Top 10 Iconic Horror Movie Weapons

Kill it with fire! No, but in a literal sense. In this John Carpenter sci-fi horror, a research team goes head to head with a shape-shifting alien and this weaponized fire propeller just so happened to be only method of destroying-- well... The Thing. No other weapon looks as badass when being wielded by none other than the bearded Kurt Russell. Watch and learn.

The twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington is the trusty companion of this horror franchise’s protagonist. However, it didn’t receive the title of “boomstick” until 1992’s “Army of Darkness.” Whether being used to blow away the corpses of his possessed friends, or blasting his alter ego in the face, this shotgun has stuck with him and “The Evil Dead” through thick and thin. Ash’s signature weapon is even used by the new cast in the series’ reboot.

It’s one of the oldest and best-known methods of killing the blood-sucking creatures known as vampires: a sharpened wooden instrument driven through the heart of the so-called immortal undead. It’s an effective and timeless weapon that instantly ends their lives, case in point: Lucy in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” However, and somewhat ironically, the titular vamp didn’t actually die from a wooden stake; it was a Bowie knife that finished the deed in much of the same way.

While we saw the use of this weapon in “Candyman,” it’s in this slasher flick that we think it was used even more fittingly, considering the movie’s psycho killer is a former fisherman. For being impaled with this instrument never seemed more painful until we see it being used by “I Know What You Did Last Summer”‘s antagonist. Once he got that thing in you, it was in there for good. Inspired by the urban legend of an escaped serial killer, this movie – and its slickered villain – really had us hooked.

As you may have already guessed, this agricultural tool wasn’t primarily used to harvest crops in the supernatural horror flick. As skeptical as we might have initially been about the sickle’s effectiveness as a weapon, it wasn’t until we witnessed an army of children wielding them that we recognized its true terror and power. This cult of minors utilized every lethal object at their disposal, but it was this bladed tool that frequently got the job done – and done well.

Almost nothing beats the satisfaction of hacking your victim to death with an axe, unless of course you’re hacking them to death to a hit ‘80s pop track. Patrick Bateman recognized this truth in “American Psycho.” The mix of his Huey Lewis monologue, the clear raincoat, and the two men’s overall nonchalant vibe made this arguably one of the best scenes in the psychological black comedy. The axe makes a bold statement in this genre – though we can’t forget its iconic use in “The Shining” as well.

The mere revving of this mechanical device’s engine probably has most people at least a little nervous, but thanks to both Patrick Bateman and this slasher flick, it’s made even more people shiver in fear. The chainsaw becomes even more frightening upon discovering the psycho who’s crazy enough to use it. And a murderous cannibal donning a mask of human skin just might be that psycho. Leatherface lets loose all his carnage on a group of unsuspecting friends with the signature weapon. The really perplexing question though is how was he able to run so fast carrying such a heavy tool?!

This long cleaver-like knife became a favorite of the hockey-masked killer from the “Friday the 13th” films. It may not be as flashy as some of the other entries, but it’s arguably one of the most effective. Jason used this lethal tool to stab, slice, and decapitate a copious amount of victims throughout the film’s sequels and reboots. Following the death of his mother by machete, Jason Voorhees’ weapon doesn’t only carry the blood of his many victims, but possibly the only memory he holds of her.

While it’s the most common household weapon on this list, appearing in many films like “Psycho,” no one can doubt the efficacy of such a simple tool. The infamous Halloween Killer, Michael Myers, acquainted himself with this for the first time at the tender age of 6 when he murdered his own sister. With it now being universally recognized as a deadly instrument outside of its designated room, we believe it’s safe to assume the masked murderer wouldn’t be cutting up vegetables with one if he was caught in your kitchen.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Car
“Death Proof” (2007)

Noose
“Sinister” (2012)

Nail Gun
“Evil Dead” (2013)

Power Drill
“The Slumber Party Massacre” (1982)

This weapon needs no introduction, being the signature device of the murderous villain that lives in our dreams. Assembled from sheet metal, pipes, fishing knives, and rivets, this diabolical contraption just screams fear. While the bladed leather garment was used to claw, scrape and maim his victims, it wasn’t just the glove that terrified us, but also Freddy Krueger’s construct of horror. Dream or reality, this villain’s weapon was all too real for us and that’s why we’ve given it our number one spot.

Do you agree with our list? Which horror movie weapon kept you sleeping with the light on? For more chilling top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.