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Garys, Giant Ants, and Killer Plants: The 10 Creepiest Moments in the ‘Fallout’ Series

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The end of the world is perhaps the most popular settings for the horror and science fiction genre. Whether it’s caused by Mother Nature, a killer virus, or invading alien forces, artists have flocked to this setting to craft their own unique stories. Enter Bethesda Softworks’s entries into the iconic RPG franchise, Fallout.

Originally developed by Interplay Productions, Bethesda Softworks acquired the license and released their spin on the series in 2008. While the Fallout series is typically known for its dark sense of humor and futuristic 50s design, there are some truly terrifying experiences waiting for players. With Fallout 76 officially released, we decided to look back at some of the most horrific, disturbing, and unsettling moments in this series.

10. Meeting the Mothman – Fallout 76

Is there anything more uncomfortable than the feeling of being watched? A new enemy in the Fallout franchise, the Mothman is a special type of foe that will stare at the player from a distance. Its bright red eyes can be seen from a considerable distance, constantly reminding the player that they are not alone. In a game where everything is hostile, the passive nature of the Mothman only enhances the sense of dread that looms over it. Did we mention there was a cult worshipping and trying to summon this insect? Maybe bring some bug spray the next time you visit the wasteland.

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9. Vault 22 – Fallout: New Vegas

The first of several Vaults on our list, this nightmarish location can be found outside of Thorn in the Mojave Wasteland. A Vault completely overtook by a dangerous fungus, the former residences have either died or mutated in horrific creatures. There are also giant bugs and killer plants, just in case you thought the humanoid plants weren’t terrifying enough.

What makes this Vault unsettling is the use of color and plant life. Fallout: New Vegas‘s color pallet is generally very brown, so stumbling across a vibrant area is exceedingly rare. There’s a feeling of hope when you first see the door to Vault 22. A small reminder that the world won’t remain a hellish landscape forever. Then New Vegas masterfully cuts the idea off at the legs when you actually venture into the Vault. It’s a horrific experience that reminds the user that no place is safe in this new world.

8. Those! – Fallout 3

Fun fact about me, I have a terrible, dumb, irrational fear of bugs. This makes the Fallout 3 quest – Those! – absolutely hell to complete. A riff off the 1954 film Them!, this quest tasks players with wiping out a colony of fire ants. Did we mention the ants are the size of a large dog and spew fire?

While their size alone is intimidating, it’s the creepy shuffling sound they make that really ratchets up the scare factor. You can hear them coming in most scenarios, which can be quite terrifying in the dark tunnels you have to explore.

Of course, it doesn’t stop there, as you’ll have to encounter the ant queen. Even though Fallout 3 gives you the option to let the queen live, we recommend burning it to ash. Is launching a mini-nuke at an oversized bug overkill? Maybe, but it’s incredibly satisfying to obliterate this insect.

7. Vault 108 – Fallout 3

During the nuclear apocalypse, the inhabitants of Vault 108 were given three times the normal amount of weapons, no entertainment, a power supply that was designed to break. On top of all that, the Vault sported a cloning facility where every clone became increasingly more hostile.

What could go wrong?

While Vault 108 is generally pretty normal, it’s the enemies inside that really make this place creepy. Every enemy is a clone of a single person named Gary, all of which can only say different variations of the word “Gary.” Hearing these manic souls call out Gary down the halls will send shivers down your spine. They aren’t especially tough, but there’s something nerve-wracking about how these clones communicate.

6. Seeing The Master – Fallout

The only entry from the original Fallout games, meeting the being known as The Master is a gruesome reminder of how much the world has changed. Formally known as Richard Moreau, The Master is the leader of The Unity and the Super Mutants. A twisted abomination that not only fused with other humans but a large computer.

Sporting several different voices (one of which is Jim Cummings of Winnie the Pooh fame), The Master is a great example of how to showcase body horror. His vile look is contorted and appears painful, which is only enhanced by his constant vocal shifts. To this day, The Master remains one of the scariest beings every introduced into the world of Fallout.

5. Everything in Far Harbor – Fallout 4

Far Harbor is a nightmare. This DLC location is set on an island off the coast of Maine and is full of new, aquatic creatures for players to kill. The catch is that entire island is encased in a thick, irritated fog that drastically reduces your visibility. This simple addition makes exploring Mount Desert Island a harrowing experience. Having a horde of Ghouls rush out from the fog or a massive Mirelurk will easily send you screaming back to the boat.

4. Museum of Witchcraft – Fallout 4

Shocking exactly no one, the Museum of Witchcraft did not get more cheerful following the end of the world. Located on the far eastern side of the Commonwealth, players are forced to endure an agonizingly slow build up from the minute they enter this place. As you progress through the base of the museum you’re treated to moving shadows, bodies falling from the rafters, and the sounds of something above you.

The museum also has creepy, destroyed mannequins everywhere, because of course it does. Only making things worse is what you find out is actually in the museum. Surprise, it’s a very large, very angry Deathclaw! Fighting this in a confined space is scary enough, but the journey to find this beast makes the Museum of Witchcraft one of the scariest moments in the Fallout franchise.

3. The Trap House – Fallout 4

Yes, it’s not technically a house, but “trap parking garage” is 100% less intimidating. A random location you might stumble across in Fallout 4, this multiple level parking structures feels ripped right out of a Saw film. During your journey, you’ll have to contest with multiple life or death scenarios along with Ghouls and Radroaches.

It’s psychological terror at its most basic. Every step you take could be booby-trapped, which will make you extremely paranoid the entire time. You’ll never feel safe, even after you collect your prize at the end of the maze. There are also creepy mannequins (because this is a Fallout game) wind up monkeys, and some really cool psychedelic lighting in areas. The Milton Parking Garage is one of the most unique locations in any Fallout game and absolutely worth going in blind.

2. Vault 11 – Fallout: New Vegas

Sometimes all it takes is a good story for something to be creepy. Once the bombs dropped, the inhabitants in this Vault discovered that the doors would not open. Instead, they were instructed to sacrifice a person every year or the entire population would be exterminated. What followed was a descent into madness as factions began to form in an attempt to elect the poor soul who would be killed.

This culminated in a massive war that left only five people left. When the remaining survivors decided to just accept their fate, they learned that if you didn’t sacrifice someone the doors to the Vault would open. Even though the Vault itself isn’t scary, uncovering what happened here will stick with you well after you’ve left this area.

1. Dunwich Borers – Fallout 4

There’s something very wrong in the Dunwich Borers.

A normal looking rock quarry found in the Commonwealth, players quickly discovered that this isn’t a simple Raider hideout. As one dives deeper into this mine, they begin to experience visions, read disturbing messages, and deal with what appears to be a supernatural force.

It’s incredibly dark down in the mine and users are only afforded small sources of light to traverse the tunnels. As the story slowly unravels it becomes clear that someone or something was influencing the management staff at Dunwich Borers.

Yet, what really makes this area scary is Fallout 4 never reveals what was causing all this. It’s left entirely up to the player’s imagination and fears, which makes the experience even more terrifying. We may never know the full story of what happened at Dunwich Borers, but it’s a place we don’t want to visit again.

Editorials

‘Leprechaun Returns’ – The Charm of the Franchise’s Legacy Sequel

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The erratic Leprechaun franchise is not known for sticking with a single concept for too long. The namesake (originally played by Warwick Davis) has gone to L.A., Las Vegas, space, and the ‘hood (not once but twice). And after an eleven-year holiday since the Davis era ended, the character received a drastic makeover in a now-unmentionable reboot. The critical failure of said film would have implied it was time to pack away the green top hat and shillelagh, and say goodbye to the nefarious imp. Instead, the Leprechaun series tried its luck again.

The general consensus for the Leprechaun films was never positive, and the darker yet blander Leprechaun: Origins certainly did not sway opinions. Just because the 2014 installment took itself seriously did not mean viewers would. After all, creator Mark Jones conceived a gruesome horror-comedy back in the early nineties, and that format is what was expected of any future ventures. So as horror legacy sequels (“legacyquels”) became more common in the 2010s, Leprechaun Returns followed suit while also going back to what made the ‘93 film work. This eighth entry echoed Halloween (2018) by ignoring all the previous sequels as well as being a direct continuation of the original. Even ardent fans can surely understand the decision to wipe the slate clean, so to speak.

Leprechaun Returns “continued the [franchise’s] trend of not being consistent by deciding to be consistent.” The retconning of Steven Kostanski and Suzanne Keilly’s film was met with little to no pushback from the fandom, who had already become accustomed to seeing something new and different with every chapter. Only now the “new and different” was familiar. With the severe route of Origins a mere speck in the rearview mirror, director Kotanski implemented a “back to basics” approach that garnered better reception than Zach Lipovsky’s own undertaking. The one-two punch of preposterous humor and grisly horror was in full force again.

LEPRECHAUN

Pictured: Linden Porco as The Leprechaun in Leprechaun Returns.

With Warwick Davis sitting this film out — his own choice — there was the foremost challenge of finding his replacement. Returns found Davis’ successor in Linden Porco, who admirably filled those blood-stained, buckled shoes. And what would a legacy sequel be without a returning character? Jennifer Aniston obviously did not reprise her final girl role of Tory Redding. So, the film did the next best thing and fetched another of Lubdan’s past victims: Ozzie, the likable oaf played by Mark Holton. Returns also created an extension of Tory’s character by giving her a teenage daughter, Lila (Taylor Spreitler).

It has been twenty-five years since the events of the ‘93 film. The incident is unknown to all but its survivors. Interested in her late mother’s history there in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, Lila transferred to the local university and pledged a sorority — really the only one on campus — whose few members now reside in Tory Redding’s old home. The farmhouse-turned-sorority-house is still a work in progress; Lila’s fellow Alpha Epsilon sisters were in the midst of renovating the place when a ghost of the past found its way into the present.

The Psycho Goreman and The Void director’s penchant for visceral special effects is noted early on as the Leprechaun tears not only into the modern age, but also through poor Ozzie’s abdomen. The portal from 1993 to 2018 is soaked with blood and guts as the Leprechaun forces his way into the story. Davis’ iconic depiction of the wee antagonist is missed, however, Linden Porco is not simply keeping the seat warm in case his predecessor ever resumes the part. His enthusiastic performance is accentuated by a rotten-looking mug that adds to his innate menace.

LEPRECHAUN RETURNS sequel

Pictured: Taylor Spreitler, Pepi Sonuga, and Sai Bennett as Lila, Katie and Rose in Leprechaun Returns.

The obligatory fodder is mostly young this time around. Apart from one luckless postman and Ozzie — the premature passing of the latter character removed the chance of caring about anyone in the film — the Leprechaun’s potential prey are all college aged. Lila is this story’s token trauma kid with caregiver baggage; her mother thought “monsters were always trying to get her.” Lila’s habit of mentioning Tory’s mental health problem does not make a good first impression with the resident mean girl and apparent alcoholic of the sorority, Meredith (Emily Reid). Then there are the nicer but no less cursorily written of the Alpha Epsilon gals: eco-conscious and ex-obsessive Katie (Pepi Sonuga), and uptight overachiever Rose (Sai Bennett). Rounding out the main cast are a pair of destined-to-die bros (Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins, Ben McGregor). Lila and her peers range from disposable to plain irritating, so rooting for any one of them is next to impossible. Even so, their overstated personalities make their inevitable fates more satisfying.

Where Returns excels is its death sequences. Unlike Jones’ film, this one is not afraid of killing off members of the main cast. Lila, admittedly, wears too much plot armor, yet with her mother’s spirit looming over her and the whole story — comedian Heather McDonald put her bang-on Aniston impersonation to good use as well as provided a surprisingly emotional moment in the film — her immunity can be overlooked. Still, the other characters’ brutal demises make up for Lila’s imperviousness. The Leprechaun’s killer set-pieces also happen to demonstrate the time period, seeing as he uses solar panels and a drone in several supporting characters’ executions. A premortem selfie and the antagonist’s snarky mention of global warming additionally add to this film’s particular timestamp.

Critics were quick to say Leprechaun Returns did not break new ground. Sure, there is no one jetting off to space, or the wacky notion of Lubdan becoming a record producer. This reset, however, is still quite charming and entertaining despite its lack of risk-taking. And with yet another reboot in the works, who knows where the most wicked Leprechaun ever to exist will end up next.


Horror contemplates in great detail how young people handle inordinate situations and all of life’s unexpected challenges. While the genre forces characters of every age to face their fears, it is especially interested in how youths might fare in life-or-death scenarios.

The column Young Blood is dedicated to horror stories for and about teenagers, as well as other young folks on the brink of terror.

Leprechaun Returns movie

Pictured: Linden Porco as The Leprechaun in Leprechaun Returns.

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