History Main / ScaryFlashlightFace

* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': Professor Dementor once tried to make himself look ominous by illuminating his face from below with [[RedFilterOfDoom a red flashlight]].

The effect works in RealLife (as long as the room's relatively dark), as the light casts a shadow across parts of the face and eyes and highlights others, making it look distorted (and skull-like). Despite this, the ubiquity of the trope means that [[DeadHorseTrope no one's likely to be fooled]].

* The Supreme Being in ''Film/TimeBandits'' looks like a [[UncannyValley rotoscoped]] flashlight face.

* 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.

%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1637336784020746200
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/BattleRoyale https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TV_Tropes_Flashlight_Image_5440.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[LightIsNotGood Light does not make you look good, Mitsuko!]]]]

* ''Manga/CityHunter'': Ryo does this several times to scare ''both'' friends and allies (he thinks that it is funny. Needless to say, no one else does).

** The titular character does this repeatedly during the "what's under Kakashi's mask" episode. Sakura is unamused.

* In ''Manga/OnePiece'': while telling the crew about the stories of the "ghosts" of the Florian Triangle, Sanji used a lit match to do this.
* ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' Juudai does this to the Ojama Trio while rescuing them from the abandoned well in the second season.
* In ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'', during [[ChristmasEpisode 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.

* In ''Manga/DrStone'', [[TheGadfly Gen]] wakes Senku up with this before dawn on New Year's Day.
* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'': A creepy old guy Onizuka got to tell a scary story does this right before the {{Kimodameshi}} in Okinawa. Onizuka himself does it as well, but only to Fuyutsuki.

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* The [[EpisodeTitleCard title card]] of ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf: Joys of Seasons'' episode 94 features Weslie scaring Wolffy by popping up behind a bush and shining a flashlight in his face while making a creepy expression.
[[/folder]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'', King Triton does this, with the glow from his trident, just before destroying Ariel's grotto (as he snarls "So be it!").

* 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''.

* 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.

* 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.

* ''Series/TheRachelMaddowShow'' used it more than once to reference uses of fear in politics.
** A good example is from the 2/16/2012 show, opening a story on the 2012 GOP Presidential nomination campaign. Specifically both critiquing Rick Santorum's poor lighting at a campaign event and alluding to his rival Mitt Romney's worries about the former's underfunded yet oddly popular support.
* Referenced in ''Series/{{Svengoolie}}'''s makeup.
* 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.
* Creator/StephenColbert has done this at least once.

* ''Series/TheXFiles''. Mulder does this while exploring a HauntedHouse in "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas". Scully's nerves are wound so tight, it actually works.
* Frank Black on ''Series/Millennium1996'' does it to a bunch of kids who have broken into his house (empty because he's separated from wife Catherine) and are telling spooky stories about him.
* 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.
* Count Baltar in the original ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978'' often did this unironically. We don't actually see the light source.
* ''Series/TheSweeney''. Jack Regan's GirlOfTheWeek has a prophetic nightmare of him in danger, ending with a red-coloured light shining in his face [[{{Narm}} like this trope as Regan screams]] right before [[CatapultNightmare she wakes up]]. It's all supposed to foreshadow him being (temporarily) blinded by a LaserSight by the VillainOfTheWeek.

[[folder:Theater]]

* At nighttime in the Kai Tak Resort in ''{{VideoGame/Jazzpunk}}'', one of the hotel clerks does this while wearing a tiki mask every time the player faces near him.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Website/TheOnion's [[https://www.theonion.com/marilyn-manson-now-going-door-to-door-trying-to-shock-p-1819565904 Marilyn Manson Now Going Door-To-Door Trying To Shock People]] has Music/MarilynManson shining a flashlight under his face in a desperate attempt to seem scary.

* Used frequently by WebVideo/DiamandaHagan, especially during her opening credits.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29PKwUwZjCI This spoof]] of the TitleSequence of ''Series/TheXFiles''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Bart tells a scary story to Homer. "...and that is how much college will cost for Maggie."
* Baljeet tries this while the kids sit around the campfire in the ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' episode "Get That Bigfoot Outa My Face!" [[FauxHorrific His story is less than terrifying]].
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the ''[[WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerbStarWars Star Wars]]'' crossover, when Darthinschmirtz reaches for his light saber... and it's just a flashlight. He does this trope for a second, before abandoning the gag.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': Cartman shines a flashlight under his face to tell the story of Scuzzlebutt in "Volcano".
* Pinkie Pie does this in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E9BridleGossip Bridle Gossip]]" accidentally.
* Near the end of ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTheMovie'', the villain does this after revealing her presence.
-->"Daddy... IS DEAD!"

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

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

* When the generator is temporarily down in ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'''s "Aliens", Jerry announces his presence to the spies this way, frightening the poor girls half to death. This was possibly on purpose, as Jerry often seems to get a kick out of scaring the spies.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'' episode "Mt. Misery", Beezy does it twice while shouting "'''EVIL'''" in a very over-the-top fashion at the sight of a tiny [[WickedWeasel weavil]] that Jimmy thinks is adorable. In both instances, he then turns off the flashlight and puts it away.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' episode "Cheer Up, Star", Marco (unintentionally) does this when he dresses as a clown to try do what the episode's name says. Combining that with Star's apparent fear of clowns turns out to be very ineffective at cheering Star up.
* Nick Dean in ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' does this when he's telling the story of the Phantom of Retroland to the class in "The Phantom of Retroland".

* ''WesternAnimation/BountyHamster''. In "Lonely Planet" Cassie and Marion give an EvilLaugh while shining flashlights in their faces.
-->'''Cassie:''' I have no idea why we did that.
* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'': A security guard finding the kids wandering at night in the school spooks them this way, revealing his face... and yet another Creator/StanLee cameo in the process.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Birdgirl}}'': At the beginning of Topple the Popple, Birdgirl does a flashlight face while answering a call from Meredith on her phone.

* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'': A security guard finding the kids wandering at night in the school spooks them this way, revealing his face... and yet another Creator/StanLee cameo in the process.

* 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.

* ''VideoGame/MetalSlug 5'', on the character selecting screen.
* At nighttime in the Kai Tak Resort in ''{{VideoGame/Jazzpunk}}'', one of the hotel clerks does this while wearing a tiki mask every time the player faces near him.
* Should you ever run out of power in ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'', you'll be treated to a horrifyingly twinkly and serene rendition of Toreador while Freddy stands in the corner for up to a minute flashing his eyes before he jumps and kills you.

* ''Webcomic/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.

Birdgirl: At the beginning of Topple the Popple, Birdgirl does a flashlight face while answering a call from Meredith on her phone.

* ''Literature/TheFamousFive'': There are many moments when characters are described as looking frightening or peculiar when lit by a torch, or moonlight or twilight. A notable example is in ''Five Fall into Adventure'', when Anne happens to shine her torch on the bedroom window, and sees a face looking in.

* Frank Black on ''Series/{{Millennium}}'' does it to a bunch of kids who have broken into his house (empty because he's separated from wife Catherine) and are telling spooky stories about him.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

''Birdgirl'': At the beginning of Topple the Popple, Birdgirl does a flashlight face while answering a call from Meredith on her phone.

''WesternAnimation/Birdgirl'': At the beginning of Topple the Popple, Birdgirl does a flashlight face while answering a call from Meredith on her phone.

The effect works in RealLife (as long as the room's relatively dark), as the light casts a shadow across parts of the face eyes and highlights others, making it look distorted (and skull-like). Despite this, the ubiquity of the trope means that [[DeadHorseTrope no one's likely to be fooled]].

* ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} does this to Odie in the title panel of [[https://garfield.com/comic/1987/07/19 the July 29, 1987 strip]], and to the ''reader'' in the title panel of [[https://garfield.com/comic/1994/10/30 the October 30, 1994 strip.]]

* ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} does this to Odie in the title panel of [[https://garfield.com/comic/1987/07/19 the July 29, 1987 strip]], and to the ''reader'' in the title panel of [[https://garfield.com/comic/1994/10/30 the October 30, 1994 strip]].