The Monkey hit theaters on Feb. 21, and it's been the talk of the town since. While its talented cast and the team behind it naturally draw attention, it's the film's shockingly brutal and unforgettable kill scenes that have truly got people talking.
Anyone who’s seen The Monkey knows it’s not for the faint of heart. The unsettlingly creepy toy monkey, paired with its hauntingly gruesome kills, has left audiences reeling. I mean, each kill is more graphic and shocking than the one before, and you don't really have time to process what you've just witnessed before another brutal death takes place. But as intense as The Monkey is, there are other horror films out there that take things even further, with deaths that are just as disturbing—if not more so.
We're about to dive into some examples now. Are you ready to elevate your horror experience? If so, you must check out these four horror films that push kill scenes to an entirely new level of intensity.
In a Violent Nature (2024)
Notable kill scenes:
- A man is pinned against a tree as a saw is shoved sideways into his mouth from behind, causing blood to pour from his mouth. He’s then decapitated at the jawline, and the top of his head is severed.
- A woman is pierced through the back with a metal hook, which is then driven into her skull. As the chain is yanked, her neck snaps, and her head and spine are violently pulled backward through the wound in her stomach.
In early screenings of In a Violent Nature, there were reports of audience members vomiting due to the shocking content. That alone should give you an idea of just how intense this film is. When a group of teens stumbles upon a locket hanging from a ruined fire tower, they take it with them, unaware of the terrifying consequences that await for their actions. The locket belongs to vengeful spirit Johnny, and he will stop at nothing to reclaim it. A sequel to the slasher is confirmed to be in the works.
Heart Eyes (2025)
Notable kill scenes:
- A woman's body is completely crushed in a winepress.
- There's a close-up of a machete being pushed into a man's eye.
- A woman is impaled through the mouth with a tire iron, and as the camera pulls back, a large hole is shown in her mouth.
A new serial killer is on the loose, focusing on couples as his victims. Known as the Heart Eyes Killer, he’s been traveling from city to city for the past two years, murdering any couples he encounters on Valentine's Day. This year, on Valentine's Day, he sets his sights on two coworkers, thinking they are a couple. Now, the unlikely pair must fight for their lives and try to survive the night.
Fear Street trilogy (2021)
Notable kill scenes:
- A teen girl's head gets forced into a bread slicer, and visible pieces of her brain are shown in Fear Street Part 1: 1994.
- Two teenage girls are repeatedly stabbed with a knife and struck with an axe in Fear Street Part 2: 1978. Blood spurts out of their mouths as this is happening.
The story of the Fear Street trilogy primarily centers around a group of teenagers who, after uncovering the dark past of their cursed town, Shadyside, work to break the centuries-old cycle of violence and bloodshed that has plagued the community. A fourth Fear Street movie titled Fear Street: Prom Queen will be released on Netflix on May 23, 2025. It tells a completely different story and has an entirely new cast. However, you can expect more brutal kills.
Terrifier movies (2016-2024)
Notable kill scenes:
- A woman is repeatedly struck with an axe across her body before a final blow to her head splits it in two. It's a very graphic scene with blood spurting everywhere. This happens in Terrifier 3.
- A woman's face is melted with acid, followed by her limbs and chest being shattered as she is struck repeatedly with a heavy object covered in nails and other sharp objects. Her heart is then ripped out of her chest and eaten by another person. This happens in Terrifier 2.
If you're talking about brutal and gruesome kill scenes, the Terrifier movies must be brought up in conversation. All three films revolve around Art the Clown, a demonic clown with no motive who goes around town terrorizing and brutally murdering anyone unlucky enough to cross his path. A Terrifier 4 is currently in the works and is confirmed to be the final movie in the horror franchise. Terrifier creator Damien Leone also confirmed that the fourth installment will dive deeper into Art's backstory.