The Wilhelm scream
 

It's a scream we've heard for years. It's recognizable and it can be irritating.

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I've mostly ever thought about the scream as just a thing for movies to use cuz It's corny, funny, or whatever. Has had a nice fun life. Rocshemp though brought up that he hated it. Which made me think. Well...do I hate it? Or when do I hate it? Do I even like it?

I KNOW the earliest memory I have of that scream is from Batman Returns. It stood out to me as a kid. Just...sounds so different from all the other screams that one can hear. Stood out pretty good for me. It's used a lot.

So after Rocshemp's statement, I started to kind of self analyse my experiences with it.

In the historical sense, I do like it. It's fun to see stuff like that still used. Even be iconic after all these years.

In the use of it though I am a bit more critical. Certain films fit it and some don't. To me it all breaks down to the tone and visual of the film. Can such a scream exist in the context of the film text? A weird question but yeah. It works really good in the SW (the orignals cuz I can't remember the prequels well...thankfully) and IJ films due to the tonal nature or visual design involved with them at times. Same goes for Team America and Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. It works in there based on the design of films.


It's fun to see an audience recognize it. It's hit the pop culture consciousness of it's overuse.

Having seen The Hobbit part 2, I didn't like it's use in there. It doesn't fit it's design for me. Though it worked in Jackson's Kong. Bothered me in Man of Steel. Just didn't mesh for me. It stood out as distracting element. It is overused and probably abused much more than it needs to be for filmmakers to be cheeky about it.

Anyway...do you like the Wilhelm scream?

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

Way overplayed. It was funny when it showed up occasionally, but now it's in literally everything including dumb kids movies. I always liked the Howie scream more.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

It was used in ROTK, too.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

If you don't know it exists, you never hear it.

If people point it out to you, you hear it all the time.

CONCLUSION: Wipe everyone's memory.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I know it exists, but I never notice it. People point it out, and I forget about it and still never notice it.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I almost never notice it.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

It was used very effectively in "Yor, the Hunter from the Future."

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I notice it a lot. It's a bit overused but it doesn't bother me in most circumstances. When it's used in more serious movies/scenes is when it sticks out like a sore thumb.

I must have first noticed it in Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies because that's what I associate it with the most.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

It's like catching a CRM114, TK421, A113, 1138, 42 or 19 reference: a little inside joke for those paying attention.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

It's become a lttle self - aware and overused, but I still enjoy hearing it when it happens.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

Heard it while watching 'Bounty Killer' and I chuckled warmly...

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I use to love it. Now I can't stand it. It takes me right out of the movie/show the second I hear it.

The joke's old and needs to be put out to pasture.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I still like it.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

Honestly I only hear it in those compilation videos. When I'm watching the actual movie, I don't notice it. Even AFTER seeing the scenes in the videos.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I can relate with the scream because that's exactly how I sound when I bust a nut.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I never notice it. I probably also don't watch enough of the kinds of films that would use need to use it.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I'm aware of it but it doesn't bother me.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

Didn't mind it at first, but once it was used on a main character (Buzz Lightyear) the hatred suddenly grew.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I don't mind it. Don't notice it that often really.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

Always good for a chuckle. I noticed it in Hobbit I.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I prefer this one:

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

Hate it. It's became way overused and stands out too much.

Blargh!
Blargh!
Blargh!
Blargh!

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

Me too.

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

I hear it all the time ... it is in the new Twix commercial :)

Re: The Wilhelm scream
 

Sums up my thoughts exactly. Might as well have the words "Remember. This is just a movie." flash on the screen.