Now with a sandbox!
It appears that many Nightmare Fuel pages have problems, including:
1. Listing non-scary things that made the viewer feel slightly uncomfortable at worst.
2. Having spoiler tags on them (which is against the page's guidelines).
3. Listing Fridge Horror and fan theories.
And much more!
On a few occasions, people from outside the site's community have pointed out our overly lax usage of Nightmare Fuel to make fun of us, meaning that it can legitimately harm our reputation to let this go unchecked.
The TRS thread
meant for redefining Nightmare Fuel started to become a place for cleaning up Nightmare Fuel pages in general, so we may as well move these discussions to Long Term Projects where they belong.
Here are the guidelines to determine whether something is Nightmare Fuel or not.
Nightmare Fuel rules
- This is a page whose name is intended to be taken more literally than most. It's not enough for material to be scary; to truly qualify, it has to be frightening enough to legitimately unnerve/disturb the viewer, with actually being nightmare-inducing as the ultimate endpoint.
- Good signs that something IS Nightmare Fuel include if:
- It left you feeling shaken even after the credits had rolled, you turned the last page, or are otherwise done with the work.
- You have a hard time falling asleep if you think about it at night, or have a literal nightmare about it.
- You dread that episode, scene, level, chapter, or song during re-watches, and consider skipping it.
- With that said, don't add something just because it happens to be your personal phobia. For example, spiders can be scary and many people have arachnophobia, but just because a spider happens to be in the work, it does not make a Nightmare Fuel entry. It needs to reasonably be scary to someone without the phobia.
- Don't confuse tension with fear. If the hero is in trouble, but you know he'll make it out okay at the end, it's probably not Nightmare Fuel unless the threat is especially disturbing.
- Good signs that something IS Nightmare Fuel include if:
- Explain WHY the entry scared you. Try to convey your sense of fear to your readers. Avoid putting up Zero-Context Examples.
- Remember that Weblinks Are Not Examples, and neither are quotes on their own. You should explain the horror in your own words, rather than rely on others to do so.
- Don't add things that might have scared someone. If it didn't scare you, and you don't personally know anyone else who was scared, you shouldn't be adding it to Nightmare Fuel.
- Nightmare Fuel should stick to you even after you're done with the work.
- If something is initially presented as scary but turns out to be harmless, it's most likely not Nightmare Fuel since The Reveal makes the scariness vanish.
- Jump Scares are a good source of Nightmare Fuel, but not all of them automatically qualify: being startled is not the same as being scared.
- Hypotheticals are not Nightmare Fuel:
- Remember that Trailers Always Lie: a scene that is presented as scary in the trailer could very well turn out to be inoffensive in the finished work. Only add examples from unreleased works if they were especially terrifying in the previews.
- Fan theories do not belong on the Nightmare Fuel page under any circumstance. No matter how much evidence they have to support them, don't add them until they've been officially confirmed. In the meanwhile, take them to Wild Mass Guessing.
- Fridge Horror goes on the Fridge page, not Nightmare Fuel. Don't add it unless it's Ascended Fridge Horror.
- Keep in mind the work's intended audience when considering whether or not something is Nightmare Fuel.
- If something is normal or expected in the genre, it does not automatically qualify. Violence in a Fighting Series or gore in a horror movie must be especially disturbing or gruesome by the work's standards to be Nightmare Fuel.
- Remember that Kids Shouldn't Watch Horror Films. If a work is rated PG-13 or higher but would only be scary to young children, it's not Nightmare Fuel.
- The standards on what qualifies as Nightmare Fuel are especially stringent on works aimed at children and pre-teens: kids have hyperactive imaginations, so even something benign can give them nightmares.
- Spoiler tags do not belong on Nightmare Fuel pages. Much of what scares us comes from inherently spoilery stuff such as death and the unknown, so finding spoilers on these pages should be expected.
- Nightmare Fuel is an Audience Reaction, so it needs to be scary for the audience. Describing how the characters react to something scary isn't needed. Just because something scares them, that doesn't mean it scares us as well.
- Nightmare Fuel is a No Real Life Examples, Please! page. Meta-examples involving the actors, production, or behind-the-scenes incidents are not allowed.
Guidelines when proposing cleanup of a page:
- Some rules are pretty objective. If you see a Zero-Context Example, Fridge Horror, Real Life example, speculation, In-Universe reaction that isn't scary to the viewers, examples that explicitly describe themselves as not being very scary (including "mildly creepy", "somewhat unnerving", and other synonymous phrases), or examples that are just scene summaries without going into detail about why it's so scary, you can (and should) remove them immediately without coming here to ask.
- You should also strip all spoiler tags from the page. Itty Bitty Wiki Tools has a tool for that, but it can cause problems, so if you use it be sure to preview the page and thoroughly look it over.
- Once you've fixed the objective issues with the page, bring it here so we can look at the more subjective problems, such as examples that may not be scary enough to qualify. If a consensus is reached that a certain entry does not qualify, it can be removed.
Edited by Zuxtron on Aug 1st 2020 at 9:40:30 AM
AlmightyKingPrawn
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
from Down at Fraggle Rock *clap clap*
Since: Oct, 2019
Relationship Status: I love you for psychological reasons
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
#5552: Aug 22nd 2023 at 10:59:11 AM
Would like at least one more opinion on this.
sudrictoon
Any pronouns
from Sodor/Crystal Tokyo
Since: Feb, 2021
Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Any pronouns
#5553: Aug 22nd 2023 at 12:55:06 PM
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
I agree with your statements. Cut/add/keep as needed.
Since that post was made, there have been more logos added to the vanity plate NF page, like the MGM lion. Ok, I have to admit was a little scared of the MGM lion when I was little (because black background and loud roar). but what does everyone else think?
We are the best friends, we stand as one. Whatever life may bring, we are never alone.
fragglelover
Since: Jun, 2012
#5554: Aug 22nd 2023 at 2:09:23 PM
I found the MGM logo scary as a child.
themayorofsimpleton
Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him
from Elsewhere
(Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
Relationship Status: Abstaining
Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him
#5555: Aug 22nd 2023 at 2:11:32 PM
Child me was also a little scared of MGM, so it is possible.
Edited by themayorofsimpleton on Aug 22nd 2023 at 5:11:39 AM
TRS Queue | Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
WarJay77
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
(Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#5556: Aug 22nd 2023 at 2:12:24 PM
I mean, technically even just one person finding these things genuinely scary for non-phobia reasons counts, so it's very much keepable.
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Unicorndance
Logic Girl
from Thames, N.Z.
Since: Jul, 2015
Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Logic Girl
#5557: Aug 22nd 2023 at 3:19:34 PM
...Unless the person who was scared was a kid and it's not a kids' work, right? Because one of the rules on the list is "Remember that Kids Shouldn't Watch Horror Films, so if it's not intended for kids and only kids got scared, it doesn't count" or something along those lines.
For every low there is a high.
WarJay77
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
(Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
AlmightyKingPrawn
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
from Down at Fraggle Rock *clap clap*
Since: Oct, 2019
Relationship Status: I love you for psychological reasons
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
#5559: Aug 22nd 2023 at 6:16:50 PM
The Other Media Vanity Plates have been cut, and are being stored in my phone notes for now.
In the meantime, my effortpost for the main NightmareFuel.Vanity Plate, as it needs some help too and I want similar consensus before fixing it and fusing the pages together...
This folder's grammar has its scare factor ranked high to nightmare
You would think that the little logos at the end of TV shows and the start of movies and video games wouldn't have the potential to scare anyone. These examples prove otherwise.
- When bringing up the topic of "Scary Logos" it is guaranteed that someone will bring up Viacom's 1976 logo, nicknamed the V of Doom. It is one of the most notorious logos of all time, thanks to that giant V coming right at you along with the downright unnerving fanfare. As stated, keep. The entry is better than the one from Other Media.
- Variants of this logo are (unsurprisingly) much worse. The lack of colour in the Black and White version gives the logo a much more gloomy and sinister vibe.
- A warp speed version also exists. As if the original logo wasn't scary enough, we now have the V zooming in at 80 MPH. It is absolutely nerve-wrecking and not for the faint of heart.
- There is also a vinegar syndrome variant that is just an eyesore to look at.
- Someone on YouTube decided to mesh BND (an already creepy logo) with the V of Doom. The result? Well, the result isn't pretty. At all. The V of Doom logo plays like it normally would. But just when the logo's about to end, the screen suddenly cuts to the BND mask screaming at the viewer (shattering the screen in the process). Fan-made. Should be moved to Web Video like the fake Fire Kills PSA was.
- Variants of this logo are (unsurprisingly) much worse. The lack of colour in the Black and White version
- Screen Gems' S from Hell scared a lot of people back in the 60s. Judging by the logos content, it's honestly not hard to see why. The fanfare gives off an uneasy vibe, due to how happy and cheerful it is. The animation was also really advanced for its time and most people weren't used to it. Some people have even compared the S itself to a stream of blood on skin. I have since decided to keep after my initial unsureness due to its infamy and in spite of the frequent Hype Backlash. I will replace with the Other Media entry, as it is much more concise, to the point, and less hyperbolic.
- THX, period. Its infamous logo sound effect, the "Deep Note," which to many young filmgoers and film viewers on VHS in the '80s and '90s, was very much a Brown Note. Sure, there are plenty of funny trailers (such as the ones starring Tex), but between those are some...scary ones for this sound system phenomenon. As stated before, easy keep. This is the better entry of the two as it goes into some of the more infamous specific trailers instead of blanket-stating "all of them except *insert long list of funny ones here*.
- Perhaps the most infamous one is the Broadway trailer. Especially the VHS version where the deep note is at an even higher pitch. It made children fear watching anything with the THX logo on the box (even if it a was harmless Disney film or an Epic Star Wars film). However, there were many people that also enjoyed watching this (especially those that were fans of George Lucas' work).
- Cimarron opens with a conductor flicking a baton, prior to opening a giant blue wormhole set to a noise that would literally break cinema speakers. Fortunately, The most widely available and remembered one uses a less harsh and different soundtrack by James Horner that debuted in the early 90s. Should maybe be clarified that the speaker-breaking audio was pulled so quickly in favor of the James Horner theme that it was lost media until last year.
- The Science of Sensation mostly due to the slow, dark atmosphere.
- Cavalcade which depicts a blue ball exploding suddenly before forming the THX logo in a dark and stormy environment, with the THX logo being formed by the pieces of the blue ball being struck by lightning. It's especially creepy considering how the animation for the ball / THX logo seems to be inspired directly by the T-1000...in fact, it was originally produced as a tie-in for the film's Ultimate Edition DVD release.
- Eclipse is a serious contender for the scariest THX trailer ever made. If the eerie space environment doesn't creep you out, the loudest version of the Deep Note most certainly will. It takes everything that was scary about the original Deep Note, and takes it up to eleven. And if that wasn't enough, there are variants that are 45 to even a minute long!
- Perhaps the most infamous one is the Broadway trailer
- While we're on the topic of Loud Logos, 3-G Home Video is a logo that people feared for a long time. The sound, while revealed to be much quieter years after the logo surfaced on YouTube, can still make one jump out of his/her seat. The logo design also doesn't look that friendly. This is a historic one that, beyond mere Hype Backlash, is not considered scary anymore now that we know that the logo is FAR from as loud as the only upload of it for a long time made it out to be. Strongly leaning cut.
- BND is a big one. The suspenseful (almost horror-esque) music, and cheap animation is already bad enough. But what really makes it creepy is the god-forsaken mask. The company is called VID. Interesting how both pages messed up the name. Keep and replace with the Other Media entry.
- The Oba-Na variant Actually starts off pretty funny. But then you get to the part where the mask morphs into the head of Igor Ugolnikov, whom says in an electronically-distorted voice in Russian ""VID, VID. Nothing is viewed from your view!". It's probably all funny. All scary aspects are shared with the main logo.
- The Oba-Na variant
- Boje Buck is also well known within the logo community, mostly due to how disturbing their logo is. It starts off with an extreme closeup of a Rabbit's face (showing only the eyes) against a nature background full of hills and trees. The screen zooms out to reveal that the rabbit has a dead snake in his mouth. Keep and replace with the much more concise Other Media entry.
- These Bravo Idents from 1997 are really frightening. The first one features a man with pins on his head (a la Pinhead from the Hellraiser franchise) twitching while staring directly into the camera. The second one features a girl licking a cheese grater (without her feeling any pain). The third one features a fork picking out human eyeballs from a pickle jar. The fourth one is definitely the most upsetting one, as it shows a grenade being dropped onto a rabbit farm and exploding (killing all the rabbits in under a minute. We don't see this however, as the screen cuts to a blue background). The last one features a criminal getting a mugshot. The camera zooms in and we get to see her lovely little death glare. Easy keep as stated. I am unsure which entry to keep. If we go with the Other Media one, we should add these links.
- Indian logos have a reputation for being really eerie. These are no exceptions.
- Amrit Kalamandir have a rather interesting logo. There is a picture of a cobra and a baby inside what seems to be a wooden cube, while the narrator says in a booming voice (in Hindi): "If God protects you, you can't be harmed by anyone. Even though the world is against you and trying to harm you, they cannot even touch a hair of yours". People have misinterpreted what the company was actually going for, and a good number of people think that the cobra has kidnapped the baby and is now harming it. Sort of the symbol of why "Scary Indian logo!!1!1!!" is becoming more frowned on nowadays. Simply knowing the translation and being maybe a lil less "it's a weird cult!" about Hindu beliefs will make it very clear that the cobra is that kid's daddy.
- The actual concept of the logo is not about the baby being kidnapped and harmed by the cobra. The logo itself is about protection and the fact that the cobra is actually protecting the baby, as said by the announcer, quoting Isaiah 11:8: Either way, most Indians would actually interpret it as the cobra taking care of the baby, but, however, the unintentional disturbing nature has given it a controversial reputation among some other people. This is LITERALLY PLAGIARISM, from AVID, if you are wondering. This is the exact explanation, word-for-word, that we use on the wiki.
- Considering that Ramsay Films was a company that specialised in horror movies, their logo shouldn't really come off as a surprise. There is this misty, red sunset background that fits the tone for their Films perfectly. Then there is a statue of a Woman trying to escape a man (which is quite questionable) and the entire thing is accompanied by this loud, eerie noise of a panther roaring. But due to the logo's loud volume, it sounds like they recorded a person screaming. The wolf howls don't help at all. Keep and replace with Other Media entry, which is significantly better written (seriously, with all due respect, the grammar, the insistence that what are clearly already-freaky roars sound like screams, and calling the titular Rape of Proserpina merely "questionable" makes my head hurt).
- 786 D.S Films. If the cheap animation doesn't bother you, the ear-piercing soundtrack definitely will. Keep, except it has since been proven that the company is simply D.S. Films and the 786 in the logo is probably a numerology thing.
- National Arts. Probably one of the best examples of Accidental Nightmare Fuel there is. This logo's intention is to soothe the viewer and put them into a meditative state. Unfortunately, it does the complete opposite. The lightning at the beginning is bad enough, but the man singing makes it much more sinister. Lean cut, yet another case of how back then we labeled every single logo which expressed Hindu beliefs scary. As I've stated before, has kinda been logo community discussion as of late after an AVID editor said that based on the scary logos Hinduism is clearly a cult.
- Julibee Productions. Do you ever hear something that's depressing but also manages to creep you out? the synth theme in this logo is one of those things. Not only is the logo on an extremely dark background (making it already chilling) but the theme is almost funeral-like. The trumpet theme (which can be heard near the end of the logo) sounds like something you would hear in a 1960s horror movie. Keep. Like Ramsay Films, it's considered scary for reasons that aren't the borderline-racist stuff we did in the past, and that music is truly the opposite of any sort of jubilee.
- Murghan Enterprise. The fire behind the statue makes it look like you're descending into hell, and the music sounds like it came from the deepest fiery depths of hell itself. Keep. Still pretty infamous despite the controversy, given that the flames and music are that hellish to behold.
- Vidyashree Pictures. Despite being really offensive (due to how the Manji looks like a Swastika), it is also foreboding and dreadful. The music and the loud thunder noises also don't mix. *sigh* manji are not swastikas. Our page for this logo on AVID literally has an entire paragraph on this. As the "OH NO, NAZIS!" effect is the only reason why this logo became infamous at all, cut.
- Aarti Pictures. It start off with a slow zoom in of an intimidating God with 4 hands (holding a trident with one of them). This is all accompanied with music that gives off a sense of uneasiness. While most of this logo is creepy, it's the sudden in-your-face zoom in at the end that really seals the deal. The completely normal Hindu statue is not scary. Therefore, the normal-for-a-logo zoom is not scary. As for the audio, I think we have determined on the wiki that this is the most ubiquitous logo audio ever - at least 75 different logos, to be exact. Cut.
- Amrit Kalamandir
- Team. Happy. Rainbow. Panda. Bears. Holy HELL is this logo brutal! We see a dead panda corpse with all its intestines scattered all over the place. And just for that extra shock value, his paws are seen hanging from a rope. Implying that the Panda was tortured before his death. Keep and replace with better Other Media entry.
- And if you thought things couldn't get any bloodier, New Zealand film company Timpson Films' second logo features a man shitting out his own organs. Refrain from Watching if you have a weak stomach. Continuing to cut out the link from effortposts due to debate as to whether we should even link this logo to the wiki (for the record, I think we can, as the PSA and PIF pages link far, far worse). As stated before, easy keep and replace with Other Media entry.
- How can anyone watch The First Horror Factory Logo and not jump out of their seat? We are instantly taken to a rather familiar looking environment (reminiscent to the opening of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare) when we see a strange, goblin-like creature in the distance. The creature slowly lifts his head. While this is happening, you can hear a heartbeat that gets louder and louder. A few seconds after the Horror Factory logo comes into distance (which is a rectangle with a grey drawing of a screaming face with blood on its lower lip), the goblin creature jumps out of nowhere and screams at the viewer. For those who have a heart condition, it is highly recommended not to watch this logo. For those of you who have seen it, sweet dreams. Easy keep, and a better entry than the ZCE on Other Media.
- Dark Castle Entertainment have a logo that suits their movies perfectly, but is nevertheless still terrifying. The Gargoyle's scream, although not very loud at all, is enough to freeze your blood. Cut. Suitably spooky for a horror company.
- Twisted Pictures. If you're a die hard Saw fanatic, you're probably used to this logo by now. But that thunderclap and sudden animation is extremely jarring, and it makes a great atmosphere for the Saw movies. By the standards of the Saw movies that come afterwards, this is harmless.
- Gorgon Video. This logo has such a menacing theme, it's almost ritual-like. The mask of Medusa also looks like something that came straight out of a Nightmare! and the fiery, hellish background is just the cherry on top. Suitably spooky horror logo that has become narmy in recent times as they still use it as of 2023 despite the 80s CGI showing age. Cut.
- Master Arts Video. In a rocky landscape, we see a bubbly pool of water. We zoom in on it and a dragon statue (that doesn't have any EYE PUPILS by the way!) rises and rotates. He then rotates to the viewer and shoots a fireball at the camera. Yeah, definitely not something you would like to see before a children's program. It did not appear on any children's programs as it was a martial arts VHS company, so I don't know what this entry is even talking about. It is normal for statues to not have "EYE PUPILS" like this, as it is equally normal for them to not have "EAR PUPILS" or "MOUTH PUPILS". Lean cut, and the only reason why I am not fully for cutting is because I think it was ranked as a "nightmare logo" by the then-CLG Wiki back in the day.
- Tigon Studios. It is almost GUARANTEED to give someone a heart attack! and not to mention that it can come off as a Jump Scare for people who don't expect it. It's like, the evil twin of MGM (only this time the Lion is replaced with a Tigon, and the Tigon's face takes up the entire screen!) Again, refrain from watching if you have a heart condition. The logo is valid, as it is known to startle the crap out of fans of The Chronicles of Riddick games. The entry, on the other hand, desperately needs a rewrite.
- Blumhouse Pictures for obvious reasons. Cut. A textbook ZCE, and for arguably the most famous of all horror company logos too, which is well-known enough that most people find it Creepy Awesome. Said ZCE also makes it unclear which of their logos is being referred to here - is it the classic one with the Stringy-Haired Ghost Girl or the one introduced on The Black Phone that is a pile of horror Easter eggs? Haven't clicked the link, so truly, I really don't know.
- Slaughterhouse Entertainment. It may be quite cheesy, but that blood-curdling scream is really unexpected and comes out of absolutely nowhere. The logo's design, while poor by today's standards, still looks quite minacious. Although the company did release some downright laughable horror movies, making the scare factor decrease quite a bit. Keep and replace with the Other Media entry.
- It's basically the prime definition of a cheesy logo and may come off as Narm for a lot of people, but Zombastic Productions has a logo that's just foreboding and white bizarre to say the least. a skull with eyes turns around in a jittery manner until it stares at us. Just before it's done, the screen quickly fades to black before quickly cutting back. A man's arm with a blue shirt and white glove holding a syringe full of pink liquid appears from the left. He injects the liquid into the skull's left eye, causing him to scream out in pain. It definitely looks like something you would find on the dark web. I like this entry more than the Other Media one. To directly copy-paste my assessment there, "Lean keep. While many find this logo funny, there are just as many who find it freaky. Or both."
- Deep Water. Again, a very cheesy logo that looks like something Video Briquendo would make. But it's the shark attack and floating, severed arm that don't necessarily make it a pleasant viewing experience. Seems we are still debating this one. I, myself, don't know whether I want to keep or cut this now. If we do keep the logo, replace this with the entry from Other Media.
- Darkwoods Productions. It's basically just a bunch of zombies staring at you in a picture frame with the words "Darkwoods Productions" in the centre. This only sounds only slightly creepy, but the way the zombies are drawn make it so much more than just that. Isn't this just the type of thing you'd like to see after a wholesome show such as Thomas the Tank Engine? ...this logo never appeared on ''Thomas the Tank Engine''. I'm starting to think that this editor is one of those logo kids who always comment "taken from x" on logo uploads, with x being replaced with a show it never appeared on. Where did it appear? Fittingly, The Walking Dead. As seeing zombies on The Walking Dead is far from a shock, and it is only a still image of zombies, easy cut.
- A.K.A Cartoon Inc. The logo shows a drawing of a guy that was impaled by a pencil which went through his head with 2 drops of blood flying out. And this was shown on a a Kid's show btw. This and the variant are valid entries as many who grew up watching Ed, Edd, and Eddy recall bad memories of them, but they really need a rewrite in order to stay btw.
- The Boo Haw Haw variant is even more brutal. The whole thing is now covered in blood, making the drawing seem much more violent. It is HIGHLY questionable why they would allow this to be shown after a show aimed at CHILDREN?! Granted, it was intentional because this variant came from a halloween special. But still.
- The Boo Haw Haw variant
- Bloody Earth Films. The dark, ambient music definitely sets the logo's ominous and dreadful nature. The hand scratching the (now decrepit) earth doesn't help at all. Keep, and I am unsure if I like this entry or the Other Media one more.
- Nextreme Film. The very dark, horror-like symbolism is surprising as this company sometimes produced films that weren't horror related. The music itself sounds like something you would hear in a slasher film, it would fit a scene where the killer sneaks up on one of the victims and slaughters them. Unsure, which I mean in the same way as some of the Other Media entries.
- The Neversoft logo from Tony Hawk's Underground. A man is seen skateboarding at night when suddenly, a hideous monster comes out of the sewer and attacks him. And of course, we get to see his guts fly out of the sewer. It's Eric Sparrow. Maybe we can cut this entry, but write a different one for the Neversoft logo as a whole, as that "impaled eyeball" design freaked out many Tony Hawk-loving kids. With that said, the logo IS listed on NightmareFuel.Tony Hawks Underground soooo...
- Surreal Software. Imagine this. You're a kid. You had a rough day at school and you want to relax and have a good time playing your older brother's video games. You go up to his room and turn on his Play Station. You put the game in and the first thing you see is a person getting shot in the face, with Ludicrous Gibs being sprayed all over the wall. That would be a traumatising moment. Cut. I have never seen or heard of this before, and it looks like a logo superimposed over the intro of a game.
- Bloody Disgusting. The logo design is the definition of badass! However, the same can't be said about the violent animation or music. Lean cut, another horror logo that is considered Creepy Awesome.
- Terror Visio. This is a division of Horror Factory entertainment (You know, the people who made that aforementioned logo with the goblin creature). And just by reading that, you know that their logo will be horrifying. But don't worry, there's something much more wholesome in this one: Instead of a goblin, you have a skull that roars at the viewer. His roar sounds like it came straight from the deepest, fiery depths of hell! Unsure as I have maybe only heard these guys get mentioned twice.
- The MGM logo. A big lion on the screen roaring at you could send chills down a kid, at least if you're not the kind that finds all animals adorable. While all of the lions were scary to some degree, Tanner is often regarded as the scariest of all. This may be why Tom replaced him on the Chuck Jones-era Tom and Jerry shorts, besides Rule of Funny. The Greek theater mask below the lion is sort of creepy, as well. Keep.
- Impact Pictures. We get it, not a lot of people like moths. But seeing a moth getting electrocuted by a lightbulb is a bit disturbing. Lean cut. This seems to be confusing "scary" with "I feel bad for the poor moth".
- Klasky Csupo. Probably one of the most surreal and bizarre logos to have ever been created. A black ink stain on a blue background with a liquid effect appears by splattering all over the screen. A hand passes by and drops magazine clippings of eyes and a mouth in yellow-orange bars onto the liquid background (the eyes seem to wiggle like jelly) to make what is now known as the original Nightmare Face (Or, as CLG wiki calls it, the Super Scary Face). The face says "Klasky Csupo" in a robotic voice before the Klasky Csupo logo appears on a black background. Absolutely NOBODY would want to see that face pop up in their dreams! We do not call it the Super Scary Face anymore and haven't done so for years now that we know his official name. His name is Splaat, which is how the Other Media folder correctly identified him. Even beyond that I lean in preference to the Other Media entry, as it seems a little less hyperbolic.
- David Lynch's logos are not a walk in the park.
- the Lynch/Frost Productions logo is very jarring. The incessant flashing adds quite a lot of points to the scare factor, and the electronic sounds aren't necessarily pleasant. Cut. This is maybe one of the tamest things David Lynch has ever done.
- Asymmetrical Productions. There's a reason why this is on so many "Top 10 Scariest Logos" lists. Aside from the robot voice and the unusual subject matter, there is also a V Of Doom style zoom in along with some foreboding drone music. The whole thing looks like a fever dream and a nightmare combined into one. Unsure. This is also very tame by Lynch standards, but the infamy doesn't lie.
- the Lynch/Frost Productions logo
- Films Incorporated. This logo's animation is just so surreal, combine that with the cacophonous music and you have a logo that'll scare people for decades. I have decided for sure beyond my former leaning that this should be kept and replaced with the Other Media entry.
- This Sumo.TV Ident from 2012 looks like something David Lynch would direct. There is a Christmas tree with a fireplace next to it. All seems innocent and normal until a snake-like Santa Claus with red eyes comes out of the fireplace. He stares coldly into the camera until he vomits out all the presents along with the Sumo.TV logo. Definitely not something you'd like to see in the middle of the night. The works of Cyriak do not resemble the works of David Lynch. Have decided beyond leaning that we should keep and replace with the Other Media entry.
- You can't have a list of Scary Logos and not mention WGBH at least once. This logo has scared many with its dark colors, eerie animation, and that ear-splitting synth music from the first logo. It might also worsen the fact that the music of the earlier variant was also used for the Wyoming Incident, slowed down and reversed. The lack of context on what "The Wyoming Incident" is has me very confused as I have never heard of such a thing. Keep with rewrite, though it is worth noting that I personally as a kid was fascinated by this instead of scared.
- Ear Booker Productions. Seriously, which executive at Ear Booker Productions thought it was a good idea to make a RAPIDLY flashing black and white logo? And who the hell decided to add "Bite Me" by Weird Al Yankovic into the mix? Let's not forget to mention that this was on the Weird Al show, which was aimed at CHILDREN! The Other Media entry, itself not perfect, is still much better than this one. Will replace ASAP when given the blessing.
- Bite me is a "song", which consists of several seconds of loud music and Yankovic screaming, appears after 10 minutes of silence following "You Don't Love Me Anymore". It was originally created as a jumpscare to people who forget to turn off their music player.
- This BBC ident from the early 90s is best known for its piano piece. Which can either be blood-chilling or just morbidly sad, depending on your POV. Keep, known for creeping out kids in the UK.
- MTM is usually an adorable logo. But this variant will send shivers down your Spine (It's also a MASSIVE Tear Jerker as well). For those of you who haven't seen it, it's basically Mimsie the Cat on life support, dying on a hospital bed. The heart monitor keeps beeping until the very end, then it flatlines when we see the MTM logo. It's very depressing, and will definitely upset animal lovers. Watch at your own risk. Easy keep. This thing is so infamous that it is outright Horrible.
- The MTV Idents from the late 90s are weird, especially the Halloween ones. Now HERE'S the ones I noticed were missing from Other Media!
- This one features a character named Frankenskippy and boy, is he terrifying! He's an undead, zombie wolf hybrid who says in a voice not unlike Frankenstein; "Frankenskippy, Frankenskippy, Frankenskippy's is coming for YOOOOOU!". He even pulls out his heart at one point and near the end of the ident, he starts up a chainsaw and proceeds to cut the screen in half. Now that's Breaking the Fourth Wall! Keep, but it is worth noting that his goofy cartoony Frankenstein's monster voice and name are good Nightmare Retardent. Still, the fact that it remains infamous in spite of all that...
- This one, titled Food for Thought feels like one very trippy nightmare. In outer space, we see an extreme close-up of a creature with two pairs of legs (one of the pairs is upside down) with an eye. Then it cuts to a close-up of another creature with lips in the center, sucking on a white, blue, and black striped straw. The camera zooms out to reveal the previous creature and it is depicted with two eyes. Both creatures are standing on a steel platform with eyeballs and bones on the ground. Off in the distance, we can see fossils on circular platforms, straws blowing on jacks, and Earth. The leg creature proceeds to suck on its fellow creatures' skin which is torn apart to reveal the rib cage bone inside, which includes an "M"-shaped heart (similar to the one from the "Franken Skippy" ID). Once it's all done, the mouth opens up revealing the MTV logo. In other words, this ident portrays cannibalism in a bizarre and eerie manner. It's also very reminiscent to the shit you would see on Adult Swim at 12:00 AM. Easy keep. Quite the surreal horror. Would be considered in the running with the Other Media-listed Corpses Calzone as MTV's scariest ID if not for the other MTV ID called "Food For Thought", now pretty unanimously considered the scariest logo of all time, blow both of them out of the water. In case you are wondering, I don't think we can list the other MTV ID called "Food For Thought" on the wiki, as it is basically a snuff film that shows the death throws of a real sheep as its guts and Ludicrous Gibs come out. Yeah. I genuinely recommend against looking it up at all costs.
- "Blowfly Heaven". This one, despite being 30 seconds, is a very uncomfortable experience from start to finish. After grainy footage of a wooden barrier with the words "Outback Bunny", we see a swarm of blowflies flying around a creature that looks similar to a human ear. A blowfly closes up on us and bites in front of the screen before going back into the swarm. It's pretty unsettling, and by the end you just want it to be done and over with. Keep, as while it's never scared me as much as the others it has certainly been cited before. EDIT: OK, rewatching for the first time in actual years, this is WAY freakier than I remember it being.
- If Frankenskippy wasn't cutesy enough for you, Take a look at Microskippy. There's something odd about a creature that has a microscope for a body, and the way it's animated doesn't make it any less ghostly. Only a lean keep, as of all the IDs made by the Frankenskippy/Food For Thought/Blowfly Heaven guy, this is unanimously considered the least scary.
- This one features a character named Frankenskippy
- Air Programs International, or API for short has a logo that is really strange. You've got the spinning wheel of death combined with the loud and abrupt music. If the music wasn't so noisy, then it wouldn't be as frightening. Keep and replace with the Other Media entry.
- Ghost House Pictures. Sure, it's intentional. But the door slam is extremely startling even if you know it's coming. The skull appearing doesn't make things Lighter and Softer, and they definitely made it look like the skull is staring at you through the keyhole. Keep. That slamming door sure knows how to get a jump out of people.
- Their second logo has the skull in full view, because the first logo just wasn't scary enough. Unsure. I have pretty consistently seen it get called less scary than the first logo. After all, its biggest crime is not the skull, but that stupid door.
Whew... that was hard... I apologize if I am too snarky at any point. It's just that the really bad grammar and outright misinformation at times has been exhausting me, as has the fact that this took two hours to do.
Edited by AlmightyKingPrawn on Aug 22nd 2023 at 9:44:50 AM
She/her. Profile pic is by Richard Michael Gomez @StarmansArt. Please watch Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. https://youtu.be/Vm92JNgPbqk
AlmightyKingPrawn
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
from Down at Fraggle Rock *clap clap*
Since: Oct, 2019
Relationship Status: I love you for psychological reasons
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
#5560: Aug 23rd 2023 at 7:41:21 PM
Alright, shout out to Red Berry Blue Cherry and Jonty Master (swear I have cleaned messy pages on AVID before alongside the latter, super familiar username) for fixing most (not all) of the NightmareFuel.Vanity Plate grammar I complained about above.
Edited by AlmightyKingPrawn on Aug 24th 2023 at 11:12:37 AM
She/her. Profile pic is by Richard Michael Gomez @StarmansArt. Please watch Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. https://youtu.be/Vm92JNgPbqk
AlmightyKingPrawn
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
from Down at Fraggle Rock *clap clap*
Since: Oct, 2019
Relationship Status: I love you for psychological reasons
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
#5561: Aug 24th 2023 at 8:09:43 AM
In regards to new additions to Vanity Plates, I vote to easy keep Valve (I've seen memes like "everyone gangsta until the Valve guy moves his head" a LOT) and cut Barney Home Video because, like, why. Wild Horse Productions is mistakenly called Dark Horse for some reason. Lean keep on that one.
Anybody want to reply? I won't take any action until all my decisions are approved, and given blatant errors, plagiarism, and grammar issues, I desperately want to do something.
Edited by AlmightyKingPrawn on Aug 24th 2023 at 11:14:14 AM
She/her. Profile pic is by Richard Michael Gomez @StarmansArt. Please watch Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. https://youtu.be/Vm92JNgPbqk
#5562: Aug 24th 2023 at 9:35:46 AM
I agree with most of it, but here are some thoughts I have:
- Yes, Master Arts Video was rated "high to nightmare" back in the day.
- The Blumhouse video links to the ghost girl one. I didn't even know they had a new logo consisting of horror Easter Eggs.
- I'm split on the Deep Water one. By itself, it's a horrific idea for a logo, but considering it was put on a game that is full of brutal violence that got an M rating by the ESRB, an 18 rating by ELPSA and a 15 rating from the BBFC, it makes it stand out less
- I feel second-hand embarrassment from the Darkwoods entry, and I feel shame for my logo phase now (despite never doing that sort of thing)
- The old NF Vanity Plate page admitted that the Underground Neversoft logo was "a great Take That, Scrappy! moment, but a disturbing one." But I agree, it's the Neversoft logo and its impaled eye that's more freaky to me in general
- The Surreal Software logo is supposedly on The Suffering: Ties That Bind, a game that got an 18 by the BBFC for its "strong bloody violence" (remember, Resident Evil 4 was only a 15 to them), so I feel like it doesn't stand out on that. Also, it is a double logo with Midway Games showing up first, so that is odd.
- For the WGBH entry, The Wyoming Incident was an old horror ARG. But, it isn't part of the logo, so I don't know if it needs to be mentioned.
#5563: Aug 24th 2023 at 9:51:51 AM
I want to talk about the Digimon Adventure Nightmare Fuel page. There's just too many Fridge Horror assumptions, a Kuwagamon is somehow "scary" (we have a bazillion other similar ugly looking beetle Digimon), and "Tai killing Kari" with zero context whatsoever (I think it's referring to the Greymon vs Parrotmon thing but the Greymon from what I heard of wasn't even his). The only ones I'm very sure about is the Myotismon, Puppetmon and Piedmon ones since those are essentially brutal deaths and torture presented in non-graphic fashion.
Edited by Mr-ex777 on Aug 25th 2023 at 12:15:07 AM
costanton11
Since: Mar, 2016
#5564: Aug 24th 2023 at 10:33:31 AM
The “Tai killing Kari” incident is referring the flashback to him taking her outside when she was sick and her having to go the hospital after she collapses.
#5565: Aug 24th 2023 at 1:04:15 PM
Was that even Nightmare Fuel? Or just misuse? I never personally saw that scene before even if I knew Kari was frail when she's very young. But from the looks it hardly sounds like Nightmare Fuel to me.
GastonRabbit
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
from Robinson, Illinois, USA
(General of TV Troops)
Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#5566: Aug 24th 2023 at 1:53:10 PM
Regarding the examples about VID referring to the company as BND, going by the Wikpedia article, the confusion was because the company is Russian and its name is officially written "ВИD" in Russian, with the first two letters being Cyrillic letters that resemble Latin letters, and the "D" actually being a Latin letter instead of its Cyrillic counterpart (Д, in this case).
Edited by GastonRabbit on Aug 24th 2023 at 4:02:39 AM
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
AlmightyKingPrawn
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
from Down at Fraggle Rock *clap clap*
Since: Oct, 2019
Relationship Status: I love you for psychological reasons
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
#5567: Aug 25th 2023 at 9:57:37 AM
Alright, first half of NightmareFuel.Vanity Plate edits have been made. Ones from Other Media have yet to be added except when replacing another entry. Master Arts and Deep Water are commented out as we are still debating them. Let me know if I did anything wrong.
Edited by AlmightyKingPrawn on Aug 25th 2023 at 12:58:19 PM
She/her. Profile pic is by Richard Michael Gomez @StarmansArt. Please watch Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. https://youtu.be/Vm92JNgPbqk
Segal991
A loyal animal lover
from Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Since: Mar, 2015
Relationship Status: Yes, we're lovers, and that is that
A loyal animal lover
#5568: Aug 27th 2023 at 3:31:35 AM
It was played as more of a Tear Jerker.
AlmightyKingPrawn
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
from Down at Fraggle Rock *clap clap*
Since: Oct, 2019
Relationship Status: I love you for psychological reasons
I can chase the wind, I can race the rain
#5569: Aug 27th 2023 at 4:43:39 PM
Questioning this new addition to NightmareFuel.Public Service Announcements Safety, as these are pretty normal children's fire safety posters on a page where they are surrounded by pure, abject horror. I was shown more graphic stuff in elementary school. At the very least, the grammar needs work.
- Sometime in the late 1970s and 1980s, Osamu Tezuka ("God of Manga") created a series of fire safety posters featuring characters from Astro Boy, Black Jack, Kimba the White Lion, and Unico to raise awareness of fire safety across Japan. While lighthearted, some of these posters can unnerving and creepy depending on the characters' situation.
- The Astro Boy Poster◊ features Astro/Atom and Astro Girl/Uran frightened and trying to douse fire that's slowly spreading from a pile of leaves. The fire itself resembles a witch who mocks the robot duos' effort to get rid of it.
- The Black Jack Poster◊ features a stove releasing tons of steam as Black Jack can only cover his nose to avoid inhaling the chemicals. Meanwhile, a small man is seen passed out due to smell.
- The Unico Poster◊ features Unico helping group of ants escaping from underground since fire is starting to spread from their homes. Unico can only fetch pales of water in the hopes of the fire not causing further damage.
- The Astro Boy Poster
Edited by AlmightyKingPrawn on Aug 27th 2023 at 7:43:59 AM
She/her. Profile pic is by Richard Michael Gomez @StarmansArt. Please watch Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. https://youtu.be/Vm92JNgPbqk
sudrictoon
Any pronouns
from Sodor/Crystal Tokyo
Since: Feb, 2021
Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Any pronouns
#5570: Aug 27th 2023 at 5:48:19 PM
None of these are scary at all.
KIRBY CAR
#5571: Aug 29th 2023 at 8:53:24 AM
This is commented-out on YMMV.My Singing Monsters:
- Rare Creepuscule was the example of this trope, Altough this could be a Nightmare fuel tropes but I think Rare Creepuscule had a ugly design and most people didn't like that design, It had a Wig, it had one eye and it also had a Scary looking Jaws
Noticeable grammar and capitalization issues, First-Person Writing, a run-on sentence, word cruft, and weird past tense. If this were to be valid, we should rewrite the whole thing. But is it valid?
he/him
UFOYeah
Since: Mar, 2022
#5572: Aug 29th 2023 at 10:07:56 AM
If its design is not so much "scary" as "ugly", then it probably isn't valid. Also, the edit reason for the addition suggested that it was one troper's personal opinion, not nearly widespread enough to be considered a genuine audience reaction. I've cut it.
Edited by UFOYeah on Aug 29th 2023 at 10:11:39 AM
UFOYeah
Since: Mar, 2022
#5573: Aug 29th 2023 at 12:25:27 PM
Also, on NightmareFuel.CoolCatSavesTheKids, the start of the page outright admits that most of the examples fall under Accidental Nightmare Fuel (which is now a fanspeak term), and indeed, many of the examples are closer to Unintentional Uncanny Valley or Fridge Horror. To wit:
- The Cool Cat head◊ can be really creepy when viewed from certain angles. Unintentional Uncanny Valley
- Every single closeup of Momma Cat is very unnerving, as fake lipstick and eyelashes are just slapped onto the Cool Cat costume head. Again, Unintentional Uncanny Valley
- The film's portrayal of Cool Cat as an All-Loving Hero comes off as unintentionally creepy and unsettling. He's ostensibly a child but is played by (and looks like) a grown man, which gives weirdly pedophilic undertones to every scene where he interacts with young children. Fridge Horror(?)
- Cool Cat: I'm Cool Cat, and I love all kids!
- The dialogue doesn't help matters either. While in most films, an Accidental Innuendo is funny, many of Cool Cat's lines here contribute to his reputation as a Memetic Molester.
- Cool Cat: You can't really stop it if you don't know where it's coming from.Maria: He doesn't have fun like we do.Cool Cat: I LOVE babies!
- Good god, the sun and moon animation. ZCE, with the only context based on a random reviewer
- YMS: This animation would fucking terrify me if I was a child. I know this because I'm an adult and I'm terrified.
- The original cover for the YMS cut◊. There's a very creepy "I'm coming to getcha!" look on Cool Cat's face... Relies mostly on the weblink
- At one point during the sandbox scene, Cool Cat's eyebrows change to ensure he looks angry. And, as you may have guessed, it looks creepy and unsettling. Not to mention the crew didn't do anything to alter Cool Cat's grin, so rather than just looking upset, Cool Cat looks crazed and unhinged. Not only that, but the brows are in that position in the wide shot before Butch walks up, making it look like Cool Cat is royally pissed off about building sandcastles. Probably Unintentional Uncanny Valley
- When Daddy Derek flirts with Momma Cat. From the looks of it, it's supposed to be cute and charming but given the circumstances, it instead comes off as creepy and unsettling.note Not sure if Fridge Horror or Memetic Molester, but sounds like one hell of a ROCEJ, regardless
- Cool Cat's dream sequence, because of his eyes being open when trying to sleep, it looks like he is tripping out on hallucinogens or suffering from Sanity Slippage. Not sure
- Cool Cat and his friends finding a gun in the backyard, which makes you think why a gun would be lying there in the first place. Self-admitted Fridge Horror
- In Bobsheaux's review of the book, he pointed out how Cool Cat's father, a cat, is also named 'Daddy Derek'. Who Derek Savage played in the movie. Let that sink in. Fridge Horror based on a random reviewer reference
- Butch the Bully, a kid who can't be more than ten, wielding a gun. The implications abound considering all the cases of school shootings in the past couple of decades. How did Savage think for a second that taking the story in this direction was even in the same zip code as tasteful? Again, Fridge Horror (also complaining)
WarJay77
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
(Troper Knight)
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
#5574: Aug 29th 2023 at 12:27:22 PM
Eh... there's legit nothing actually wrong with putting cases of Accidental Nightmare Fuel under Nightmare Fuel. If it's scary it's scary. The page even tells you to put examples in Nightmare Fuel so we all really have to stop acting like Accidental Nightmare Fuel cases are misuse.
And those things you call Unintentional Uncanny Valley... aren't. Believe me as the person who handled the whole TRS cleanup effort; uncanny valley is a very specific reaction to things being on the edge of real and fake, and the Cool Cat costume doesn't fit that. It just looks kinda creepy.
Edited by WarJay77 on Aug 29th 2023 at 3:28:47 PM
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
UFOYeah
Since: Mar, 2022
#5575: Aug 29th 2023 at 12:30:39 PM
How about the Fridge Horror stuff? Does it actually qualify as Fridge Horror, or does it belong in NF?
Total posts: 5,772
I mean, that thread isn't for altering the rules but for updating things to be more accurate. If there's no clarity on what the rule should be then that thread isn't going to help.
also I already took it there but to discuss if Shocking Moments had to be added
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness