12 Times Your Favorite Comic Book Movies Scared the Crap Out of You

Yup, even Marvel and DC movies can be more than just heroes saving the day from CG set pieces. Sometimes, they can be truly disturbing -- if not downright scary. Here are the comic book movies that almost made our skin crawl.

Joker's Joy Buzzer in 'Batman' (1989)

In hindsight, Jack Nicholson's Joker isn't quite as far removed from the campy Cesar Romero version as we all gave him credit for at the time. But scenes like this one do show a much darker, more demented side of the Clown Prince of Crime. How many childhoods were irrevocably scarred at the sight of Joker gloating over a charred gangster corpse?

Penguin's Death in 'Batman Returns' (1992)

Danny DeVito's Penguin may well be the most grotesque Batman villain ever committed to film. That's especially true given his unsettling death scene in the climax of "Batman Returns." No longer the gloating madman, Penguin became reduced to rasping and coughing up black blood. More family friendly fun from Tim Burton's Batman.

Quinn Lives in 'Blade' (1998)

Donal Logue's Quinn is the character who couldn't be killed in the first "Blade." That running gag fueled one of the creepier scenes in the film, as Quinn woke up after being burnt alive and had himself a snack. We never know whether to feel bad for the guy or root for his death.

Scarecrow's Nightmare in 'Batman Begins' (2005)

"Batman Begins" is notable for taking a much more grounded and realistic approach to the Caped Crusader than previous films, which only makes this scene stand out all the more. After Scarecrow is hit with a dose of his own medicine, we see Batman morph into a hulking, oozing demon right before our eyes. That's one way to strike fear into the hearts of criminals.

Kevin's Death in 'Sin City' (2005)

Pretty much any scene in "Sin City" featuring Elijah Wood as the mute, psychopathic killer Kevin ranks as truly scary. But weirdly, the character is at his most terrifying during his death scene. Seeing him calmly smile even as his body is hacked into pieces and fed to a wolf is the stuff nightmares are made of.

Joker's Viral Video in 'The Dark Knight' (2008)

Heath Ledger brought a new level of fear and unease to the role of Joker in "The Dark Knight." Ledger's Joker is never more scary than when he releases a video featuring him torturing an innocent victim and demanding that Batman unmask. It's a frenetic glimpse into the mind of a serial killer.

Hulk Chases Black Widow in 'The Avengers' (2012)

Hulk is generally portrayed as a hero in the various Marvel movies, but the fact remains that he's a raging, unstoppable monster barely held in check by a dweebish scientist. This scene in "The Avengers" conveyed the sheer terror of what it's like to be an ordinary human trying to escape the fury of a rampaging beast.

The Drowning Test in 'Kingsman: The Secret Service' (2014)

We can think of few worse ways to wake up than to see your bedroom rapidly filling with water. That was the nightmare facing our heroes in this "Kingsman" scene. On the plus side, if you can survive drowning in a dorm room, you're probably cut out for the secret agent lifestyle.

The Death of the Starks in 'Captain America: Civil War' (2016)

The Iron Man movies never actually showed us how Tony Stark's cents died, and for good reason, apparently. That reveal instead came in "Captain America: Civil War," thanks to a brutal flashback scene showcasing the Winter Soldier at his absolute worst. This scene is hard to watch because it suddenly transforms Bucky Barnes from the misunderstood underdog to the bad guy.

Harley's Torture in 'Suicide Squad' (2016)

While Jared Leto's Joker isn't most people's favorite incarnation of the iconic villain, one thing "Suicide Squad" did well was show how he could warp Harleen Quintal from ambitious psychiatrist to deranged supervillain sidekick. A gruesome flashback montage shows Joker physically and mentally tormenting Harley, giving some scary insight into what makes a villain like Harley tick.

X24 Comes for Xavier in 'Logan' (2017)

"Logan" hits viewers with a good, old-fashioned jump scare midway through the film. As a tired Xavier reflects on the first good day he's enjoyed in a long time, happiness suddenly morphs into tragedy when it becomes clear that the person he's talking to isn't actually Logan, but his murderous clone. Not how we expected poor Chuck to go out.

Toomes' Discovery in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (2017)

The dramatic highlight of this Spider-Man reboot comes late in the game, as Peter realizes his date's father also happens to be the villainous Vulture. Toomes himself soon realizes the truth about Peter, resulting in an amazingly tense and unsettling scene where both men see each other fully for the first time. It's a scene made all the more scary by Michael Keaton's ridiculously creepy performance.