History NightmareFuel / TheLionKing1994

*** His helpless scream as he falls to his death... replaced with the scream of Simba as he watches his dad, who he just had a scene showing their closeness, fall to his death...

** [[HopeSpot And what's worse is the glimmer of hope]] both in-movie and meta before it commences. In the story, Mufasa is able to pull himself out, only needing Scar to pull him up and resume his rule. And meta, animated movies with very little exceptions, had the main villain ultimately bungle killing a major character. Only for Scar to toss Mufasa back into the stampede with a sinister satisfaction, and [[KnightOfCerebus setting a benchmark of competency for animated villains that mainstream animated movies were going darker and that major heroes can die- and quite brutally at villains' hands]].

** This was taken from Gaston's original fate from ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' where he survive his fall, only to be devoured by a pack of wolves.
** Scar getting eaten by hyenas would be like ''Series/SesameStreet'' after watching the alternate storyboard ending on Youtube. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y14TwUGQ3xE Scar defeats Simba and Scar gets engulfed in flames resulting in the destruction of Pride Rock.]] [[PyrrhicVictory Whoops.]] If you look closely at the sketches, he seems to be reduced to ''bone'' for a short time. To top it all off, there's also the fact that he would've been laughing hysterically the entire time while being burned alive.

** The Wildebeest stampede. Wildebeest is nearly 300 pounds and can run at 50 miles per hour; the combination of which would already cause significant damage upon contact. Now imagine an entire herd of those bovines running for their lives at the same speed, and you're in the middle of it all. [[HarmfulToMinors Now you know what Simba was feeling.]]

* "Ooooh, I quiver with '''''FEAR'''''!". The menacing growl that Scar puts into the word "fear" is very creepy and intimidating. And then he stares intently at Zazu, who does NOT like the look in Scar's eyes, before he suddenly leaps at Zazu and catches him in his mouth, [[SapientEatSapient clearly intent on eating him]]. Even worse, if you look at the action in slow motion, the individual frames show Zazu's terror and make it seem like he's being SwallowedWhole (though fortunately the opposite is true).

** Just before the second verse of the song begins, there's a point in the soundtrack which at first sounds like the strings section--but quickly you realise it's the hyenas laughing: ''hehehehehehe.''

** The Icelandic version also has some terrifying parts. To Scar considering his hyenas minions to be nothing more than brainless slaves, telling everyone to be prepared for a bloody feat and in the last part, "My teeth and ambitions will be bared" became "Yes, the blood will fill the field!" Not to mention the emotion that the actor put into this song.

** The Wildebeest stampede. Wildebeest are nearly 300 pounds and can run at 50 miles per hour; the combination of which would already cause significant damage upon contact. Now imagine an entire herd of those bovines running for their lives at the same speed, and you're in the middle of it all. [[HarmfulToMinors Now you know what Simba was feeling.]]

** ''[[PreMortemOneLiner "Long]] [[CainAndAbel live]] [[MoralEventHorizon the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctJ9jZ-_fFc king."]]'' The way Jeremy Irons delivers that particular line is spine chilling. And let's not count the SlasherSmile Scar gives before tossing Mufasa to his death.

* Scar manipulating Simba into thinking it's his fault Mufasa died ''while they're standing near Mufasa's dead body''.

** The nameless hyenas have no pupils on their [[GlowingEyesOfDoom otherwise supernaturally glowing golden yellow eyes]] as well as the lack of distinguishable physical attributes. They're just heartless, bloodthirsty beasts whom Scar could no longer lie to. Emerging from the flames, all while [[LaughingMad laughing]] and wearing [[SlasherSmile demented grins]] as they slowly surround him, the hyenas look like demons ready to [[DraggedOffToHell drag Scar down to Hell]].

** The nameless hyenas have no pupils on their [[GlowingEyesOfDoom otherwise supernaturally glowing golden yellow eyes]] or distinguishable physical attributes. They're just heartless, bloodthirsty beasts whom Scar could no longer lie to. Emerging from the flames, all while laughing and wearing [[SlasherSmile demented grins]] as they slowly surround him, the hyenas look like demons ready to drag Scar down to Hell.

** The leadup to it. After Scar has tried to kill Simba and fallen into a crevasse, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed approach. Scar addresses his friends, to which Shenzi says, "Friends?" I thought he said we were the enemy?" Banzai replies, "Yeah, that's what I heard." Shenzi and Banzai turn to Ed... who breaks into a disturbing giggle like nothing we have heard before... and it's ''terrifying''.

---->'''Shenzi:''' "Friends?" I thought he said we were the ''enemy.''

---->'''Ed:''' ''[Begins to [[GigglingVillain giggle maniacally]] [[PsychoticSmirk before an insane smirk forms on his face]] as he and the other hyenas begin to approach Scar]''

** The nameless hyenas have no pupils or distinguished physical attributes. They're just heartless, bloodthirsty beasts whom Scar could no longer lie to. Emerging from the flames, all while laughing and wearing [[SlasherSmile demented grins]] as they slowly surround him, the hyenas look like demons ready to drag Scar down to Hell.

* Nala is pretty ferocious and feral when she's trying to eat Pumbaa, as is Simba when he comes to the rescue. They might've ended up killing each other if Simba hadn't recognized her signature pinning move. Though Timon adds some humor to the situation, he fervently cheers for Simba to "go for the jugular", which is one way lions kill their prey.
** Pumbaa's expression of wild-eyed terror when he gets stuck under the tree branch.

** Scar getting eaten by hyenas would be like ''Series/SesameStreet'' after watching the alternate storyboard ending on Youtube. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y14TwUGQ3xE Scar defeats Simba and Scar gets engulfed in flames resulting in the destruction of Pride Rock.]] [[PyrrhicVillainy Whoops.]] If you look closely at the sketches, he seems to be reduced to ''bone'' for a short time. To top it all off, there's also the fact that he would've been laughing hysterically the entire time while being burned alive.

* The build-up to the hyenas is rather effective. The score takes an ominous tone when Simba asks about the "dark, shadowy place" beyond the Pride Lands. Later, Zazu mentioning hyenas in the Pride Lands causes Mufasa to drop everything and stoically order Zazu to take Simba home. It really says something that even though Mufasa is later shown to be able to easily beat the hyena trio, he knows damn well what threats hyenas can be ([[AdultFear particularly to his cub son]]) and does not underestimate them.

* The build-up to the hyenas is rather effective. The score takes an ominous tone when Simba asks about the "dark, shadowy place" beyond the Pride Lands. Later, Zazu mentioning hyenas in the Pride Lands causes Mufasa to drop everything and stoically order Zazu to take Simba home. It really says something that even though Mufasa is later shown to be able to easily beat the hyena trio, he knows damn well what threats hyenas can be and does not underestimate them.

** Scar's order to the hyenas as they emerge from the fog after Simba runs off is [[ButForMeItWasTuesday chilling in its brutal simplicity]]. Especially since he ''doesn't even look in their direction'' as he gives them the order.

** Perhaps the most horrifying thing of all is, during Simba's triumphant victory roar, you can see Scar's bones in several shots. It might not be as horrifying as actually seeing the hyenas eating him, but seeing his bones just confirms what a horrible way to go that was.

** The Wildebeest stampede. Wildebeest are nearly 300 pounds and can run at 50 miles per hour; the combination of which would already cause significant damage upon contact. Now imagine an entire herd of those bovines running for their lives at the same speed, and you're in the middle of it all. [[AdultFear Now you know what Simba was feeling.]]

** In the Broadway version, imagine what Zazu must have been thinking. He's watching Scar creeping up on Nala, a lioness he's known since she was a cub and generally got along with and cared about, with the tyrant's intentions being very clearly lustful and depraved--[[AdultFear and he's trapped in a cage and can't do anything to help her]]. And given what Scar's like, [[FridgeHorror it would be well within his character to rape her right there, with Zazu being forced to watch as it happens]].

-->'''Scar:''' Kill him.

This movie is one of the darkest of the Disney Renaissance arc, with this list likely wanting to leave you saying "HakunaMatata" over and over again.

---->'''Ed:''' ''[Begins to [[GigglingVillain giggle maniacally]] as he and the other hyenas begin to approach Scar]''

*** Following that, we see Scar begging for his life as he is surrounded by a gang of looming {{Slasher Smile}}s, followed by a quick ShadowDiscretionShot as they pounce and tear him apart--

** [[OhCrap Mufasa's expression when this is happening.]] Seeing someone so strong and powerful looking so terrified and helpless (not to mention shocked at his brother's betrayal, no less) is a ''whole'' new level of scary.

** ''[[PreMortemOneLiner "Long]] [[CainAndAbel live]] [[CompleteMonster the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctJ9jZ-_fFc king."]]'' The way Jeremy Irons delivers that particular line is spine chilling. And let's not count the SlasherSmile Scar gives before tossing Mufasa to his death.

** ''[[PreMortemOneLiner "Long live]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctJ9jZ-_fFc the king."]]'' The way Jeremy Irons delivers that particular line is spine chilling. And let's not count the SlasherSmile Scar gives before tossing Mufasa to his death.

* The arrival to the Elephant Graveyard. We get some absolutely terrifying, piercing strings from [[https://youtu.be/K8SMPGuywAg the score]] of this scene as Simba and Nala arrive at the big elephant skull. They then take a look out at the wasteland, and you can hear distant sounds that are likely distant hyena laughs. As quiet and downright ethereal-sounding as this scene is, you'd be forgiven for believing the Elephant Graveyard has a portal to hell stashed away somewhere in its' depths.

* Zazu being made a court jester for Scar, forced to entertain Scar. Then he's threatened with being eaten when Scar grows tired of him. He could've wound up as another pile of bones in the cave. Speaking of, was Scar playing with a ''lion's skull'' during "Lovely Bunch of Coconuts"?

* Nala is pretty ferocious and feral when she's trying to eat Pumbaa, as is Simba when he comes to the rescue. They might've ended up killing each other if Simba hadn't recognized her signature pinning move.

'''Scar:''' (''[[WouldHitAGirl Strikes Sarabi with enough force to knock her down]]'') -'''[[BerserkButton I AM]] ''[[BerserkButton TEN TIMES]]'' [[BerserkButton THE KING MUFASA WAS!]]'''

** Scar's order to the hyenas as they emerge from the fog after Simba runs off is chilling in its brutal simplicity. Especially since he ''doesn't even look in their direction'' as he gives them the order.

'''Sarabi:''' If you were ''half'' the king Mufasa was--\\
'''Scar:''' ''[Strikes Sarabi with enough force to knock her down]'' ''[[BerserkButton I am TEN TIMES the king Mufasa was!]]''

* The scene of Scar leaping at Simba (shown above), teeth and ambitions bared and claws out with fire burning behind him. He looks like Satan leaping out of Hell. Try seeing that in 3D.