History NightmareFuel / RaidersoftheLostArk

** Not to mention the rest of the Nazis dying by the lighting bolt ''going straight through them''. Some going into their ''[[EyeScream eyes]]''!

* Toht having the medallion's side burned right onto his hand after his unsuccessful attempt to grab it during the bar fight earlier.

** The moment the spirits that emerge from the Ark turn hostile is utterly nightmarish. At first, they're serene - even beautiful, as Belloq declares - and then they suddenly start to shift into [[NightmareFace skull-faced terrors]], snarling at those daring to look upon the open Ark. The shift in the music at this point is also rather frightening, and Toht's ear-piercing scream when the spirits change add extra punctuation to the sheer horror.

** The moment the spirits that emerge from the Ark turn hostile is utterly nightmarish. At first, they're serene - even beautiful, as Belloq declares - and then they suddenly start to shift into [[NightmareFace skull-faced terrors]], snarling at those daring to look upon the open Ark. The shift in the music at this point is also rather frightening.

** Toht's ear-piercing scream when the spirits change add extra punctuation to the sheer horror.

** Ben Burtt, who ironically used more “organic” sounds for Film/StarWars, used a synthesizer for the otherworldly hum in this scene.

*** As someone who can still remember seeing the movie in the theatre, this troper can attest that shutting one’s eyes while still ''hearing '' the flesh melting was quite terrifying.

* The (in)famous "opening of the Ark" sequence from the finale is [[SurprisinglyCreepyMoment incredibly jarring for a viewer who has thus far enjoyed a relatively lighthearted action/adventure movie]]. The shot of Dietrich's head imploding on itself, followed by Toht's melting face - quickly followed by Belloq's ''exploding head'' - would have been enough to give plenty of theatre-goers nightmares. The shot of Belloq’s head exploding was originally unobscured by the flames until the MPAA stepped in.

** This troper once spoke to a WWII veteran who witnessed someone’s body going through a propeller. The scene appears to be accurate.

** Ben Burtt, who ironically used more “organic” sounds for StarWars, used a synthesizer for the otherworldly hum in this scene.

** To top it off, this is the first unambiguously supernatural event to take place in what had previously been a relatively light-hearted, grounded film. The power of God is not something to be taken lightly.

* While the Ark is being transported, it makes a eerie hum before it burns the ''Hakenkreuz'' swastika on the box it's being held in. The buildup of that moment showed several mice wandering in the ship's hold. Just before the ''Hakenkreuz'' is burned away, one of the mice rolls over and starts hyperventilating (or possibly ''bowing'' to an unseen presence), strongly implying that ''something'' had actually come down into the ship's hold for a visit.

* Indiana Jones' traitorous companion Satipo having several tarantulas on his back, which Jones casually pushes off his body, at least for the severely arachnophobic.
** Doubly so with Creator/AlfredMolina's description of filming the scene. He was covered with actual tarantulas, but to Spielberg's frustration they wouldn't move and looked fake. Then someone realized they were all male and added a female one, instantly causing all hell to break loose all over his body. And keep in mind this was his ''first'' movie role.

* The Well of Souls is this trope both for the audience and Indy. ''Unbelievable'' numbers of snakes. And mummies. And snakes slithering out of the mummies. '''GAH.''' Imagine falling down into the SnakePit and landing directly near your worst fears and it is ready to attack you along with the other snakes all around you. This was enough to [[BreakTheBadass cause Indy to panic]]. "WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes" indeed.
** And it's not just blind phobia (though Indy certainly has that, too). At least some of those snakes are cobras or asps (“Very dangerous.”), and probably others are venomous enough to be a very real lethal danger to a healthy adult human.

** And it's not just blind phobia (though Indy certainly has that, too). At least some of those snakes are cobras or asps, and probably others are venomous enough to be a very real lethal danger to a healthy adult human.

* The (in)famous "opening of the Ark" sequence from the finale is [[SurpriseCreepy incredibly jarring for a viewer who has thus far enjoyed a relatively lighthearted action/adventure movie]]. The shot of Dietrich's head imploding on itself, followed by Toht's melting face - quickly followed by Belloq's ''exploding head'' - would have been enough to give plenty of theatre-goers nightmares. The shot of Belloq’s head exploding was originally unobscured by the flames until the MPAA stepped in.

** Indy warning Marion to close her eyes and keep them shut. Whether out of reverence to God or because he knows what they might see would traumatize them for the rest of their lives, it obvious that he's terrified of what's happening.

-->'''Indy:''' ''(grabs the idol)'' Adios, Stupido.

* When Indy and Sallah finally uncover the well of souls, [[JumpScare lightning flashes revealing a snarling statue of Anubis]], it's enough to catch the viewer off guard