A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The Moment: The slow pull-away from Alex’s eye, to reveal he and his malevolent gang of droogs.
Coolest Element: Malcolm McDowell’s smirking menace is an absolutely perfect fit for the character, the scene setting the tone for the rest of the movie.
Donnie Darko (2001)
The Moment: Frank the rabbit makes his bow, appearing to Donnie during one of his night terrors. And very unsettling he is too…
Coolest Element: His appearance is both bizarre and terrifying in equal measure. Not that Donnie seems too phased…
Fight Club (1999)
The Moment: The Fight Club inductees carry out their latest mission: to start a fight with a total stranger.
Coolest Element: The priest who gets several soakings from a hose before eventually losing his rag and throwing a punch…and then instantly apologising!
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Moment: John Turturro’s purple-clad douchebag Jesus Quintana drops the eternal one-liner, “nobody fucks with the Jesus”.
Coolest Element: Walter’s deadpan response… “eight-year-olds, Dude.”
Freaks (1932)
The Moment: The initiation dinner, complete with its terrifying “gooble gobble” chant.
Coolest Element: If you thought the Texas Chainsaw dinner scene was demented, this one knocks it into a cocked hat!
Clerks (1994)
The Moment: Dante and Randall discuss The Empire Strikes Back , homing in specifically on the issue of working conditions aboard the Death Star.
Coolest Element: Randall’s determination to ignore Dante’s real-life problems in order to make his point about the Empire.
Evil Dead 2 (1987)
The Moment: Ash heads to the tool shed to replace his missing hand with something a little more badass…
Coolest Element: The close-up on Bruce Campbell’s face before he drops the line, “groovy”.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
The Moment: Nigel Tufnel talks Marty DiBergi through his favourite amplifier, explaining why this make in particular is the best.
Coolest Element: The way Tufnel explains, as if to an idiot, that “eleven is one louder”. Gold.
The Wicker Man (1973)
The Moment: The big reveal at the climax, in which Sgt. Howie realises that he is the sacrificial virgin the islanders have been waiting for.
Coolest Element: It’s an utter gut-punch of an ending, bleak and surprising in equal measure.
Withnail & I (1987)
The Moment: Withnail finds himself at a low ebb indeed, exclaiming “I demand to have some booze”, before necking a tin of lighter fluid.
Coolest Element: The unhinged giggle he emits before voiding his stomach all over Marwood’s shoes.
