Gargoyles are perfect specimens for movies for many reasons but one of them is that they’re simply scary just to look at. Most of them have been carved into the likeness of beasts that have supposedly never roamed this land but have been seen in the nightmares of those that have created them. They’re originally meant to have been a way to divert rainwater away from buildings by means of a channel carved in their back that would allow the water to shoot out of their mouths. Why they were made into grotesque monsters is anyone’s guess but at one time they were also seen as guardians of sacred places and used as a means of warding off evil. No matter what they were used for however gargoyles have inspired a lot of people in ways that lean mostly towards storytelling and vile, violent images that depict them as villainous fiends in many ways.
Here are a few good examples of gargoyles in films.
5. I, Frankenstein
While the movie wasn’t that great the special effects were actually well done since the humans turning into gargoyles were very well-executed. But the idea that gargoyles had been acting as servants of the divine for so long and standing against demons born straight from hell was a bit of a stretch. It could have worked had the story been given just a little more credibility, but overall it wasn’t too bad. The demon vs. gargoyle war was a bit overplayed it seems and the idea of the demons wanting to use Frankenstein’s monster to create more of their own race seemed kind of out there, but it had potential.
4. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Bringing gargoyles into a classic story like this something that only Disney could do and really get away with since the story is one that has been told throughout the years and never once been given this kind of treatment except by the House of Mouse. It was charming and kids liked it but the absence of any hindquarters on any of the gargoyles kind of spoiled it just a bit since their mobility was more of a question than their actual inclusion. You can imagine how hard it must have been to bounce around in such fashion no matter how strong the gargoyles were. Disney seems to like to raise questions with their animation choices however.
3. Gargoyles the Movie: The Heroes Awaken
The shift from gargoyles being villains and demons to being the good guys was kind of an abrupt one it seems since a lot of people weren’t fully aware of the change until it was thrust in front of them over and over again. This movie was something that didn’t get a whole lot of attention since it seemed a far cry from much of what Disney does. In fact to tell someone that didn’t know back when this came out that it was a Disney film probably would have been met with disbelief and laughter since no matter how you explained it this really didn’t feel like a normal Disney film. And it wasn’t for the most part.
2. Rise of the Gargoyles
So gargoyles lay eggs, who knew? In this largely unknown thriller gargoyles have apparently been watching humanity for a long time and just waiting to pick their moment. When it finally comes humans have no idea what it is they’re seeing, but they also come to find out that kill the gargoyles isn’t quite as easy as they thought it was. Think of trying to kill something that can fly, become hard as stone, and kill with one swipe of its claws. It’s possible of course but death from above is usually more likely in films like these since gargoyles have been depicted as not only strong but also quite crafty in the movies.
1. Ghostbusters
These things don’t stay gargoyles very long since hidden beneath stone creatures the likes of which human beings have never seen before. The first of them that busts out goes after Dana, while the other goes after Louis. You kind of have to wonder if it was just the location they were in or if they were chosen somehow. But all in all these were creepy-looking statues before they were busted open to reveal the creatures inside. And even stranger is that when the end came and Gozer was destroyed they reverted back to statues and the people inside them were restored. Talk about a mess of physics.
Gargoyles have almost always been seen as grotesque, scary, and altogether nasty in appearance, but they did serve a purpose when they were first created, it’s just not the same purpose that a lot of people would guess at and even fewer would want to believe given their fierce nature in film.
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