYC police)
Dragons
Them!
Skeletons
Cyclops
Rats ( especially giant ones)
aliens ( movie)
predator ( movie)

You fellows are posting some very cool list so far…

Frankenstein's Monster (Karloff)
The Wolf Man (Chaney Jr.)
Dracula (Christopher Lee)
The Invisible Man (Raines)
King Kong (1930's)
The spider in "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1950's)
The Thing (Arness)
The Blob (1950's)
The Terminator (Arnold)
The mountain demon fron the "Night on Bald Mountain" in "Fantasia"

Noticably absent: The Mummy. As Bill Cosby said; If The Mummy catches you, you deserve it!

Charter School Master Teachers
Godzilla
The Blob
Alien xenomorph
Gorgo
The Giant Hila Monster
THEM!
Signs Aliens
Brain Bug
Caltiki
Bonus: Megalomaniac world leaders who invade sovereign nations on false premises.

Monster from the Id (good call, Allen57)
Flying Shark (bad dream I had once)
Anything that lives inside anything else (see maggots, tapeworm, yicky eye maggot thing from youtube and alien chestburster)
Hobgoblins
Dragons
Pitch Black sonar aliens
Genestealers
Ambull
Alien Xenomorph and siblings
Dark Young of Shub-Niggurath

G.

Thing (Carpenter)
Alien (Geiger)
Zuni Fetish Doll
The Gill-Man
Monster from the Id
Zanti Misfits (Outer Limits?)
Zombies
Brain Slugs (the Hidden, Slithers)
Sleestaks
Frankenstein's Monster

King Kong
Creature from the Black Lagoon
THEM!
Frankenstein's monster
Dracula
Wolf Man
Mummy
The creatures from Tremors!
Godzilla
Ymir

Zombies
Orcs
Dragons
Aliens (Alien)
Bugs (SST)
Female Vampires(Hot, hot, hot)
Male Vampires
Werewolves
Grabiods
Critters (the movie)

Hmm there are so many. Well the title did not say giant monsters so I will pass on that selection…there was no mention of genre, so I will assume cross genre potential…

(in no particular order)

mutants…animals, men, plants, or blends there of

the thing…from the thing

big "worms"…from graboids link to vile meat weasels link

Lovecraftian anything…though Cephalopoda features are welcome and appreciated

dragons…small and large…a good thing

beastmen…from lycanthropes (rat, cat, dog, wolf, bear, etc.) to beast+man in various forms

insectmen…man+bug in any form but with spider is most creepy

ceiling crawling granny…insert any old person who crawls up walls, across ceilings, etc. the stuff of nightmares

packs…thinking dogs here…undead or mutant or otherwise unfriendly, hungry for your flesh, unwilling to fetch or stop wanting to chase you down and consume you

parasites…those squishies of all types who want to get into/onto your body/brain with the intent to control you, eat you slowly which drives you insane, or otherwise take away that spark that is you but your body still lumbers around with ill intent

**********

Double bonus "Bonus: Megalomaniac world leaders who invade sovereign nations on false premises"

Or Megalomaniac world leaders (kings, queens, and mad scientists) who invade sovereign nations on false premises or to steal all of their resources, enslave the native people, or otherwise try to force the rule of their crown on the entire world…later to forget that they tried to own everything, that their past and current history is full of bloody oppression, and make light of those who's actions make these memories come back as a guilty conscious and self loathing…of course I speak of fictional references.

>>Creature from the Black Lagoon<<

ooooooo…Mully…The Creature…I knew I'd forget at least one great one. LOL One of the most suspensful scenes in a monster flick was when Julie London was swimming in the lagoon unaware that The Creature is swimming along right behind her. So, remove the spider from my list and include The Creature. (-:

Which version of Dracula? Lugosi's was good at the castle, but bored the hell out of me after the scene switched to England. I like the Chris Lee version much better. The Ymir sure was a great looking monster, and very sympathetic, but the scene where he/it fights an elephant was *very* disappointing. The ants from "Them" were scarey until you actually saw them. Then they looked like bad puppets to me. The Karloff Mummy only scared me when Im-Ho-Tep came alive and choked the guy…then the flick got so slow that I fell asleep. LOL The Mummy sequels didn't do much for me, except for "The Mummy's Hand", which was kind of funny.

Okay here's mine-

1.GODZILLA(he's the KING of the Monsters NUFF SAID)
2.The rest of the Toho Monsters(to numerous to mention)
3.Ant's from Them
4.The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
5.Gamera
6.Alien's
7.Predator's
8.Rancor(from Star Wars)
9.Frankenstein
10.Dracula

Captain Gideon

Torgo.
Technically a "monster" due to huge knees.

Shadow:

When I think of favorite monsters, I don't necessarily think of the ones that I found scariest or even the best movies, but the ones I remember fondly from childhood. With the exception of the critters from "Tremors," all of the monsters I listed I first saw as a sleep-deprived little kid on the late show or Creature Features with the legendary Bob Wilkins, on a small black-and-white tv, where the images burned their way into my brain, reinforced by back-issues of Famous Monsters of Filmland, stills in movie books, and those great Monogram glow-in-the-dark model kits I spent most of my chore money on. To me these monsters had personality that somehow transcended the rubber masks and sometimes clunky special effects. The Universal movies, in particular, also had atmosphere, which is to me often as important as action. I would still submit that THEM! is actually an A picture mislabeled or misremembered as a B movie. It's so well acted, directed, and written that I think "THEM!" manages to overcome the obvious creakiness of the puppet ants: it's one of those rare movies, like "Zulu," that still gets to me every time I watch it.(The Bronislaw Kaper soundtrack for THEM! is fantastic too. In fact, a lot of the power of "THEM!" comes from its masterful use of sound to create mood; with very few changes to the script, "THEM!" would make an excellent radio show.)

I'll admit that I enjoyed the Hammer Dracula movies more than Lugosi's original and thought Christopher Lee had great presence as Dracula, but the archetypal visual image Lugosi created still resonates with me. (However, the Hammer movies often had the bonus of great, barely contained cleavage, creating some archetypal images of their own. Now that's special effects!)

Mulligan

A recent Dr Who had a creature called "Crying Angel" (I think). They looked like angels, and were stone statues as long as you looked at them. Of course, if you blinked or turned your back, even for a second they were that much closer.

Hard to make a 'favorites' list.
No specific order…

The Golem
Pyramid Head
El Hombre Lobo
The Blob/Caltiki
Eli from 'Let The Right One In'
Cenobites
Whatever is haunting Hill House
The witch jars in 'Earth, Wind, Fire and Water'
The Zuni Fetish Doll from 'Trilogy of Terror'
'The Man' in Carnival of Souls

1) dinosaurs/prehistoric beasts
2) lovecraftian minions: ghouls, gugs, wamps, deep ones, sand dwellers, serpent men etc
3) cryptids: U.nknown H.airy H.ominids, lake monsters, alien big cats, sea monsters, giant snakes, giant lizards, etc
4) alien bugs and giant bugs
5) traditional monsters from N.E. Europe: trolls dragons giants
6) zombies fast or slow
7) demonic hosts-gargoyles as in the 1970s made for TV movie
8) protoplasmic horrors
9)vampires, but only evil nasty ones. no sissy vamps with 'feelings'
10) spiritual threats-ghosts wraiths mummies

WOW!
Great replies!

The one that lived in the closet
The other one under the bed
and the one that would eat my homework.

…sneakgun…don't go home…they are still there…waiting…watching…hungry…and do not forget the left sock eater and the one that leaves the toilet seat up…

1. Any variety of ear worms
2. Terrasque(D&D)
3. Jason Voorhees(yes he is a monster)
4. Bloodthirster (Warhammer)
5. Pitfiend(D&D)
6. Freddy Krueger(movies)
7. Balrog(LOTR)
8. Japanese Mechanical/organic gore monster
9. Cheerleaders (young succubi)
10. (possessed)
10. (D&D Hag)
Sorry about the tie but it was important.

>>When I think of favorite monsters, I don't necessarily think of the ones that I found scariest or even the best movies, but the ones I remember fondly from childhood.<<

I hear that Mully, and I didn't intend to criticize your favorites, only to comment on them. I have a feeling that many of the contributers to this thread have Godzilla on their lists out of pure nostalgia and not because they thought that a guy in a rubber suit was the nth degree of special effects. I included "The Blob" because I can see that the flick is purely "tongue-in-cheek" and it's very funny right from the song in the opening credits. So I understand that there are many reasons why someone would pick their particular favorites and none are any better than others. (-:

My introduction to the Univeral Studios monster movies was much the same as yours. The "Shock Theater" package, which was all of the Universal Studios horror film output from the 1930's and 1940's, was sold to television in 1957 and got a lot of publicity all over the country. The first Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, which I bought from a newstand and carried around rolled up in my back pocket until it was ragged, was published shortly after that and and many "horror hosts", like Zacherle, showed up at the same time. I watched *all* of the films religeously as they went from the "A"'s to the "B"'s and eventually the garbage from studios like PRC. As you probably did, I learned about Jack Pierce, James Whale, Tod Browning and all of the other famous names in horror films from watching "Shock Theater" and reading Famous Monsters and another similar magazine titled "World Famous Creatures".

I agree with you that atmosphere in a horror film is just as important as action…and Universal films had that in spades! I also agree that "Them" would have made a great radio show!

Yes Yes 28mmMan, I know! They still wonder why I wake up nights screaming..

The Witch from the Original Snow White….there was a tiger that snuck thru the bushes on this kid show, Smiling Ed's then Andy Devine took over.

And of course Shere Khan still waits for Mowgli….

Mothers-in-Law!!!!

The Gentlemen from Buffy.
picture
Vampires (30 Days of Night movie variety).
Zombies

"The Gentlemen from Buffy"

Good call! Prob my fav episode.

People still make the best evil monsters – I mean Fantasy, of course – I remember the comment from White Box OD&D.

If this was Real Life than s and Jihadists would be enough. Thin skinned types can use the "!" button above.

BTW, it is spelled Gila, not Hila. Sheesh!

Gracias,

Glenn

>>If this was Real Life than s and Jihadists would be enough. Thin skinned types can use the "!" button above.<<

Being "thin skinned" has nothing to do with it. Whether we agree or disagree we are not allowed to reply to your political comments, so if you don't mind, knock it off.

Gigantisaurs (scariest thing in 65 million years)
Paris Hilton (creature with no substance)
Most Republicans (ew)
Most Democrats (ew, ew)
Harry Turtledove (makes me run screaming a great distance)
Hollywood producers(SAW series, enough said)
Bear Grills (based on what he eats)
ESPN booyahs (they only half digest everything, disgusting)
Oatmeal (I see it every day…it gives me the willies)
Vuvuzelas (never saw one, but there's out there, I can hear them)

Many of these would seem to be votes for choices already posted but, nonetheless…

The creature from "It! The Terror From Beyond Space" (The original "Alien")
Nosferatu
Romero or "28 Days/ Weeks" "Living Dead"/ Ragers
Any Ray Harryhausen creations
The thing from "The Thing" (either version)
"Thing" from "The Addams Family" (talk about expressive)
"Them"
Doppelganger (as a concept, can't actually recall a specific characterization)
Mutant Primates (a' la "Congo")
The aliens from "Signs" (though they proved to be not so tough…)

Cripes, after forty five years of exposure to print, film and TV, I'm sure I could think of another fifty…

Agree with you Matsuru Sami Kaze about the producers of the "Saw" series of films. Egad! But, look deeply into Stephen King…

I'm inclined to agree with you too, Mulligan. I don't know if we're looking at "favorite' or "most evocative". Technically, some of these monsters are just… corny. But many cause us to remember fondly a time when, to us as children, the scariest things for us were in the various formats of fiction.

Movie monsters are only there when you turn the DVD player on.

Duckoid

"The Zuni Fetish Doll from 'Trilogy of Terror'"

Saw that with some friends in junior high on tv. We did not sleep for a week and were totally freaked out. We kept changing the channel and then switching back.

I have to add the Firefly family. They, collectively, are the biggest monsters I have ever seen in a movie.

Here we go

1. Godzilla
2. Aliens (Aliens) /The Green Slime (Almost the same movie)
3. THEM! (all giant insect/spiders)
4. The Thing
5. Cthulhu and all of Lovecraft's creations
6. Killer Clown doll from Poltergeist
7. The gremlin from the Twilight Zone
8. Sleestacks
9. Flying Monkeys
10. The child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Mi-Go! Pinatas!

I don't like monsters. They're monsters! They rip and tear and devour. That'd be like saying you like dholes.

Magically resistant, physically resistant, overwhelming, nightmarish, a minus three to hit, needing three successes.

No thanks. I hate dholes.

All those monsters you mention like you, too. For dinner!

JW

"BTW, it is spelled Gila, not Hila. Sheesh!

Gracias,

Glenn"

Thanks Glenn, I'll correct my spelling so fellow gamers can cut and paste their search for this truly great grade B monster flick. Here goes:

THE HIANT GILA MONSTER

>>THE HIANT GILA MONSTER<<

ROTFLMAO!!! Good one man! I swear…every time I look at your reply it cracks me up!

My ex-wife and her family.

I thought this film was coming out this month.

YouTube link

Dan
TMP link

@CC: Judging by the Youtube comments, it got panned in the prescreenings, and went direct to DVD.

Loads of top ones already mentioned… let's see if I can come up with 10 that haven't come up so far…

10: The Aliens from 'Pitch Black'.
9: the Wendigo-possessed cannibals from 'Ravenous'. They're just so damn cheerful!
8: Mutant amphibian from 'The Host'.
7: Gwangi! Masterclass in how to evoke personality from a 6" prop.
6: Savages: from 'Cannibal Holocaust' to Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' and 'Serenity's Ravagers.
5: 'Sword'-series drones & cyborgs from 'Screamers'.
4: Nightmare Pig-faced Nazi slashers from 'American Werewolf in London'.
3: The Kraken… and all it's tentacled relatives.
2: CHUDs! You KNOW that story didn't just get started for no reason.
1: The things in 'The Mist'. Best straight-faced scary-serious monsters in years.