The sequel to the original hit horror film “Alien” features a lot more firepower, including the M56 Smart Gun. According to the IMFDB, “These weapons were constructed from German MG42 machine guns with the grip and stock removed. The body-mount apparatus was constructed from the arm & vest of a ‘Steadicam’ camera stabilisation system. ‘Dressing’ on the MG42 was constructed from various motorcycle parts, most notably the handlebars used for the weapon’s trigger and grips.” Private Vasquez can be seen here firing the M56 after yelling the iconic line, “Let’s rock!”
The character of Ash (Bruce Campbell) famously refers to this 12 gauge Stoeger Coach Gun as his “boomstick” when he battles the undead during the 1992 horror-comedy “Army of Darkness.” He uses it during a few pivotal scenes in the film. In one scene, he incorrectly identifies this shotgun as a Remington, which, if you’re familiar with the character, isn’t a surprise.
Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) wields the Smith & Wesson Model 15 revolver as he chases masked killer Michael Myers in this groundbreaking slasher flick. He famously uses the S&W Model 15 to shoot Michael Myers six times in the chest during the film’s climactic scene.
In this sci-fi horror classic, the members of an Antarctic research station battle an alien parasite that imitates and assimilates other life forms. What’s the best way to deal with such an opponent? A M2A1-7 Flamethrower, of course! This bad boy is used by a few different characters in the movie, most famously by MacReady (Kurt Russell, seen here).
The M134 Minigun is carried by Sgt. Blaine Cooper (Jesse Ventura) in “Predator.” IMFDB says this gun was modified for handheld use via a M60 handguard assembly installed backwards beneath the barrels, as well as a rear pistol grip taken from Minigun spade grips. The grips are then attached by a Y-frame with a M16-style carry handle mounted to the recoil absorbers. The minigun is also used by Sgt. Mac Eliot (Bill Duke, seen here) after Blaine is killed by the Predator.
The late, great Wes Craven launched a major comeback with the release of “Scream” in 1996. Aside from the knife used by the killer Ghostface, the weapon most commonly seen in the film is the Beretta 92FS. It’s used by multiple characters, including Billy (Skeet Ulrich, seen here) and Stu (Matthew Lillard).
In this groundbreaking film that launched a legion of imitators, Ben (Duane Jones) finds a Winchester Model 1894 in the house where he seeks refuge from the horde of zombies outside. He carries it with him and uses it for the majority of the movie.
Arguably the greatest horror film of all time, “Jaws” features the M1 Garand in some of its most intense sequences. Orca captain Quint (Robert Shaw) keeps the M1 Garand on his boat. Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) says one of the most quotable lines in cinema history before firing the shot that brings down the giant shark: “Smile you son of a bitch!”
We couldn’t have a list like this without including something from the “Friday the 13th” series. In the sixth installment, Deputy Rick Cologne (Vincent Guastaferro) uses a Dan Wesson Model 15-VH with a massive laser sight attachment. It’s not enough to stop Jason from doing his thing, however.
In this memorable 2004 British horror-comedy, Shaun (Simon Pegg, seen here) finds the Winchester Model 1866 “Yellow Boy” at the Winchester pub, and uses it to take out multiple zombies before the rifle runs out of ammo.
Charlie Hewitt, a.k.a. Sheriff Winston Hoyt (Our good friend “The Gunny” R. Lee Ermey) carries the Ruger Vaquero as his sidearm during the 2006 film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.” As IMFDB points out, there’s a flaw here: the film takes place in 1969, but the Vaquero wasn’t produced until 1980. In any event, this Vaquero-wielding lawman is no ordinary sheriff: he’s actually the foster brother of chainsaw-wielding maniac Leatherface.
The Springfield M1As in this 2007 British horror film have actually been modified to resemble the M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS), IMFDB says. Doyle (Jeremy Renner, seen here) can be seen using one, with a Parker & Hale bipod, Leupold scope and urban camo.
In the 2004 remake of George A. Romero’s 1978 classic (itself a sequel to “Night of the Living Dead,” Andy (Bruce Bohne), the owner of a gun store across from the mall where the film’s action takes place, owns a Winchester Model 70 with a camo stock and folding bipod, which he memorably uses to kill zombies in a twisted version of Hollywood Squares.
With Halloween on the horizon, we thought it appropriate to interrupt our regularly scheduled programming. Instead, we’re taking a little detour into the spooky, strange and weird world of horror movies.
You’re no doubt familiar with Freddy Krueger’s iconic finger-blade glove from the Nightmare On Elm Street series. You’re probably aware of Jason Voorhees’ trusty machete used in all 12 (and counting) “Friday the 13th” films. You might even be acquainted with the chainsaw used by the creepy Leatherface in the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”franchise. But can you name any firearms used in these movies?
Scroll through the gallery above to learn more about 13 guns that can be seen in some of the most famous, or infamous, horror films of the past 50 years. Deciding which firearms would make the cut wasn’t an easy task. However, we’re confident we’ve come up with a worthy selection that will put you in the Halloween spirit.
Like what you see above? Check out the Internet Movie Firearms Database at IMFDB.org.
And here’s a little bonus for you. Watch the famous GE M134 Minigun (used at the 20-second mark) from “Predator” in action. [Note: Brief explicit language used in the clip]
