10 Most Genuinely Horrifying Moments In Hulk Movies

Hulk is one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and some scenes from his movies contain some genuinely horrifying moments. Among a handful of Hulks in the MCU, Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner has become a lovable, gentle giant. However, Hulk’s power is still as great as it ever was, and there is the potential of violent horror bubbling underneath. Several of these listed moments help to show exactly how this could complicate the future for Bruce.

Unfortunately, there has not been enough of the Hulk in the MCU. Due to complicated Hulk rights issues, it has been difficult for the MCU to give the character a starring role in any of these films, and has seemingly made things like the long-rumored World War Hulk movie difficult to pull off. Still, looking back at the Hulk’s history in cinema, both inside and outside of the MCU, helps to show the great and varied potential that the character might have, especially when looking at the potential the Hulk and his story has when it comes to being genuinely unnerving.

10

The MCU’s Hulk Is Revealed As A Threat In The Opening To Incredible Hulk

The Character’s First MCU Film Wastes No Time Showing Hulk As A Terrifying Monster

This scene from The Incredible Hulk is dark and intense, and leads to some genuinely terrifying moments. Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky is given focus in this scene – letting the franchise briefly center on one of the MCU’s most wasted characters – and audiences get to see the Hulk revealed to them through his eyes. Seeing Hulk’s silhouette appear in the fire while each of these men is in great danger is an effective introduction for the MCU’s Hulk.

Similarly, witnessing the terror in everyone’s eyes, including Bruce’s own, helps to highlight how much of a threat this Hulk is. While the most recent Avengers films have softened the character, Hulk works genuinely well as a terrifying monster. This scene helps to show that quickly and immediately in order to set up the rest of the film.

9

Abomination’s Transformation

Blonsky Goes To Unsettling Ends To Get What He’s After

The creation of a monster like the Hulk or Abomination comes from frightening and unstable science, making on-screen adaptations naturally have a horror-esque edge to them. In this scene, Blonsky’s first transformation into the Abomination is shown, with the horror of the sequence coming from the glimpses at his unsettling metamorphosis, aided by Tim Blake’s Samuel Sterns looking on in terror. Amidst the fear and promise of violence, the Leader’s own transformation is suggested to follow, adding another layer to the already unsettling moment.

Many of the scariest superhero movies find horror in the characters themselves, and Hulk is no exception. The experimental, often body horror-like science that fuels Hulk’s creation – and the manufacturing of other incredible forces like himself – are unstable and unsettling. Seeing that captured in this scene, including Blonsky’s transformation, makes it all the more strong and satisfying.

8

The Hulk Mirror Scene

Bruce Reacts To The Hulk’s Horrifying Duality

In this scene from the Eric Bana-starring Hulk film, a horrific moment that shows Bruce dealing with his duality is presented. Fearing and repressing his own relationship with the Hulk monster inside of him, Bruce is only able to confront the matter when his subconscious forces him to. Here, Bruce is seen wiping away steam from a mirror to look inside the Hulk.

With this done, the Hulk breaks through the mirror and grabs Bruce. This is a strange and somewhat abstract scene, but it goes a long way to showing how Bruce perceives himself and his relationship to the monster within. Seeing this expressed with excellent timing and a horror-esque moment help to highlight the significance of this part of the Hulk’s story

7

The Hulk Vs Talbot

Hulk’s First Villain Is A Strange But Effective Choice

Seeing Marvel movie villain Glenn Talbot’s manic fascination with the Hulk and the science ᴀssociated with the character and his powers make for a particularly fascinating point of the Ang Lee Hulk movie. Within this part of the film, Talbot can be seen losing his cool about the situation with the Hulk and how uncontrollable the monster is. Talbot is seen trying to keep things under control, even while all of the constraints placed on the Hulk fail to hold him down.

Everyone in this scene is in danger, and seeing the scale of the Hulk’s strength helps to highlight that. Talbot’s decisions are rash and destructive, and it is truly frightening to see how he responds to the changing threat. Scared for himself and scared for the security of the Hulk, Talbot’s interaction with the Hulk adds an unsettling extra layer to the overarching story.

6

Bruce Is Too Traumatized To Transform

Hulk Finds A Fear Greater Than Himself

During this scene, Bruce Banner has been beaten nearly to death by Thanos, and the Hulk is no longer willing to come out. When contrasted with how so many of the items on this list are focused on the terror that Hulk himself creates, this is all the more significant. While the moment is played somewhat for comedy in the movie, the implication that Thanos is so powerful and so horrifying that even one of the strongest Marvel characters around is effectively traumatized by standing against him is a naturally horrifying one.

It is both comforting and terrifying to know that there are forces in the MCU’s world that are even greater and more terrifying than Hulk himself. While Hulk is an incredible force that seems nearly unbeatable, it’s humbling to see that other characters may be able to overpower him as easily as he overpowers any unpowered human. Seeing that here helps cement Thanos as a major Marvel movie threat, and adds another complicated layer to the Hulk’s MCU arc.

5

Hulk Shows Betty His Terrifying Alter Ego

Contending With Hulk’s Duality Is Tough

After seeing so much of Hulk’s horrifying destruction, it is interesting to see that even the softer side of the Hulk comes with its own unsettling aspects and complications. In this scene, Betty is given her first one-on-one time with the Hulk, and chooses to say things to comfort him. Seeing the closeness between the two highlights the humanity inside of Hulk, but it also creates a tense and focused scene, rife with the potential for violence.

Betty is in danger all throughout this scene, and seeing the ways that she attempts to placate and reach Hulk helps to underline this. One of Banner’s biggest fears throughout his on-screen appearances is hurting those dear to him with his powers, and not being sure if the Hulk will be able to control his berserker rage, or if he will harm or scare Betty makes for some genuinely tense moments. The fact that Betty seemingly had to act so carefully here helps to show how dangerous and how much of a threat Bruce and Hulk genuinely are.

4

Talbot Makes A Mistake With Hulk

Talbot Starts A Fight With Bruce

This scene shows Talbot rushing in on Bruce, furious. He rains furious blows down on Bruce, then becomes terrified after seeing Bruce begin to change into the giant, green Hulk. Talbot quickly attempts to hide, but is thrown out through the front window of the house. Hulk’s path of destruction follows, showing how easily he can hurt people like Talbot.

Talbot was certain that he had the upper hand in his conflict against Bruce, but his bullying was quickly brought to an end. Understanding the rage that can exist beneath the surface, hidden in characters like Bruce, makes this scene even more horrifying. Seeing how quickly someone as strong and confident as Talbot can be taken down also helps to highlight the incredible scale of Bruce’s powers.

3

Hulk Brings About The End Of Asgard

Hulk Lures Surtur To Destroy Thor’s Home

Thor: Ragnarok, a two-hander co-starring Hulk, contained some genuinely disturbing concepts and moments, despite it generally approaching things from a comedic perspective. Perhaps most horror-esque of these was the design and use of the demon Surtur, who plays a prominent role at the film’s end. Drawn by Hulk’s own actions and violence, Surtur is lured to destroy all of Asgard. This scene is tense and heavy, especially when witnessing the incredible destruction Surtur carries out.

This is arguably necessary violence – with Thor using Surtur to destroy Hela with Asgard, thus protecting them from the threat of his sister – but the implications of what is actually happening here, comedy aside, are pretty intense, as Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame later explore. Seeing how a terrifying, demonic force like Surtur is able to cleave through all of Asgard, destroying it entirely, is a horrifying prospect. Understanding how the Asgardians have lost everything they’ve ever had in the midst of this horror adds an emotional level to the Marvel film, totally changing the MCU in a major way.

2

Hulk Wreaks Horrifying Destruction At The University

Hulk’s Violent Potential Is Given Full Focus

The Incredible Hulk may be among the lower-rated MCU films, but there is quite a bit that the film does right. This scene is an excellent example, where Hulk’s fury is captured in bright daylight. Beginning with a frightening transformation, the impact of Hulk’s roar on the gathered soldiers quickly establishes the danger and tension in this scene.

With Betty Ross terrified as Hulk rushes across the fields, knocking over tanks and ignoring bullets like they were nothing more than bugs, this scene captures the genuine horror of the Hulk. Seeing how the character’s rage materializes physically is terrifying. Seeing how easily everyone and everything are beaten back by the Hulk shows exactly why so many in-universe fear the character, and why his path of destruction is so often something that makes him far less trusted as a hero than many other notable Marvel figures.

The Experience Of Transformation Is Terrifying

This scene from the 2003 film presents Bruce’s difficult first transformation into the Hulk. This emotional scene shows Bruce wandering about in the darkness, experiencing hints of the transformation that he must face. Through its dim colors and tense screams, this scene sets up the challenges Bruce faces when it comes to the Hulk, and how painful it is to let the Hulk out.

The Hulk remains such a popular character because he is so terrifying. Capturing both sides of the complicated hero – that of a brilliant scientific mind with a rageful soul within – is important to telling Hulk stories. Ultimately, seeing the horror captured in so many of these important scenes only helps to highlight how the Hulk works. Hopefully, the Hulk has the opportunity to be involved in more frightening stories that let him be used to his fullest potential in the future.

Hulk

Created By: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk (1962)
Alias: Robert Bruce Banner
Alliance: Avengers, Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Pantheon, Warbound, S.M.A.S.H., Secret Avengers
Franchise: Marvel

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