Disney’s Snow White Has a Surprise Horror Sequence

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Summary

  • Early Disney animations were rooted in horror, but modern Disney shies away despite Snow White‘s horror setpiece.
  • Live-action films sanitizes horror sequences, but Snow White’s adaptation fully embraces and enhances the haunted forest scene.
  • Snow White’s haunted forest sequence is objectively real, aligning with the theme of empathy changing the world around her.

As a movie enthusiast who appreciates the chills and thrills that horror films offer, it’s fascinating to delve into how horror has been interwoven in Disney’s storytelling approach since its early animation days. The pioneers at Walt Disney’s studio fearlessly explored the horror genre, extracting maximum tension, suspense, and dread in a manner that was nothing short of extraordinary. However, it seems today’s Disney is more keen on steering clear from any hint of horror, perhaps out of concern for maintaining a comfortable viewing experience for their audience.

In many cases, the live-action Disney remakes have chosen to soften or eliminate scary sequences from the original animated movies. Yet, it’s surprising that the live-action Snow White includes a shocking horror scene right in the first part of the story instead.

Although ‘horror’ and ‘Disney’ may not immediately seem related today, it’s a reflection of the studio’s modern approach rather than the original intentions. In truth, Walt Disney and his initial animation team were skilled in creating horror content. Some of Disney’s earliest shorts, such as “The Haunted House” from 1929, “The Mad Doctor” from 1933, and “Lonesome Ghosts” from 1937, were deeply rooted in the horror genre. Interestingly, these early productions even featured Mickey Mouse, a character who is now handled with such care that it seems Disney is hesitant to use him at all. It appears that the original creative team recognized the potential of horror to heighten the drama in their stories, making the eventual triumph of characters like Mickey Mouse in the final act even more impactful. If audiences genuinely worried about Mickey’s safety during the storyline, his victory would be even more moving.

In the following years, this approach to the horror genre became more persistent and widespread. The 1937 short “The Old Mill” demonstrated a striking ability to create horror effectively, building suspense through its escalating orchestral soundtrack with powerful results. With this mastery of the genre, Disney and his team transitioned into feature films, carrying their skills with them. From the spooky forest scene in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” to the transformation sequence involving a donkey in “Pinocchio” to the malevolent delight of the “Night on Bald Mountain” segment in “Fantasia” to the Headless Horseman scene in “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad”, Disney’s golden age of animated feature films were brimming with genuinely scary visuals and expertly crafted horror scenes.

Modern Disney’s Aversion to Horror

Modern Disney, strikingly different from its past, shows little interest in horror films. The art of creatively frightening audiences while maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere has largely been forsaken by the studio. A notable example is the live-action remakes of their classic animated movies. For instance, the visually groundbreaking “Pink Elephants” sequence in Dumbo was omitted and even ridiculed in the live-action adaptation. The disturbing donkey transformation scene in Pinocchio was significantly softened to the point of unrecognizability. Even the fantastical creatures ‘hephalumps and woozles’ from Winnie the Pooh were eliminated from the story of Christopher Robin, resulting in a less engaging and less emotionally impactful experience overall.

Given all that’s been discussed, it might have seemed logical to assume that the live-action version of Snow White would either scale back or eliminate entirely the famous haunted forest scene in its new interpretation. However, quite contrary to expectations, this is not the case. Instead, the revamped Snow White not only retains the haunted forest scene, but it amplifies it significantly while also integrating it as a crucial highlight for the film’s main themes.

It’s important to mention that Dario Argento, a renowned Italian horror filmmaker known for his acclaimed work, held a deep affection for the original tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. He admired the film for its striking beauty and terror, and when creating his groundbreaking horror masterpiece, Suspiria (1977), he aimed to replicate this unique blend. To achieve this, Argento employed three-strip Technicolor film printing, a technique rarely used at that time, to mimic the vivid colors seen in Disney’s original production. Furthermore, Argento designed several sequences within Suspiria to echo scenes from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, particularly referencing the ominous forest sequences. The latest adaptation of Snow White draws inspiration not only from the haunted forest sequence in the classic animated film but also from Argento’s Suspiria, creating some truly captivating parallels.

Disney Embraces the Haunted Forest in Snow White

In the initial animated movie, the spooky forest scene showcases grand cinematic flair and spectacle. It depicts Snow White perceiving trees with grasping claws and logs transforming into monsters in the water, but following the sequence, these events are suggested as her personal, subjective encounter with the woods. The audience isn’t intended to accept that such occurrences actually happened to her, but rather, they symbolize the fear and distress Snow White experiences after the Huntsman reveals the Queen intends to harm her. The live-action adaptation expands on this link in captivating ways.

In the real-life adaptation of “Snow White,” the ominous forest scene is not just suggested, but fully realized as a terrifying, living entity trying to harm Snow White. The dialogue hints at the forest’s magic, but instead of portraying it as a personal experience, the forest is filled with malevolent life. Trees reach out with claws, monsters circle menacingly around her, and the ground splits open like a gateway to Hell beneath her feet. Furthermore, the cinematography and set design of this sequence mirror that of “Suspiria,” using vivid periwinkle blues and fiery reds as striking contrasts in every shot.

Snow White Truly Justifies the Choice

This scene stands out remarkably, deviating significantly from the usual visual style of the movie. Remarkably so, it’s a surprise to find such unconventional decisions in a Disney live-action film. However, there’s more to appreciate here than just the novelty. In fact, what makes this scene truly remarkable is how seamlessly these choices have been integrated into the overall narrative by director Marc Webb. This isn’t merely an interesting departure; it’s a testament to the creative control the live-action film asserts over its own visual identity.

One significant idea running through the live-action version of Snow White is that the protagonist’s empathy significantly transforms her surroundings. In a chilly, harsh setting, Rachel Zegler’s Snow White consistently shows kindness and warmth to others, which noticeably impacts these characters. The haunted forest scene serves as a visual representation of this concept: following Snow White’s emergence from the lake, the forest remains gloomy and Argento-like. However, her display of compassion towards an approaching creature causes the forest to brighten around her, revealing it to be shy woodland creatures. This scene also sets one of the film’s key visual symbols: fireflies, which symbolize Snow White and her ability to illuminate the world around her literally.

Despite the extensive discussions about the classic tale of Snow White, one aspect that seldom gets highlighted is its remarkable opening sequence that significantly adds to the film’s impact. In the initial twenty minutes, the movie incorporates a chilling horror scene reminiscent of Dario Argento’s style, which contributes substantially to both the storyline and the overall themes, offers a platform for the filmmakers to demonstrate their expertise, showcases the incredible potential of Rachel Zegler as a scream queen, and even pays homage to Walt Disney himself.

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2025-04-04 15:36