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Scariest single moment or "scene" out of all SK stories?
I would have to say almost any chapter involving Pennywise from "IT".
In Black House there is a scene where a barbecue grill is described. It's very obviously NOT pork or beef that has been cooked there. The first time I read that scene it just slayed me.Later, when I read the DT series, the restaurant (you know the one!) also gave me a case of the wiggins for the same reason.
I don't know if I can pick a scary scene but there have been moments that disturbed me like in IT and the entire short story for "Survivor Type" definitely stayed with me.
The short story Rest Stop from Just After Sunset makes me cry every time I read it. Not scary, really, just really, really sad. :*(
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Yes, I immediately thought of this when I read the topic name. And it's been 20 plus years since I read it.
I'd have to vote for Misery. Although IT was pretty terrifying, the fact that the plot of Misery can actually happen made it a lot more horrifying for me. The ending was so suspenseful, I couldn't put it down.
the very opening of Cujo, when the evil spirit of a mass-murder takes up residence in four year old Tad Trenton's closet and then comes up and threatens the kid face to face in the middle of the night. "I like you Tad, I'll come back every night now, I think, and every night I'll come a little closer to your bed... and a little closer... until one night, before you can scream... you'll hear something growling, something growling right beside you, Tad, it'll be me, and I'll pounce..." YIKES!
I have to say Gerald's Game...when she realizes that old man is in the corner and he has a basket(?) if memory serves me correctly and his hand is going over the things inside...click, clack...uggh! The second time I ever put down a book because I was scared. And I was an adult!
Scott wrote: "I have to say Gerald's Game...when she realizes that old man is in the corner and he has a basket(?) if memory serves me correctly and his hand is going over the things inside...click, clack...uggh..."I'm with you on that one Scott; scary because that guy could be soooo real.
Scott wrote: "I have to say Gerald's Game...when she realizes that old man is in the corner and he has a basket(?) if memory serves me correctly and his hand is going over the things inside...click, clack...uggh..."I had nightmares about Gerald's Game, and that scene in particular, for weeks. Never before or since has a book scared me so much.
One of the most terrifying for me is from Pet Semetary, which is kind of hard without spoilers. So here we go: (view spoiler)
For me it would have to be the Zelda/ Gage scene near the end. It terrified me when I first read/saw it and still creeps me out today.
The scene where Jack Torrance investigates Room 217 after Danny had his encounter there. That gave me so many chills!A close second would be any time Lou Creed treks through the woods to the Micmac burial ground in Pet Sematary. Very eerie.....
The scariest moment for me would have to be in it when they realize that It is female and is pregnant. As an arachnophobic person this really scared me!
Oh yeah, Pet Semetary for sure. I remember reading the part when Gage comes back, and I heard a noise and had the wits scared out of me. That was years ago, and it stays with me.
The Bathroom scene in room 217 in The Shining. Holy Crap!!
Salem's Lot: Danny Glick at the window!
Aneela wrote: "The Bathroom scene in room 217 in The Shining. Holy Crap!!"
This would get my vote, also.
This would get my vote, also.
Dung Beetle wrote: "Salem's Lot: Danny Glick at the window!"YES!! My first Stephen King book, I was like 12 years old. Scared the crap out of me
Tom wrote: "Dung Beetle wrote: "Salem's Lot: Danny Glick at the window!"YES!! My first Stephen King book, I was like 12 years old. Scared the crap out of me"
This was even terrifying in the miniseries.
1.) When Ben Mears stakes Susan Norton with that sharpened wooden baseball bat in Salem's Lot.2.) When Louis Creed has to bury his wife so that she'll come back in Pet Semetary.
In Desperation when Mary is taken to the room and it has a whole bunch of spiders and snakes. Not the scariest but I do think that whole book is underrated.
In "The Jaunt" (from Skeleton Crew), when Ricky comes back... "Longer than you think, dad!", "Held my breath when they gave me the gas...". Trying to imagine what that kid saw...Man, SK definitely has some very creepy short-stories...
Judging from the comments here, would it be fair to infer that It and 'Salem's Lot are Stephen King's two top scariest books?Speaking of scariest books, besides a discussion thread, has a poll/survey been done to find out what SK fans on this group think his scariest book is? If not, would such an activity be welcomed?
I also got a bit frightened in Duma Key when the boat people started to show up in the house.
Paolo wrote: "Judging from the comments here, would it be fair to infer that It and 'Salem's Lot are Stephen King's two top scariest books?Speaking of scariest books, besides a discus..."
Not sure if there has or not. Not for the while that I've been here at least. Why don't you start one?
Paolo wrote: "Judging from the comments here, would it be fair to infer that It and 'Salem's Lot are Stephen King's two top scariest books?Speaking of scariest books, besides a discus..."
IT is definitely one of his more visceral and disturbing books. Avoid the piece of garbage miniseries though.
Paolo wrote: "Judging from the comments here, would it be fair to infer that It and 'Salem's Lot are Stephen King's two top scariest books?Speaking of scariest books, besides a discus..."
Don't know about IT as I haven't read it, but Salem's Lot has definitely got to be up there.
Salem's Lot definitely, especially toward the end. The scene when the kid breaks into the house with the leading female character was also spooky.Desperation is also up there, especially with all the creepy desert animals.
Adam wrote: "Salem's Lot definitely, especially toward the end. The scene when the kid breaks into the house with the leading female character was also spooky.Desperation is also up there, especially with all..."
For me the creepiest thing in Desperation (and The Regulators) was the random uttering of the word/name Tak. Gives me the wiggins just thinking about it. I might lose my mind if someone said that in my hearing.O_o
I haven't read a lot of SK novels, but my heart skipped a good junping beat in Lisey's Story when Lisey's stalker reveals he is present in the dark room at the stairs watching her with his night vision goggles and bag of tricks.
The most disturbing scene that I remember from a King novel was the ending of “Children of the Corn”, it was the story that scared me the most.The room 217 from the Shining, some parts from Tommyknockers and It are pretty messed up too!
Jack wrote: "I haven't read a lot of SK novels, but my heart skipped a good junping beat in Lisey's Story when Lisey's stalker reveals he is present in the dark room at the stairs watching her with his night vi..."I've read all of King and thought Lisey's Story was pretty good not great, but that scene does stick with me. Whenever I think of the book I see that scene. It's terrifying.
Nick wrote: "Jack wrote: "I haven't read a lot of SK novels, but my heart skipped a good junping beat in Lisey's Story when Lisey's stalker reveals he is present in the dark room at the stairs watching her with..."Exactly, I had to catch my breath after that scene...lol!
For me, it isn't the description of a scene of horror, but what my imagination does with the prospect that scares me.In The Shining, the scene Inside Room 217 horrified me, but it was the buildup to that scene scared me.
In the short story "Strawberry Spring", it's the final two lines that drove me batty: "My wife thinks I was with another woman last night. And oh dear God, I think so too."
I agree on the opening scene of Cujo, but mostly because dogs scare the crap out of me as it is. The bathroom scene in the shining does it for me. And Misery, when she smashed his knee. That freaking stuck with me like no other. It was so vivid, it made my legs hurt.
Squire wrote: "For me, it isn't the description of a scene of horror, but what my imagination does with the prospect that scares me.In The Shining, the scene Inside Room 217 horrified me, but it was the buildup..."
I never liked the story Strawberry Spring with the exception of those last two lines!!! They slayed me.
The best part about GR is finding others who feel the same as you about books, lines, authors, etc. :D
Aneela wrote: "The Bathroom scene in room 217 in The Shining. Holy Crap!!"Exactly! I was about 12 when I read that and it scared the crap out of me. Haven't read anything scarier since.
Being claustrophobic and just a bit scared of the dark, I was particularly unsettled by the "tunnel" scenes in The Stand and The Gunslinger. Very reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Shelob's Lair" scene in The Two Towers.
The tunnel scene in the stand definately. Walking into the black unknown and not knowing what you might bump into. Glad you mentioned that. Brings back memories of a great book that I suddenly feel like reading again.
I think his short stories are the scariest. I just started reading him again (after a long long break, I have a lot of catching up to do - I just read Revival but the last book I read prior to that was Rose Madder!)... anyway the short that pops in my head was about the teenagers on the Raft. Forget the name....
LongDarkHalfWalk wrote: "I think his short stories are the scariest. I just started reading him again (after a long long break, I have a lot of catching up to do - I just read Revival but the last book I read prior to tha..."The Raft, I think! LOL
Kandice wrote: "LongDarkHalfWalk wrote: "I think his short stories are the scariest. I just started reading him again (after a long long break, I have a lot of catching up to do - I just read Revival but the last..."My memory IS bad if I couldn't remember that! Too obvious I guess!
Steven wrote: "The tunnel scene in the stand definately. Walking into the black unknown and not knowing what you might bump into. Glad you mentioned that. Brings back memories of a great book that I suddenly feel..."I agree with so many of the ones mentioned, but I'm really with you on the tunnel scene. It seriously creeped me out the first time I read it. Not as much after that but still does.
Chris wrote: "The scene where Jack Torrance investigates Room 217 after Danny had his encounter there. That gave me so many chills!A close second would be any time Lou Creed treks through the woods to the Micm..."
When his son comes back to life as well!!! Little kids in horror books and films always gets me terrified.
I agree with Skye. "There was a man in the room." Is one of the most frightening sentences I've read. Took me completely by surprise too!
I think Salem's lot and Pet semetary are his best horror works. So terrifying in every words...they gave me the real chill!
I think the scarriest scenes for me are:1. Danny in room 217, especialy when he is out of the room and he realyses that someone is trying to open the door and the sound of the woman`s feet on the floor.
2. From Gerald`s game, when she saw the man in the room.
I was alone at home when I read the furst one, it was noon, when I read it I was so scared I went outside and stayed all day in the park.
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note: remember to put spoiler tags if your answer contains a spoiler ;)