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The recent announcement that the forthcoming Wicked movie adaptation would be split into two parts was greeted with celebration by fans. After all, as the success of the musical has made it clear that fans want to spend more time in the magical land of Oz.
In fact, The Wizard Of Oz, and to a lesser extent, the movies that came after it, has become one of the most beloved movies in the history of the medium. However, as enchanting as they are, it also has to be said that these cinematic fantasies have their fair share of creepy moments as well, many of which are fuel for nightmares.
Electroshock Therapy
The movie Return to Oz is a remarkable dark fantasy movie. It takes some of the more sinister elements from the original movie and then makes them the emphasis. As a result, it has some very chilling moments, particularly one in which, early in the story, Dorothy is almost subjected to electroshock therapy.
It’s a jarring moment, and even though Dorothy is spared by a timely lightning strike, it’s still one of the creepiest moments in the movie. It sets the tone for the very sinister movie which follows.
The Wicked Witch’s First Appearance
Few fantasy villains are quite as notorious as the Wicked Witch of the West. From the moment she appears to accost Dorothy for accidentally killing her sister, she shows why she still terrifies children. With her green skin, fierce glint, and immediate vow for vengeance, she epitomizes so much of what people find frightening.
Furthermore, her ability to disappear in a puff of smoke is further testament to the fact that she is something very much beyond human and thus even more unsettling.
When The Flying Monkeys Attack
As creepy as the Witch is, she is joined by a number of unsettling servants. These include the flying monkeys, who manage to become even more terrifying than their mistress. With their eerily humanoid faces and their wings, they are creatures who seem to straddle the boundary between the human and the animal.
What makes them truly creepy, however, is when they attack as a group, managing to drag off Dorothy and Toto and tear the poor Scarecrow to pieces. It’s no wonder that they have become for many the stuff of nightmares.
When They Come To The Woods Where The Lion Lives
Even though the Cowardly Lion eventually becomes one of the most beloved characters in the original Wizard Of Oz movie, the sequence leading up to his joining the company is still a very frightening one. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man enter his forest, which is sinister, brooding, and filled with unsettling noises.
Even in a movie that is as light-hearted and fun as The Wizard of Oz, this is a moment that is genuinely creepy and the Lion and all of his bumbling are not quite enough to take away the fearsome aspect of this particular location.
The Wheelers
Throughout its runtime, Return to Oz repeatedly shows that it is a very unsettling movie, indeed. In one of the earliest scenes, Dorothy encounters the beings known as the Wheelers. As their name suggests, they have wheels for hands and feet.
Even in a movie renowned for its bleak tone, these creatures are truly disturbing to behold. The costume design is quite remarkable in this scene, and they are a potent reminder of why this movie has come to be regarded as a beloved cult classic.
The Hall Of Heads
Time and again, Return to Oz leans into the more horrifying aspects of its story. In one notable scene, Dorothy comes to the home of Princess Mombi, who has an entire collection of heads, which she wears. It’s one of the moments in the movie that actually comes very close to being straight-up horror.
It’s impossible for the viewer not to be as frightened as Dorothy herself. There’s so much that’s creepy and terrifying about this sequence, from the very existence of the heads themselves to the fact that they begin screaming at Dorothy once she escapes.
The Appearance Of The Wizard
The title character is, of course, one of the most important characters in the entire Wizard Of Oz movie. When he first appears, he is also a very creepy presence, as he is a giant head with a booming and thundering voice. It’s another of those moments in the movie that seems designed to frighten and disturb the audience, particularly young children.
It is also an effective moment in the movie, as it helps to immerse the viewer into the mindset of Dorothy and her friends. It also signifies just how menacing the Wizard is and how invested he is in intimidating his subjects.
When Miss Gulch Transforms Into The Witch
Many things contribute to The Wizard of Oz being one of the most beloved children’s movies, and one of those is its ability to move through different emotional registers. Though there are many magical moments full of joy, it’s not afraid to convey frightening things.
One of the creepiest moments in the entire movie is when Miss Gulch, Dorothy’s nemesis in Kansas, transforms into the Wicked Witch on her broom. It’s a powerful moment for the girl and for those in the audience, as it shows just how far she has ventured from the world she thought she knew.
The Talking Trees
In another movie, the idea of talking trees would have been something whimsical. In The Wizard of Oz, however, they are yet another iteration of the Witch’s influence, as they threaten both Dorothy and the Scarecrow. These are some of the most disturbing and creepy things to appear in the movie.
For Dorothy, they are a disconcerting reminder that she is very far from the Kansas that she has called home. For the audience, likewise, they are a menace and a symbol of the Witch’s power, influence, and reach.
The Witch’s Castle And The Winkies
Again and again, The Wizard of Oz emphasizes just how much power the Witch has managed to accrue to herself. For example, she clearly has dominated the Winkies, who march in step outside of her formidable castle. Their appearance is another of the movie’s creepy moments.
The precision of their marching, the devotion they clearly feel to the Witch (at least, at first), and their antagonism toward Dorothy and her friends render them a force to be reckoned with. They are definitely some of the creeper beings in the movie.
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