Continuing our monthlong celebration of Halloween with various scary movie and TV-related lists. Check out our online movie database at staytunedmag.com to see if any of these or other scary titles are on this month. (Note: Videos contain graphic violence, disturbing images and language.)
WACKED-OUT WOMEN:
TOP 5 FEMALE MOVIE PSYCHOS
Our last list looked at the top “mad men” in movies. But psychosis is an equal-opportunity offender, and the ladies can go off the deep end once in a while, too, as these notable films have shown us. “Sugar and spice and everything nice” is not part of the basic makeup of these naughty girls, who can do the work of “crazy” just as well as — if not better than — any man:
5. Evelyn (Jessica Walter), Play Misty For Me (1971)
“The first time ever I saw your face …” The haunting Robert Flack tune introduced in this film is not the song that connects deeply disturbed Evelyn so deeply to disc jockey David (Clint Eastwood, also making his directorial debut) in her mind, but rather the titular “Misty.” An early film (well, aside from VD films, I guess) showing the possible dangers of a one-night stand.
4. Alex Forrest (Glenn Close), Fatal Attraction (1987)
Another woman scorned to the nth degree! Not quite sure what middle-aged Michael Douglas here, and Clint Eastwood above, have that drives these women literally insane with desire, but it seems like it may be a very mixed blessing.
3. Margaret White (Piper Laurie), Carrie (1976)
Another psycho caught up in a “religious” rapture, Margaret severely punishes her daughter Carrie for the horrible sins of getting her period, finding boys attractive, and wanting to go to her high school prom.
2. Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), Misery (1990)
You’d better not hope Annie becomes your “No. 1 fan” like she does with author Paul Sheldon (James Caan). Rather than necessarily having a “fatal attraction” to the author himself, Annie strongly identifies with his fictional creation, Misery Chastain, and does not take kindly at all to the fact that Paul plans on killing her off in his new book:
1. Asami Yamazaki (Eihi Shiina), Ôdishon (Audition, 1999)
You can feel sorry for Asami at the outset of this truly horrific thriller, as she is set up, along with other young women, at a fake audition simply in order for some sleazy older guys to meet them. But as we and the “lucky” guy get to know her more, we wonder who really chose whom, and for what purpose. The gruesome torture scene that results is made all the more terrifying by Asami’s childlike demeanor as she politely and cheerfully tells her victim and the audience just what is happening.