pgronk at 2013-07-10 13:07:46:
Two more movies with a character from hell: Misery (1990) The fan from hell. The Cable Guy (1996) The maintenance man from hell.
Illimani at 2013-07-10 13:14:44:
Just thinking: maybe in a certain way lots of buddy pictures could also fall under this type of story. Like John Candy in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", he's surely a "Buddy from Hell".
matthewkane at 2013-07-10 13:50:48:
"What About Bob?" The patient from hell.
Phil Hopersberger at 2013-07-10 16:29:58:
What if...it was the partner from Hell...and it was a DOG?!
Scott at 2013-07-10 17:56:10:
Yes, both good examples, pgronk.
kevinpgoulet at 2013-07-10 17:58:37:
Roommate from Hell: SINGLE WHITE FEMALE starring Bridget Fonda, Jennifer Jason Leigh & Steven Weber... Leigh was creepy good. Directed by Barbet Schroeder, Screenplay by Don Roos based on the book by John Lutz.
Scott at 2013-07-10 17:58:48:
Seeing as these types are not etched in stone, there is a lot of flex in how you think about them. But insofar as we want to use them as tools to analyze movies and develop stories and story ideas, the slight difference with The [Blank] From Hell is that typically at first, the Blank seems like an ally or a Good Person, then revealed to be From Hell. Oftentimes in Buddy Pictures, their differences and conflict is evident from directly up front in the story. Small distinction, but can be an important one.
Scott at 2013-07-10 17:59:12:
Yes, Matthew, excellent a example.
Scott at 2013-07-10 17:59:43:
The movie franchise "Beethoven" was based on this premise.
Scott at 2013-07-10 18:00:12:
Kevin, SWF is a great example and as I recall, it was creepy.
Scott at 2013-07-10 18:03:50:
Again to drive home this point, The [Blank] From Hell goes to the fundamental fear we all have of The Other, our most basic survival instinct to be suspect of the New. Through societal and cultural norms, and simple life experience, we tend to downplay that instinct... surely, most people are good people, right? So here we are meeting The [Blank]. Seems nice enough. Then slowly but surely, our suspicions are aroused. Oftentimes there is a "is s/he or is s/he not a threat" sequence. Eventually the truth is out there and it's the gloves are off time, and we are in lizard brain fight for survival mode. This connection to one of the oldest parts of the human brain is a big reason why TBFH story types work.
pgronk at 2013-07-10 22:18:11:
I like the [Blank] from Hell movies that explore the Jungian notion that every psychological extreme secretly contains its own opposite. As in "Fatal Attraction" where a peccant husband's dream lover turns out to be his worst nightmare. Or in "Misery" where the author's most ardent fan is revealed as also the most dangerous.
Phil Hopersberger at 2013-07-11 22:55:11:
LOL! I was thinking K-9! :-)