MovieChat Forums > Unsolved Mysteries (1987) Discussion > What makes is it so scary?

What makes is it so scary?

posted 8 years ago by Mr_Ectoplasma
11 replies | jump to latest

I grew up on this show and like so many was horrified by/simultaneously obsessed with it.

The Dennis Farina repackaging of the show has never had the same affect as the old Robert Stack episodes, yet they use the same footage—and yet I still am not entirely sure what it is that makes the show so damned scary. Sure, Stack's voice and cadence was creepy, and the theme song is also unbelievably—so is it just those two things, or all of it together? The footage which was recycled for the Farina episodes, while creepy, doesn't have the same punch as it does in the old episodes, so that tells me something I guess.

I have a bunch of the old broadcasts that were ripped from VHS and burned onto DVD-Rs for me as a gift, and I went through a period several months ago where I was bingewatching them at night in my apartment, but I would get so creeped out by some of the episodes that I'd have to turn it off—and I'm a 26 year old male.

I think that part of it has to do with the fact that many of the cases profiled on the show—horrific murders, bizarre disappearances, etc.—occurred so long ago, and will likely never be solved. It's almost like watching those old episodes is like looking into a void, or at snapshots of something horrific, inexplicable, or mysterious that happened in the past; things that still can't be answered, but have largely been forgotten in time.

That's just me though hypothesizing. It's very strange how this show managed to be so scary to so many people, and how the recycled Farina episodes were so much the opposite.

[–] oldiesgyrl 8 years ago

So many factors can be added which contributed to the mark this show has made, but Robert's voice (and presence as a whole) significantly contributed to the dynamic. I find it difficult to describe how much of an impact he had in terms of having had the ability to spur fright with his diction and tone. For so many years I have been in awe of that, and to this day my interest in the show hasn't waned.

Not to discredit Dennis, but he simply lacked the depth as well as the demeanor as the host of this show in particular.

[–] mcdemuth 8 years ago

There was a series of "Best Of" DVD sets of the original unsolved mysteries released several years ago. I had compared one of the segments, featured in both versions.

The footage in the new version was edited a bit. A lot of bloat was cut out, so the story telling was a bit tighter. That made the segment a bit shorter in running time too.

Perhaps, with the way the original footage was NOT cut, it allowed for the Great Narration and Creepy Music to linger with the audience a tad during pauses, especially before going to commercial (or the next segment). And that is what did it.

Even though, I am very familiar with those DVDs now, and know what to expect from each segment, I still get creeped out watching some of those segments, and I don't like to watch them in the dark...

Bob, Thank You for making a great show. We Miss You.

[–] hilaryjrp 8 years ago

So many factors can be added which contributed to the mark this show has made, but Robert's voice (and presence as a whole) significantly contributed to the dynamic.

Original post is great reading. Stack unquestionably heightened the show's mystery. The music was indispensable mystery in itself. The not knowing played such an important role. Whenever the "UPDATE" and the up-tempo synthesizer music would come on, the atmosphere would be broken. Technology applied to mystery = Post-Internet Lack of Suspense.

This was the 80's. No internet. Anyone who watches old repeats of the show without having lived through the Dark Ages pre-internet will never understand how frightening those Dark Ages themselves were.

Life before the internet was frightening.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Butrflie7 8 years ago

I think it was the music from the original one with Stack, along with his voice. Gave me chills?

[–] AmyJolamb 8 years ago

I loved this as a kid & teen. I still do but my sister & dad refused to watch it. They both were creeped out by the fact these were true stories. They wouldn't watch Cops or America's Most Wanted either. They both said it gave them nightmares. Yet my dad did watch the news. Lol

[–] Strannger (2007) 8 years ago

The scenery, his voice, music and Robert Stake. He seemed unearthly himself

[–] specterkev (117) 7 years ago

Stack being creepy his voice the music was creepy in the stories that were unsolved it could happen to you was what made it creepy to me. I still watch farina's version but it ain't the same but I still enjoy it

[–] Faridah (1363) 7 years ago

Stack is the one who made it scary. Love his voice!

[–] TommyJarvis82 (2563) 5 years ago

The straightforward, old school documentary style of the early seasons was a big part of the creepiness.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

One word: hillbillies.

There's hillbillies everywhere and they're always up to no good. They're like clowns but without the high fashion sense.