Monsters under the bed? We think not. But better check your walk-in freezers and coolers.
As Halloween approaches, with fright and scare, you better beware of the demon in the fridge (Ghostbusters 1984). One often overlooked element that plays a crucial role in creating the spine-chilling anticipation is the atmosphere in which scary movie scenes take place. All too surprising, walk-in freezers and coolers are a common setting for some of the most iconic horror movie scenes. Join us as we take a closer look at the many chilling chambers of walk-in coolers and freezers featured in scary movies.
Meat Coolers
It is no surprise that one of the most common walk-in freezer or cooler settings in scary movies takes place in meat coolers and lockers. The cold, dimly lit interior, and blockades of meat carcasses provides the perfect atmosphere for suspense and fright.
In a Halloween classic, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Pam is locked inside a large walk-in freezer, awaiting her impending doom, shivering, and quivering.
But that’s not the only horror movie featuring meat coolers. Saw III (2006), utilized Gideon Meatpacking Plant meat cooler as one of their traps. Leaving the helpless victim to freeze to death.
Morgue Coolers
Morgue coolers on their own offer a sense of mortality and eeriness. The thought of bodies lining the walls of these coolers is enough to keep most on the edge of their seats. Add in unusual and unsolved murders and you have the perfect environment for chilling scenes and that is exactly what The X-Files (2018) did across many episodes in their series.
In The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) viewers suggest the morgue cooler scene as one of the scariest scenes in horror movies of all time. With almost the entirety of the movie taking place in the morgue the morgue coolers are at the forefront of many scenes. One scene in particular provides a superior sense of tension among viewers when the morgue coolers are all open and the bodies have gone missing, making viewers fear the paranormal presence of Jane Doe.
Walk-In Freezers
While many horror scenes take place in walk-freezers its not always just the chilling temperatures that causes fear, but the fact that they often feature paranormal events and hauntings.
The Shining (1980), a beloved Halloween horror movie loved by every generation features a walk-in freezer scene that is not to be forgotten. As Jack becomes more deranged, he chases after his wife Wendy. Wendy hits him with a bat over the head and drags his incapacitated body into the walk-in freezer used for food preservation storage. When Jack comes to inside the freezer he is met with the ghost of Grady, the former caretaker of the hotel who murdered his wife and two children, then died by suicide.
One question common among viewers is, how did Jack get himself out of the freezer? Was it an act of Grady, the ghost in the freezer or was Jack able to find the emergency latch allowing him to escape? We may never know, but with the theme of the season, we are going to go with the paranormal for our guess.
In the horror movie The Blob (1958), young Steve McQueen and his friend hide in a walk-in freezer to avoid the terror that is going on outside. The walk-in was in his father’s grocery store, where many coolers are held. They had to escape the people-consuming blob that would end their world as they knew it.
Walk-In Freezer & Cooler Safety
Locked in a cooler or freezer? Not to worry, it’s likely just a movie. These films are all fictitious as walk-in coolers and freezers are manufactured with functional inside release handles so you won’t have any problem escaping them.
Conclusion
As you prepare for this Halloween season with the scary movie marathons don’t forget to pay attention to the many walk-in coolers and freezers featured in your favorite Halloween movies. These chilling settings add to the anticipation of the already scary scenes. Whether it’s the meat lockers, morgue coolers, or walk-in freezers, these products have become iconic in the world of horror.
