The movie industry has delighted fans across the decades with a wealth of horror films that have caused viewers to hide behind their popcorn or cover their eyes with a pillow when watching a late-night horror movie at home. Horror fans will have vivid recollections of classic films, such as The Shining, and the memorable quotes from this, such as “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, delivered by Jack Nicholson at his absolute manic best as he terrorizes his own family in the remote hotel they are taking care of. More modern horror films, such as the Alien Trilogy, have used a range of standard horror techniques, such as jump scares, unsettling audio, and visual effects to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat whilst never fully knowing where the monster is lurking. Many viewers love horror films for the simple fact that they enjoy feeling frightened but also knowing that they are in a completely safe environment. Put simply, the exhilaration that comes from being scared and the adrenaline it creates is what keeps moviegoers coming back to see the latest horror films. Across the history of cinema and filmmaking, a few horror films have also incorporated gambling scenes to further elevate the excitement and perceptions of danger that can be instilled in this genre. This article describes three horror movies (one of which is not specifically a horror film per se, but has a truly horrific supporting actor who chills and frightens the audience) that depict some incredibly intense gambling scenes.
Resident Evil: Extinction
Gambling played a large part in the film Resident Evil: Extinction, which was a continuation of the film franchise starring Mila Jovovich. This film was the third chapter in the series and takes place in the world’s gambling capital, Las Vegas. However, the location is not how it looks in the real world due to the zombie apocalypse that has taken place. Monsters and mutated zombies roam the area and the casino city has been turned into a burned-out and extremely dangerous version of its former glory. The gambling scenes in this film were well constructed and planned out. In addition, the thrilling battles with the infected hordes make for some truly terrifying viewing. In one scene, Mila Jovovich reaches the umbrella corporation headquarters and is trapped in a corridor where the computer security system unleashes moving laser devices that can cut through bones and skin. Faced with an almost certain death, the heroine must jump up into the air duct system to narrowly escape being eviscerated before jumping down into the next room, gambling that it will be safe and free of additional traps and terrors. Whilst this film was a popular entry into the Resident Evil franchise amongst fans of the series and featured some breathtaking frights and action sequences, it did not impress the movie critics and scored a poor 24% on rotten tomatoes.
The Haunted Casino
The Haunted Casino is an often overlooked film amongst movie fans and was released in 2007 without receiving a huge amount of media attention and publicity. As with the Resident Evil film, it is set in Las Vegas, the home of gambling, and features several dedicated gambling scenes across a range of casino games, such as are pinpointed here. The real twist with this horror film is that the casino is haunted by ghosts of mobsters from the 1940s. When a group of friends move to Las Vegas to take charge of the casino that has been inherited from an uncle, they soon find that their guests are not seeking thrills and excitement simply from playing cards but wish to play for the ultimate high stakes in the form of the souls of the group of friends. Some intense card scenes follow where life itself is at stake in the outcome.
Goodfellas
Whilst the focus of the film Goodfellas is firmly on the criminal exploits of some of America’s most notorious gangsters, many movie fans recognize Joe Pesci’s performance as being one of the most horrifying in modern cinema. Few horror films come close to having a villain quite as frightening as that portrayed by Joe Pesci. Playing the manic and severely unhinged Tommy DeVito, Joe Pesci terrorises other mobsters with his unpredictability and propensity for extreme violence. In a classic gambling scene, Tommy and his gangster friends are playing a game of cards for money. A young boy named “Spider” is serving the group drinks as they play. Tommy starts to antagonize and make fun of the boy before shooting at his feet in a macabre attempt to mimic old western movies. This results in the boy getting shot in the foot and needing medical treatment. In a truly brutal performance, Tommy continues to mock the unfortunate boy as he limps away to the hospital. This scene, along with other standout moments cemented Joe Pesci’s portrayal as one of the most vicious and frightening supporting actors. In addition, it resulted in him winning the Oscar for best-supporting actor due to his horrific depiction of the psychotic gangster.
