Some fluffy animal characters bring enjoyment and optimism to movies. But what if they are just plain weird? Movie fans love watching animals on screen. One of the most famous and beloved bunny characters on the screen is Bugs Bunny, but bunny characters aren't always involved in happy-go-lucky premises.
There are some films that are psychological thrillers which include rabbits, as well as some horror and fantasy movies involving rabbits that take on different symbolism and importance. If you thought bunnies were only meant to be cute and fluffy, think again.
Alice - 1988
For fans who thought that the adventures of Alice in Wonderland was a lovely story of young wonder and discovery in a land of color and fantasy, this movie will prove that concept is very mistaken.
The twisted world of danger in Alice is portrayed by the Czech stop-motion animation artist, Jan Svankmajer. The characters are extremely creepy and the premise is more of a nightmare than a dream. The white rabbit is actually a cruel taxidermy rabbit with a threatening stare and a traumatizing appearance.
Watership Down - 1972
The movie Watership Down is a savage representation of human callousness and social chaos through the lives of the rabbit community. It may sound like a humorous and artsy adaptation, but the movie based on the novel by Richard Adams tells a grueling story that makes viewers consider the human condition.
These rabbits appear to have a sweet life with all the freedom they could enjoy, but just like people, they do not leave things in peace and their world is crushed under every possible adversary. Some movies are just too horrifying to watch.
Donnie Darko - 2001
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal plays the character of a troubled youth plagued by a dark presence. Director Richard Kelly went all out with the bunny costume in Donnie Darko to make an impactful and memorable character that stays in the minds of viewers for years.
Frank is the name of this eerie and demented bunny and the fact that it's actually a human-sized masked being makes it even more creepy. Donnie Darko can attribute its cult-classic success to great acting and Frank, the disturbed bunny.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? - 1988
This loony cartoon movie is just about as ridiculous as animation can get. Still, Who Framed Roger Rabbit has become an iconic film in history and one of the most known historic cartoons. In actuality, it's a half-cartoon-half-live-action movie that is one of a kind.
Toon Roger Rabbit suspects that his wife, Jessica Rabbit (voiced by Kathleen Turner), is having an affair with a man named Marvin. After hiring a private detective, Eddie Valiant, Marvin is found murdered and Cartoon Roger must prove he is innocent. The movie follows the strange and erratic relationship between a cartoon rabbit and a live-character man. It also includes many famous cartoon cameos that are fun to watch.
Night Of The Lepus - 1972
This strange movie from the 70s follows a plot that is humorous, weird, and quite outrageous. A man experiments by testing a "solution" for the overpopulation of rabbits. Instead of stopping the rabbit growth, it intensifies it and evil killer rabbits multiply and ravage a town of unexpecting citizens.
Movie fans never thought cute little fluff-ball bunnies would be so vile and bloodthirsty. Night Of The Lepus is a cult classic and definitely worth a watch for film buffs who are into weird animal transformations and animal-driven havoc.
Sexy Beast - 2000
The movie Sexy Beast follows a gangster named Gal (Ray Winstone) who is ready to retire and leave his old life behind. Unfortunately, his ex-boss, Don Logan (played by Ben Kinglsey) threatens him into taking on one last job.
In one of the scenes, Gal has a strange dream of a terrifying man-sized rabbit who comes riding on a horse over a hillside to kill him with a machine gun. It's a very eerie and silent dream that lingers in the mind, leaving both the character and the audience completely confused and unsettled.
Monty Python And The Holy Grail - 1975
There is a hilarious and bizarre scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where killer bunnies are out for blood-thirsty sport, murdering and decapitating their victims.
The film is a 1975 satire about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, as they embark on a quest to find the Holy Grail. A modern-day historic mystery-comedy, this movie has become a cult classic. The ridiculous antics, crazy explosions, and absurd characters make this film a comedy-gone-extreme and the murderous bunnies scene still takes the cake when it comes to crazy ideas.
Celia - 1989
Written and directed by Ann Turner, this Australian horror-drama follows the life of a little girl who is living through the Red Scare of the 1950s. Celia is a dark and frightful cult classic and definitely a movie for its time. The young and disturbed girl, Celia, conjures up evil creatures and imagined phenomena to the point of driving herself insane.
Living in the times of the cold war and a huge rabbit infestation, Celia loses her grandmother and is then isolated from her friends who come from communist families. When an officer takes away her pet rabbit, things really get ugly as the rabbit becomes a representation of her consciousness and the battle that ensues inside her.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit - 2005
For movie-fans who are into werewolf movies, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit might be an interesting watch. Of course, this movie isn't meant to be a horror film, but it is a bit weird.
Wallace turns into a big were-rabbit that frightens the townspeople, which leads to a massive hunt to kill the "monstrosity." Gromit must try his best to save him from the bunny curse. The movie has a curious premise, but it is very entertaining and comedic, just like many other Wallace & Gromit adventure movies.
Twilight Zone: The Movie - 1983
The rabbit scene in this film is extremely short-lived, but the impact is very memorable. Twilight Zone: The Movie is a compilation of four episodes.
In episode three, "It's a Good Life," the main character, Helen Foley, makes the mistake of offering a young boy, Anthony, a ride home whom she accidentally hit with her bike. Once arriving at his home and meeting his family, she is not allowed to leave until she sees a hat trick. A bunny is pulled out of the hat, but after Anthony forces everyone to applaud, a huge mutated monster bunny jumps out of the hat. This is only a small part of the episode, but the appearance of the rabbit and the story itself is quite unforgettable.