Favourite scenes from B-movie monster flicks?

October 31, 2005 10:20 AM

Favourite scenes from B-movie monster flicks? I've been asked to make a game...

I'm looking for favourite scenes or bit players from B-movie monster flicks.

A board game publisher has asked me to submit a prototype of an adventure game where players guide classic monsters through 1940s San Francisco. In this case, classic monsters means the wolfman, gillman, vampire, mummy, Frankenstein's monster and a scientist/beetle.

The game includes a deck of encounter cards, so I'm trying to collect familiar or canonical scenes to feature on the cards. For example, the monster encounters a child, peers through a window, is mistaken for human, is confronted by gypsies, fights on a rooftop, emerges from a secret tunnel, and so on.

I'm cheerfully watching old movies for ideas, but I don't want to leave anyone saying "how could he forget X...?"

Happy Hallowe'en!

posted by Yogurt to media & arts (16 comments total)

Trapped in a burning windmill?
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 10:22 AM on October 31, 2005

The monster:

• Rises from the water
• Struck by lightning
• Discovers a pretty flower/girl
• Learns to communicate
• Reacts to fire for the first time

posted by grum@work at 10:51 AM on October 31, 2005

A couple more:

• Discovers his creator
• Hides in a cave during daytime
• Gets lost in the woods

posted by grum@work at 10:57 AM on October 31, 2005

just when you think the monster is dead?
A HAND ERUPTS FROM THE GRAVE
Oh, man, there's so many of them.
posted by boo_radley at 10:58 AM on October 31, 2005

Encounters his own reflection.
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 10:59 AM on October 31, 2005

Don't forget the foggy graveyard.
posted by Pollomacho at 1:22 PM on October 31, 2005

Monster stalks past comical drunk who rubs eyes, then throws away bottle of hooch.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 1:27 PM on October 31, 2005

Don't forget the empire of the ATOMIC ANTS!

....and a news caster to welcome his new overlords, etc....
posted by bonehead at 1:32 PM on October 31, 2005

I'm embarassed how many of these I forgot. I especially like the burning building and the reflection. Fog: check! Can't be spooky without it.
posted by Yogurt at 1:43 PM on October 31, 2005

Chased by pitchfork-wielding villagers.
posted by MsMolly at 2:13 PM on October 31, 2005

Falls in love with beautiful girl.
posted by Specklet at 4:15 PM on October 31, 2005

* Shot ineffectually by panicked police, only to be angered
* Kills foolishly brave man who stands his ground

um ... do we get royalties?
posted by dhartung at 5:06 PM on October 31, 2005

"But... was he really a monster? He only wanted to be loved."
posted by SPrintF at 6:51 PM on October 31, 2005

also, this sounds like it could be the next expansion pack for Munchkin.
posted by boo_radley at 7:28 PM on October 31, 2005

dhartung, I would hate for the fabulous wealth that comes from niche board games to come between us. Also, there are 5 other designers submitting games for this one publication slot, so there's no guarantee this gets made.

SPrintF, we're on the same page. The working title for the game is We Were Human Once.

Although technically, I guess the gillman was never human.
posted by Yogurt at 8:52 PM on October 31, 2005

Tries to use a basic item (door handle, window, chair), gets frustrated, and then smashes said item.

Sees the death of a loved one (creator, mate, offspring) and goes beserk.

The screen is pitch black as the protagonist walks by...but then (with a screetch from a stringed instrument), the monster's bright white eyes appear in the darkness behind poor sod.
posted by grum@work at 9:03 PM on October 31, 2005