Three Of The Best: Head Explosions

A good dome explosion always brings a smile to my face. Even in the midst of intense action they are a showstopper. Here are three of the best – all from the early ‘80s.

Scanners (1981)

Not just in horror but in all genres I would say this one comes to mind first. Because of its formal setting and horrific execution it stands out more than any other, so much so that it has been a popular internet gif for years. During a demonstration with a fellow ConSec scanner the unfortunate host of the experiment pays a hefty price as rogue Darryl Revok uses his greater scanning abilities to make for an unforgettable day at work. It’s a real satisfying burst – like a firecracker going off inside an overripe peach.

Maniac (1980)

This classic sleazy slasher features a superb performance by Joe Spinell and a number of good death scenes. It also features one of the best head explosions of all time. It was the handiwork of Tom Savini, and better yet he’s the one whose head gets exploded! As he’s trying to escalate things with a bit of evening crumpet the girl begins to suspect a presence outside. Savini’s characters is pretty bummed out that she insists on being taken back home but he finds life is about to get a whole lot worse – or rather end – as the Maniac jumps on the hood of his car with a shotgun and pulls the trigger. The lovely manner in which skull unravels like a rug in the wind as a fountain of blood erupts goes great with a cup of tea.

The Beyond (1981)

Now this may not technically be a head explosion, well, not a full one anyway. As we make our way towards the grand finale of Lucio Fulci’s classic we find that one of the younger characters (Jill) has also been claimed by the demonic presence. As John is pre-occupied shooting the undead with his atrocious aim he sees that Jill is now part of the bad clan and so has no choice to take aim. This time he is on the money, creating one of the more memorable Fulci death scenes as the forehead of Jill is shockingly removed in one wonderful blast.