The phrase "killer party" isn't normally one that should be taken literally, but in a genre where cast members can get offed, murdered, or otherwise inconvenienced by a number of eerie elements, it's probably not the best thing to hear in a horror movie. With monsters, witches, and murderous unknown masked madmen, it's always risky to see who will make the guest list.
A swinging shindig can easily turn into a scary slaughter in a matter of moments. But to say these festive and freaky scenes weren't iconic would be untrue. From colorful costumes to gruesome guests, these parties are some that most guests might want to skip.
The Masquerade (Phantom Of The Opera)
"Masquerade! Paper faces on parade, masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you." As one of the pinnacle moments in both film and stage adaptations of The Phantom of the Opera, it's practically one of the most famous party scenes in film history.
Whether it's the painted film reels of the original silent film, the big elaborate sequence in the musical, or even the dark and mysterious display in the Robert Englund version, it's the moment where the Phantom of the Opera makes himself known to the opera patrons and plays the intimidation card. No adaptation is complete without it.
Dance Till You Die (Hocus Pocus)
It might not be the scariest entry on the list, but dancing till the point of death is an exhausting way to go. That said, it's probably the most iconic scene from Disney's Hocus Pocus. It's also probably the most famous cover of "I Put a Spell On You" as well.
Modern problems require modern solutions, so the Sanderson sisters cast a siren-song spell to keep the adults at bay while they pursue their young targets. Fortunately, the party ends at sunrise, but it was undoubtedly one of Disney's best Halloween moments.
Day-O Dinner (Beetlejuice)
If there is one moment that fans of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice most easily recall, it's the dinner party scene, as Adam and Barbara try to scare the daylights out of the Deetzes and their guests. Demonic or malevolent possession in a movie isn't usually seen as an enjoyable experience in other horror movies, but this might be one of the very few exceptions.
More silly than it is scary, the impromptu song and dance number with Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" is hauntingly hysterical. But it does come with a surprising shocking jump scare at the end. Either way, it's certainly unforgettable.
Sacrifice On Summer Isle (The Wicker Man)
On the other end of the spectrum, a festival that features brutal ritualistic human sacrifice probably isn't the most pursued activity, but it's what viewers remember most from The Wicker Man. The entirety of the film is practically spent building up to the pagan ritual in a race against the clock, and the payout is absolutely chilling.
When a detective's search for a missing girl leads him to an island full of witches, the walls begin closing in, as it all leads up to the trap set at the titular Wicker Man. The sequence of Sgt. Howie pleading for his life as he burns to death and Lord Summerisle and his cultists look onward in silence is a pinnacle moment in horror history.
Great Party Isn't It? (The Shining)
Whether it's the book or movie, the party sequence in Stephen King's The Shining is a scene that goes from subtle to unnervingly creepy slowly yet certainly. This is the moment where the ghosts of The Overlook truly reveal themselves to Jack and pull him into their fold.
While not his first encounter with Lloyd the bartender, the exchange when Jack practically steps back in time could be viewed as the moment where his soul is completely lost. Of course, it's also followed by the encounter with Mr. Grady that acts as one of the catalysts to his murderous rampage.
The Cornfield Rave (Freddy Vs. Jason)
Freddy Vs. Jason might not be the sharpest machete in the shed, but there's no doubt that it featured some over-the-top slasher sequences that helped it stand on its own two feet. One such example was this straight-up spree from Jason as he carves through the kids of Elm Street at a party in a cornfield.
Normally, Jason takes his time in picking off his victims one by one. But thanks to Freddy's invitation, he's allowed a whole buffet of bodies to add to his list. It's easily one of the most exciting scenes before the final confrontation between the two legendary characters.
Vampire Club (Blade)
Certainly one of the bloodiest scenes on the list, there are few scenes that better represent Blade as both a film and a character than the sequence in the vampiric nightclub from this early Marvel movie. To say it's messy would be a gross understatement.
The blood in the sprinkler system isn't just creepy, it's incredibly creative for a comic book horror movie. There is, perhaps, no better way to get a nest of vamps together for an all-out slaying than this memorable setpiece, and it's a sequence that fans won't forget any time soon.
The Prom (Carrie)
There have been many versions of Stephen King's breakout novel, Carrie, but Brian De Palma's adaptation is one that took the horror world by storm. The prank with the pig's blood and prom dress is already quite traumatizing, but the moment that breaks the camel's back is when her rage ignites a psychic massacre that drenches the prom in carnage.
The lighting, music, various POV shots, and split-screen all come together to create one of the most cinematic moments in horror. It's an intense sequence that's also incredibly satisfying, as Carrie gets her much-deserved vengeance.
The Opening (Ghost Ship)
One of the most beneficial choices a horror film can make is getting the audience's attention right from the opening sequence. But while some films, like A Nightmare on Elm Street, might slowly turn up the creep factor, the bloody beginning of Ghost Ship is anything but subtle.
An entire dance floor of travelers suddenly decapitated by a garote wire while a young girl looks on, no doubt traumatized for life, is a cold splash of shock that will definitely keep the audience watching. Fictional or not, it's hard for anyone to walk away after witnessing that.
A Danse Macabre (Masque Of The Red Death)
Based on the Poe story of the same name, Masque of the Red Death is arguably one of Vincent Price's most frightening features. The black magic rituals, torture, and mutilations in Prospero's castle all pale in comparison to the gory grand finale in the third act. For something made in 1964, it's surprisingly gruesome.
Following the events of the story, the Red Death himself manifests at Prospero's masquerade and proceeds to drench the party in a blood-splattered plague. Their dancing freezes before utterly ceasing in a pile of bodies of infected aristocrats. It takes the words "blood on the dance floor" to new meaning.