With Halloween just a few days away, (WOOHOO!) data analysts over at FrontierBundles.com have taken their annual research about horror villains to Google and analyzed fifteen popular icons from classic, pre-2000 horror movies. Over the past twelve months, the team searched each film in Google Trends and pulled the results on September 4, 2020.
Alabama
Chucky
Alaska
Hannibal Lecter
Arizona
Frankenstein’s Monster
Arkansas
Ghostface
California
Chucky
Colorado
Alien
Connecticut
Frankenstein’s Monster
Delaware
Frankenstein’s Monster
District of Columbia
Carrie
Florida
Alien
Georgia
Ghostface
Hawaii
Norman Bates
Idaho
Ghostface
Illinois
Chucky
Indiana
Ghostface
Iowa
Pennywise
Kansas
Ghostface
Kentucky
Leatherface
Louisiana
Chucky
Maine
Jack Torrance
Maryland
Frankenstein’s Monster
Massachusetts
Frankenstein’s Monster
Michigan
Carrie
Minnesota
Frankenstein’s Monster
Mississippi
Chucky
Missouri
Norman Bates
Montana
Alien
Nebraska
Pennywise
Nevada
Ghostface
New Hampshire
Frankenstein’s Monster
New Jersey
Frankenstein’s Monster
New Mexico
Chucky
New York
Carrie
North Carolina
Frankenstein’s Monster
North Dakota
Hannibal Lecter
Ohio
Norman Bates
Oklahoma
Leatherface
Oregon
Alien
Pennsylvania
Frankenstein’s Monster
Rhode Island
Norman Bates
South Carolina
Frankenstein’s Monster
South Dakota
Ghostface
Tennessee
Leatherface
Texas
Chucky
Utah
Pennywise
Vermont
Alien
Virginia
Norman Bates
Washington
Alien
West Virginia
Pennywise
Wisconsin
Ghostface
Wyoming
Dracula
One can’t argue that Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein monster does, and rightfully should reign supreme across a lot of the states. However, it’s quite a flip from last year where Johnny boy, Jack Torrance reigned as King of the Horror Hill in Google trends- whereas this year, he only shines in Stephen King’s home state of Maine. You can compare last year’s result here.
For a more in-depth analysis, you can read the original findings over at Frontier’s website! Also, to check the data trends on the most used horror gifs on the interwebs, check out those results here!
In honor of Bela Lugosi’s birthday (A day late I’m afraid, but better late than never), I’ve sat down to treat myself once more to the fantastical whimsy of the horror film that really started it all, Dracula. No denying the German expressionism films were the pioneers of horror cinema, but Dracula was the very first ‘talky’ horror film.
The fog crowded scenes and hypnotic visuals of the Count’s foreboding and far-away realm could now be heard as well as seen, and they used sound to their advantage for this eerie new project. Rattling carriages drawn by horses, creaking doors, and hissing bats. Audiences sat dumbfounded by all they heard. It brought the night-shaded horror of Transylvania straight to them. And there was no escape. Horror had entered a brave new era.
There was no going back. Dracula opened a secret door and a monsoon rush of sensational horror films has flooded through ever since.
From the cracking whine of a camera in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the tolling of the bell in Hellraiser, a sing-song lullaby in Nightmare on Elm Street, and, last but certainly not least, the iconic sound Jason makes all stand out in our blood-splattered minds. These sounds immediately take us back to the chills and thrills of the films and are as iconic as the monsters we love.
Dracula began it all.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in each little minute detail of the film, but I’m no expert on the matter, just an avid fan. Somehow rewatching it this time around reminds me of the first time I ever sat my butt down to experience this macabre treasure.
image courtesy of Universal, Bela Lugosi ‘Dracula’
Any of you remember those drop-dead sexy VHS covers Universal released a few decades back for each of their Classic Monsters library?
image via Amazon
One Halloween my mom got me both Dracula and Frankenstein, both of which I’m still proud to say I still own
I was in 1st Grade and Castlevania had just released earlier that year and was my favorite game. Mom thought it was high time her little Manic watched the very original Dracula movie. I’d seen so many different movies with Dracula in them but never the initial film. That Halloween all that changed.
I don’t think I moved or fidgeted once. I may have not even blinked! I was transfixed to the glowing screen, it being the only light allowed to remain on, as the living shadows of this gothic epic played out spectrally before my eyes. Sure I was a young kid but the film’s unique majesty and gripping narrative weren’t lost on me.
To The Prince of Darkness
Now at the end of Bela Lugosi’s birthday, I lift a glass to his eternal legacy. A cheer of thanks and of memories to him.
Against the odds of English not being his native tongue Lugosi pain-stakingly pronounced each word spoken with adjective deliberate concentration. It gave the Count his often mimicked manner of speech and deepened his mesmerizing effect over horror history .
So the imitated accent of Dracula was in fact Lugosi’s Hungarian one. It served the part well.
image via belalugosi.com
Lugosi was not the first choice for Dracula, nor was he even the second. A fact that pained the actor considering how he’d played the part on stage and mastered the role to damn near perfection. So when the time came for him to don the vampire’s cape Lugosi fought and earned his right to bring Bram Stoker’s legendary nosferatu to cinematic life.
As grand and wondrous as he is in Dracula that’s not, in fact, my favorite of his various roles. That honor goes to his hideously fun part in Son of Frankenstein where Lugosi ditches the cloak for a huched back. Playing the nefarious Igor, Bela Lugosi shines and steals the show!
image courtesy of Universal, Bela Lugosi ‘Son of Frankenstein’
I feel that Igor allowed the man to show his more playful side. Even though his face is hidden beneath a ratty beard and layered of makeup the man can’t help but bristle with fun and life. He never loses that sinister sparkle in his beady, little eyes nor that vicious smile.
You know what? Stop right here. If you’ve not seen Son of Frankenstein then I insist you go do yourself a favor and correct that right away, my Nasties. Go watch Uncle Lugosi have the time of his life!
Bela Lugosi had both magnetism and charisma. Not unlike the genius of Lon Chaney before him, Lugosi could captivate people on a whim.
image courtesy of Universal, Bela Lugosi ‘Dracula’
Those who knew Lugosi said he carried an unearthly mystique about him. He would enter a room and every eye would gravitationally be drawn to him.
He was indeed Dracula, so much so that he was even buried in a cape echoing back to his most treasured role.
Hope you’re enjoying this witching season, my Nasties. And I hope that in your Halloween movie watching you have a chance to pay respect to Lugosi’s devilish spell over horror history.
Our annual horror google search expert friends over at Go.Frontier have a new scientifically measured list on the most popular horror icons this October; and either some of you are gonna be really mad or your inner child is going to laugh your ass off. Either way- good times are to be had and hey, this is ranked off OUR internet searches. So we can only be mad at ourselves if that’s the case.
In which case, I’ll add one to the google search engines myself!
Last year, the team put together a list of the most searched horror icons by state, (you can visit that again here). This time around in light of the fact text communication is at an all-time high in 2020 and with such, we all use GIFS to get our point across in both light-hearted and sometimes angry ways; the Frontier team has consulted seven different sources to determine the twenty-five most popular villains, and then ranked them in popularity based on the number of GIFs present on giphy.com in July 2020. The GIF-making site, Tenor, is included as one of the seven sources because it provided valuable data about the GIFs. Tenor was used to find the frequency of each villain searched and the dates it was most/least popular.
Are we ready for this? Here you go!
1. Scar
King of the GIFs will have to suffice for this wannabe King of the Jungle.
Amount of GIFs: 15,720
2. Michael Myers
Knife-wielding maniac Myers will have to set aside his feud with Laurie to claim his silver medal.
Amount of GIFs: 13,336
3. Wicked Witch of the West
This witch may not have gotten the ruby slippers, but she did nab 3rd place in the most popular GIF list.
Amount of GIFs: 10,013
4. Jason Voorhees
Camp Crystal Lake is missing an occupant while Jason gains popularity as the 4th GIF on the list.
Amount of GIFs: 8,349
5. Agent Smith
The matrix collides with the real world as Agent Smith laughs his way to 5th place.
Amount of GIFs: 8,139
6. Patrick Bateman
Turns out money can’t buy you happiness or the top spot for the list of popular villain GIF.
Amount of GIFs: 6,809
7. Jack Torrance
Jack Torrance shines in his 7th place spot for top most popular villain GIFs.
Amount of GIFs: 6,493
8. Tony Montana
Say hello to our 8th most popular GIF villain—just be sure to leave the cannolis.
Amount of GIFs: 6,242
9. Pennywise
We all float too but only Pennywise makes it into the top ten GIFs.
Amount of GIFs: 5,606
10. Sauron
This ring-welding fiend may have had his eye set to first place but comes in at 10th instead.
Amount of GIFs: 5,064
11. Saruman
It doesn’t take a Palantiri to see that this villain makes for a classic 11th place GIF.
Amount of GIFs: 5,055
12. Norman Bates
We don’t want to shower this motel owner with too much praise, but we hope he enjoys his stay at 12th place.
Amount of GIFs: 3,047
13. Lord Voldemort
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named casts a spell over our list of top 25 villain GIFs as unlucky number 13.
Amount of GIFs: 2,731
14. The Joker
This villain may have many faces, but one thing stays the same—people love a good Joker GIF.
Amount of GIFs: 2,690
15. Hans Landa
Egotistical Hans Landa may have set his sights on the top 10, but his ambition can only get him so far.
Amount of GIFs: 1,862
16. Hans Gruber
This famous villain may be more popular at Christmas time but it doesn’t stop him from the top 25 most popular villain GIF list.
Amount of GIFs: 1,833
17. Freddy Krueger
Nightmares really do come true as Freddy leaves Elm’s Street to snatch a spot in the top 25.
Amount of GIFs: 1,602
18. Darth Vader
The GIF force is strong with our 18th place winner.
Amount of GIFs: 1,246
19. Thanos
It’s going to take more than a snap to get this Titan to first place.
Amount of GIFs: 660
20. Loki
The god of mischief reigns as number 20 on our popular villains GIF list.
Amount of GIFs: 540
21. Bane
Bane may have been born in the dark but he’s living large as the 21st contender for top villain GIFs.
Amount of GIFs: 505
22. Hannibal Lecter
Hello Clarice, if you’re looking for Hannibal you can find him lurking on our 22nd spot.
Amount of GIFs: 444
23. Palpatine
Good, good…Palpatine’s journey to 23rd place on the top 25 most popular villain GIFs list is complete.
Amount of GIFs: 393
24. The Grinch
What does Christmas Eve and the Grinch have in common? They both come in on the 24th.
Amount of GIFs: 373
25. Gollum
The precious final spot in this GIF list is taken by none other than this tricksy villain who only has eyes for the One Ring.
Amount of GIFs: 225
Yep. With 14% of all used villain GIFs, The Lion King’s Scar reigns supreme. I mean, I suppose the sourpuss third-in-line to the throne would be giddy to finally be on top for once-legitimately.
Some fun facts via the research:
The least popular villain is Gollum from TheLord of the Rings (225) or .2 percent of the total villain GIFs.
October 13, 2019 was a big day for The Shining fans. Jack Torrance was the most-searched-for villain that day.
Darth Vader was the most popular on May 4, 2020—possibly in celebration of the popular tribute May the 4th Be with You.
It Chapter Two came out on September 6, 2019, when search volume for Pennywise GIFs peaked the highest. It then increased again on October 31, 2019 (Halloween).
Although it’s still up in the air if Die Hard is a Christmas movie, Hans Gruber was one of the most searched villain GIFs on December 24, 2019, alongside the Grinch.
On September 13, 2019, a Friday the 13th, Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees had the most search volume.
The villains with the highest search volume on Halloween were The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz and Michael Myers from Halloween.
Check out the website’s original list and findings here! So let’s hear from you guys. What is YOUR most used horror GIF? Mine? Definitely this one. And I for one would like to see a roaring surge in Spaulding GIFS, thank you in advance.
