Turning in Terror: The 8 Scariest Moments in DC Media

This article covers the scariest scenes in live-action DC movies and TV.

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From a comic book world full of Rogues Gallery super-villains, crime-ridden alleys, and world-ending threats, it takes a lot to be considered the most frightening. We’ve seen Knightmare realities, where the apocalypse is only the beginning of the danger. In other corners, heroes like Aquaman have melded with deep-sea monsters. The potential for DC horror is always bubbling right under the surface.

In fact, Clayface will soon make his debut in the DCU, described as a “body horror” film. With the wide catalogue of live-action DC adaptions, in movies and on TV, we’ve already gotten a taste for what DC can do with horror. To prepare for the DCU’s genre expansion and in honor of Friday the 13th, here are 8 of the most horrific scenes in DC movies and TV.

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Nolan Batman’s “Swear to me”

• Movie: Batman Begins
• Fear Factor: Intimidation

While it might be more obvious to pick one of the fear toxin scenes with Scarecrow or even one of The Joker’s infamous monologues, this particular scene is a turning point for Batman. Up until now, live-action Batman had of course been portrayed as a nocturnal vigilante. That’s who he is — but audiences had never seen a Dark Knight quite like Christian Bale’s interpretation. As he apprehends a criminal and dangles him upside down, Batman demands the truth be sworn to him rather than anyone else. He’s the only thing standing between the criminal and his death. With an affected voice both for anonymity and intimidation, this Batman reminds the audience why a city full of villains will always fear him.

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Arthur Fleck Kills in the Subway

• Movie: The Joker
• Fear Factor: Bullying

Laughter is said to be the best medicine — especially when it’s the last tenuous thread keeping you sane. Arthur Fleck’s life is basically a disaster. Anything and everything that can go wrong does, without fail. So under the flickering lights of a decrepit subway car, he finally snaps. Laughter turns to violence faster than you can say, “Stay clear of the closing doors.”

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Harley Quinn Dives into the Vat

• Movie: Suicide Squad
• Fear Factor: Abuse

If love is a rose, waiting to bloom, you simply can’t ignore the thorns. For Dr. Harleen Quinzel, that lesson came all too late when she fell in love with The Joker. She relinquished her own sense of self, giving up autonomy (and safety) for a man who never valued her beyond the next evil plan. To watch this promising young woman throw away her potential, all for the love of an abuser, is horrifying beyond words. Not even a chemical wash can clean out those stains on Harley Quinn’s heart.

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Black Mask Peels Off a Face

• Movie: Birds of Prey
• Fear Factor: Torture

Facing your fears is one thing but facing down a maniac like Black Mask is another matter entirely. Roman Sionis seeks revenge for his business rejection at the hands of Mr. Keo, a Gotham City crimelord. He strings up Mr. Keo, his wife, and his daughter in a warehouse before ordering his personal assassin, Victor Zsasz, to peel away Keo’s face, slit his wife’s throat, and kill his daughter too. Nearly every move that Black Mask makes is a power play and he almost never loses the upper hand.

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Riddler Kills Gotham’s Mayor

• Movie: The Batman
• Fear Factor: Surveillance

Riddle me this: What’s more chilling than a question mark cane and a question mark suit? Answer: A hammer waiting to strike in the dark. From the labored breathing behind his DIY mask to his unhinged grunts and squeals, this Riddler isn’t merely full of quips. There’s true madness behind those layers of masking tape. If you’ve ever felt a prickle across the back of your neck, like someone is watching you, this scene is your reminder to leave the lights on. Cue “Ave Maria.”

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Vigilante Loses A Toe

• Series: Peacemaker
• Fear Factor: Amputation

This one’s for the body horror fans. Just due to all the squelching off-screen squishes alone, this torture scene is enough to make each of your little piggies squirm in terror. But then comes the closeup of Vigilante’s mangled pinky toe. Earlier in the episode, Vigilante was all whistling bravado as he took out a family without a second thought, putting Peacemaker’s infamous motto into practice. But once Butterfly Goff gets his pliers onto Adrian Chase, the funny faces are no match for a severed toe.

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Sofia Falcone’s Arkham Flashbacks

• Series: The Penguin
• Fear Factor: Paranoia

It’s no secret that Arkham is a vile haven of corruption. The guards and even the doctors all engage in nefarious dealings, subjecting prisoners both innocent and guilty to multiple means of torture. When Sofia Falcone is framed and thrown in Arkham, her spirit is slowly broken down by paranoia. Is everyone out to get her? It’s hard to tell amid all the electroshock therapy and cafeteria beatings. Poor little Magpie — that dish was best served bloody, all over the floor.

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Lex Luthor Puts Kal-El in a Cage

• Movie: Superman
• Fear Factor: Captivity

For a moment, it appears as if Superman might actually lose to Lex Luthor. He’s been imprisoned in a pocket dimension containment center, thrown in a cage where Metamorpho is ordered to use Kryptonite against him. Weakened both physically and mentally, things look pretty bleak for Kal-El. Seeing someone thrust in a cage, unlawfully and with sickening pleasure, rings even truer for today’s audiences. It proves that when the real world seeps into our stories, the need for hope will always outshine those who seek to destroy.

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It’s not all fluttering capes and daring rescues. The DC universe can be a dark and scary place. What are your top terrifying moments in DC media?

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