Why THIS Was One Of The Most Terrifying Scenes In Film History

The Coen Brothers award winning film No Country for Old Men delivered one of the most terrifying villains in movie history. Javier Bardem, as Anton Chigurh, delivers a bone chilling performance that could rival any horror villain of the last 30 years. He is quiet, but calculated, going after anyone that might get in his way. No Country for Old Men will be remembered for a lot of things, but Anton Chigurh will be at the top of that list.

Written by Chris Teregis & Richard Kuras
Edited by Dan Smiley

#NoCountryForOldMen #AntonChigurh #Nerdstalgic

[Nerdstalgic]

What do you think is the scariest scene in film history?

[rhetiq]

The best thing about this movie is how it manages to make us feel terrified of a guy branding a Lord Farquaad haircut in broad daylight

[joeyeulo]

Gene Jones, the actor playing the gas station owner, is so good. He's so harmless here but is also so intimidating in a movie called The Sacrament, where he plays the leader of a Jonestown-like cult. Extremely underrated actor.

[andiezero]

In an article in GQ Magazine, Javier Bardem's own brother was sooo freaked out by his performance as Anton Chigurh in this movie, that when the lights turned on after the end of the film showing, he turned to Javier, and reportedly said : " Get the f__k away from me, man ! " .Bardem really nailed the ultimate homicidal psychopathic role !

[JimmyOlsson]

We know what Javier Bardem contributes to this iconic scene, but we must not forget how good Gene Jones is as the Gas Station Proprietor. The confusion and uncertainty in his face is absolutely believable and adds a lot to the fateful tension in the scene!

[pythagorasaurusrex]

Usually it's a common thing in a movie theatre you hear people mumbling, slurping drinks and chewing popcorn. During this scene I realized that suddenly there was no sound at all but the two characters on the screen. It was dead silence, people literally holding their breath from the tension. Indeed one of the most iconic scenes in movie history ever.

[LGioGA]

Man, that gas station guy must be terrified to talk to anyone ever again.

“Haha, my kids can get annoying sometimes.”
“That'll be $5.60”

[jasonnewbery]

I LOVED his final line. “Then it will get mixed with the others and become JUST a coin…..which it is”. Absolutely chilling, intelligent, and deliberate. Awesome scene

[coffeetalk]

Also creepy was when another man asked Anton the question, "Are you going to kill me?" To which Anton remaining quiet for a moment as if amused partly smiles and then replied, "That depends. Do you see me?"

[BillykOTW]

I find it hilarious that Anton seems to be please that he won the coin toss. His whole demeanor changes, like he just saved his life.

[grapeshot]

He was without a doubt one of the best villains I've seen in a movie.

[MERKAMGCLK]

Javier Bardem is a spectacular actor. His role here and as the villian in James Bond. Everything is so subtly under played. Yet is so powerful and dangerous .

What is so great about Bardem is that in real life he is so nice, funny and self deprecating. A true class act.

[jeolban]

That was the scariest and tensest scene I have ever seen in my life. I watched the film thinking it would just be another serial killer flick I'd forget about minutes after watching it, but that scene is something I will never forget.

[FinancialShinanigan]

Gas station guy on his deathbed:
"That guy with the coin was weird."

[richmoreno]

I actually saw this scene at a friends house when I came over. She was already watching it. Without even knowing Anton’s character or what movie it was, I was already creeped out and captivated by this scene. If something can pull you in that quickly from one scene alone, I consider that to be excellent script writing.

[scottrobertson]

This scene is brilliantly crafted to create an immense emotional response. You are literally saying No!! ...this poor old insignificant innocent man does not deserve what he could possibly by chance get. The brothers are true artisan's!

[klhmia]

The weapon he used was one of the most insidious parts of the movie for me, especially after looking it up. It's called a 'Captive Bolt Stunner' and was invented with the sole intention of euthanasia which I also found interesting. Anton Chigurh seems brutal and savage, yet uses a tool that is meant to minimize pain and suffering on inevitable death.

[rayneozier]

Hitchcock had a great speech about building suspense. “You show 2 people at a table talking about baseball. Then you have the camera pan down to reveal a bomb with a 2 minute timer under the table. Then you have you characters continue talking about baseball. The audience is gonna be like OMG stop talking about baseball, there’s a bomb under the table!” Having the audience be knowledgeable about stakes that your characters are unaware of is an excellent way to build suspense/tension. This scene is a great example of that. We as the audience and Anton are aware of the stakes, but the shopkeeper isn’t. I think that’s a big reason why Anton seems so terrifying in this scene in particular.

[t.damianboyle]

Javier Bardem is so believable as this character that it is truly spooky to observe. He is way too close for comfort. Genius acting and directing.

[andrewcattini]

The reason this scene is so terrifying is that it’s so believable. I can recall an incident when one innocent comment I made almost resulted in a fight, due to the other party (who was drunk, and in hindsight one of those guys who goes a bit Joe Pesci for the smallest of reasons). It’s so real. A conversation can turn immediately when one of those involved has those type of tendencies.

You can make films as gruesome and sick as you want but films such as The Vanishing (and this) are far more terrifying for that reason, because they are believable.