History Main / ScaryFlashlightFace

* Done by Mulder to Scully in the "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" episode of ''Series/TheXFiles''.

* In ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'', King Triton does this, with the glow from his trident, just before destroying Ariel's grotto (as he snarls "So be it!").

* In ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'', during Chapter 26, Mira sends Ao a picture of herself doing this. While Ao had been troubled over [[spoiler:her father being transferred and having to move in March]], something Mira didn't know about, she cheers up for a moment.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'': Done by Garfield in the title panel of [[https://garfield.com/comic/1987/07/19 this comic]].

-->-- ''Discworld/{{Maskerade}}''

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' did this- Osaka shone a flashlight under her face, and told a scary story.

* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': During a HotSpringsEpisode Nabiki did this as she told a ghost story to Ranma and her sisters.

[[folder:Fanfic]]
* Asuka makes one to give Shinji a JumpScare in ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry''.

[[folder:Film]]
* In ''Film/WaynesWorld'', Wayne scares Garth by shinning a flashlight on his face and pretending to be the ''Film/{{Leprechaun}}''.
* Done a ''lot'' in the ''Film/TheBlairWitchProject''.
* The page picture is of Mitsuko Souma from the film version of ''Film/BattleRoyale'' when she enters the hut where poor Megumi is hiding out.
* This effect is used in the [[http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.fi/2008/11/pray-you-never-meet-them.html promotional pictures]] for the 1980 horror film ''The Children''.
* Henry does this at one point in ''Film/TheGoodSon'' to scare Mark, when he has Mark play hide and seek with his sister Connie. Mark, knowing of Henry's true nature, is fearful he will do something horrible to Connie if he doesn't find her first.
* In the horror movie ''Film/{{Nightwish}}'', a character who was previously murdered suddenly shows up again. The effect is enhanced because his face is illuminated by a flashlight.
* In ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'', King Triton does this, with the glow from his trident, just before destroying Ariel's grotto (as he snarls "So be it!").
* In ''Film/LemonTreePassage'', Amelia does this while telling a scary story round the bonfire on the beach. She offers it to Oscar when he starts his story, but he dismisses it, saying he doesn't need special effects to be scary.
* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTalesTheMovieTreasureOfTheLostLamp'', the Genie holds a flashlight to his face when telling the boys about Merlock ("He's an evil sorcerer!").

[[folder:Literature]]
* Played with in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'', where Jenna is spooked by Septimus's face being illuminated by his Dragon Ring he's holding below his chin.
* Sir Percy Pelham is recounting a local ghost legend to his guests over dinner in ''[[Literature/AuntDimity Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea]]'', and the lights go out just after he recounts a creepy detail. Before the lights come back on, he illuminates his own face this way with a lit match.

* On Creator/ConanOBrien's ''Series/LateNight'' show, he would sometimes do a segment about predicting the future called "In the year 2000". (even well ''after'' the year 2000) To enhance the mood, the studio lights would be dimmed and he and his band leader would light up their faces.
* Done by Mulder to Scully in the "How The Ghosts Stole Christmas" episode of ''Series/TheXFiles''.

* Seen in the SpecialEditionTitle of "Changing Channels" when the Winchesters are TrappedInTVLand, including a sitcom version of ''{{Series/Supernatural}}'' which puts a light comedy spin on the brothers' ghost-hunting antics.

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* The punchline of one ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' strip reveals that Peter and Jason got lost during what was presumably a camping trip because Jason "killed the flashlight playing 'Mister Specter-Face'."

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/TripodVersusTheDragon'': Scot and Yon play the evil Twin Wizards by wearing party hats and carrying torches to light their faces.
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'': Junpei does this when telling a ghost story.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* BloodStain: Main character Elliot is introduced to Dr Vlad Stein, her new employer, this way when he offers her a candle during a blackout. This, along with his intimidating appearance, does not help him make a good impression on his new employee.

[[folder:Web Originals]]

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode "New Student Starfish" has Mrs. Puff do this when she sends [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick to detention. Lampshaded in that she turns the flashlight off afterward.

* In the ''[[WesternAnimation/ThreeTwoOnePenguins 3-2-1 Penguins!]]'' episode, "Wise Guys" Kevin does this.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThreeTwoOnePenguins'' episode, "Wise Guys" Kevin does this.

When a character (typically a young one) wishes to scare their friends (ideally after reaching the end of a scary story) they'll shine a torch or other source of illumination upwards across their face. This will often be accompanied with a scare cord and [[MundaneMadeAwesome have a dramatic musical buildup]] but it's almost always PlayedForLaughs.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'': the Geth.

* While on the run from several [[NotAMask actual]] zombies in ScoobyDooOnZombieIsland, Shaggy and Scooby crash into the local gardener, whose lantern casts his face in this light, giving him broad, skeletal features and blank, gray eyes. After they run off, assuming he's another zombie, the gardener raises the lantern to eye level, showing that he was instead looking with concern.

* ''WesternAnimation/BountyHamster''. In "Lonely Planet" Cassie and Marion laugh evilly while [[ScaryFlashlightFace shining flashlights in their faces.

* Henry does this at one point in ''Film/TheGoodSon'' to scare Mark, when he has Mark play hide and seek with his sister Connie, Mark, knowing of Henry's true nature, is fearful he will do something horrible to Connie if he doesn't find her first.

* Angelica does this a couple of times after telling scary stories to the babies in "WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}.

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' does this repeatedly during the "what's under Kakashi's mask" episode. Sakura is unamused.