The Scariest Things Episode 142: Our Favorite Horror Couples

Our favorite paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Via Farmiga) in The Conjuring 2 Couples. Partners. Lovers. Siblings. Spouses. Besties. Some of the most fascinating horror characters come in pairs. Whether they team up for good or evil, these characters are inextricably linked together to their fates. In Episode 142 we explore some of our favorite horror duets.

At first, we had talked about making a Valentine’s Day episode. Horror for Lovers! But then when we decided upon saying horror couples, that brought up all sorts of fun opportunities. More than just romantic pairs, what about siblings? Best buddies? The power of the complimentary couple opens the drama up for collaboration, dialogue, tension, comedy, and inspiration.

Some of the best tropes are tied to couples. Beauty and the Beast. Evil twins. “Not without my spouse!” The buddy road trip. The investigative pair. Couples who kill together. Dysfunctional families.

True, it’s hard to find a movie that doesn’t involve couples in some way. But what we wanted to explore was movies that hinged on the pairing as a primary motivating engine for the story. Movies that relied upon the strength of the two characters. If you think of the movie, and you have to consider both characters, then it’s a pair worth talking about.

For the purpose of this podcast, we are ruling out the antagonistic duos. So, no Michael Myers and Laurie Strode. No Freddy and Nancy. No King Kong and Ann Darrow (though I was certainly tempted). Some consideration could be made to couples who start as partners and end as enemies (Get Out, the Shining) but for the most part, what we concentrated on was couples who worked together or were romantic partners.

Plenty to choose from, right? Who would you have picked?

Sweeny Todd and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) John and Evelyn in Hounds of Love (2014) Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) Duane and Belial (in basket) in Basket Case (1982) Liz and Shaun in Shaun of the Dead (2004) Shaun and Ed in Shaun of the Dead (2004) Michel and Lola in Alleluja (2014) Chris and Tina in Sightseers (2012) Evan and Louise in Spring (2014) Ed and Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring (2013) The Bride and The Monster in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Eve and Adam in Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) Jackie and Jules in What Keeps You Alive (2018) Chucky and Tiffany in Bride of Chucky (1998) Glen and Nancy in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Elliot and Beverly Mantle in Dead Ringers (1988) Alex and David in An American Werewolf in London (1981) Evelyn and Lee Abbott in A Quiet Place (2018) Rose and Chris in Get Out (2018) Brigitte and Ginger in Ginger Snaps (2000) Godzilla and Mothra Lukas and Elias Schwarz in Goodnight Mommy (2014) Melanie and Derek in Mayhem (2017) Diane and Steve Freeling in Poltergeist (1982) Mark and Anna in Posession (1980) Jack and Wendy Torrance in The Shining (1980_ Veronica and Seth in The Fly (1986) Milo and Sophie in The Transifguration (2016) Tree and Carter in Happy Death Day (2017) Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) Oscar and Eli in Let the Right One In (2008) Frank and Julia in Hellraiser (1987) Elisa and the Amphibious Man in The Shape of Water (2017) Soo-mi and Soo-Yeon Bae in A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)