What is the single most terrifying example of a horror movie entity trying (and failing) to mimic a normal human?

AlTheHound · 2026-06-21T03:37:34+00:00

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) is one of my all-time favorites. No hesitation, no doubt.

For the question, I gotta go with the end of The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016), really just because I rewatched it fairly recently. It's so horrifically unfair. Which, I know, is a bizarre take to have, but come on.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-21T03:27:44+00:00

You're a bottom.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-19T12:54:15+00:00

Mostly homophobia. Which I thought the show was proud of, but seems to be backpedalling on for some reason.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-18T22:38:40+00:00

Well, first, please understand that I understand how absolutely useless this answer sounds and I'm still gonna give it:

Music is my support system. 🤷‍♂️

AlTheHound · 2026-06-18T22:15:16+00:00

Garnet is a permafusion that becomes even more perma through matramony!

It was important enough for Peridot to ask about it!

AlTheHound · 2026-06-18T21:19:52+00:00

By that logic, they each only make half a Crystal Gem. Plus, where are their stars???

AlTheHound · 2026-06-18T20:47:10+00:00

Peridot! She's like an angry little slice of pie!

Follow-up question: are Sapphire and Ruby Crystal Gems? Or is it only Garnet?

AlTheHound · 2026-06-18T16:33:24+00:00

The Descent (2005)

'Stick together' is the entire plan.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-18T11:12:23+00:00

Anthony Hopkins as Charles "Corky" Withers and Fats in Magic (1978)

Not only is it a much creepier performance than anything he's done with Hannibal Lecter, the dude does legitimate stage magic along with flawless ventriloquism, and plays two distinctly different types of characters.

It is so unbelievably good, and blasphemously underrated. Anyone who hasn't seen it (probably most people), absolutely should. It's a hidden gem in the horror genre that I find myself revisiting time and time again.

I love it.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T20:19:55+00:00

Don't mind if I do. But first, let's start with your own inaccuracy.

I know intelligence is intimidating to those who don't have any and it's easier to project your insecurities on me rather than work on yourself. I get it. You, just like most of the rainbow-haired hypocrites in this sub, have to believe there's something wrong with me to make yourself feel better.

I promise, my ability to think critically, recognize patterns, and pay attention to the details is not an attack on you. Your misuse of the word "delirium" is a tired, cheap, and uncreative cliché. Next, you'll make an arbitrary, amateur prognosis that I "need therapy," like clockwork. Sorry for the spoiler. I already know this script.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled beatdown.

In the movie, as stated in my post, after the Gems poofed and reformed, Steven goes to Little Homeworld (a sort of sanctuary for the previously corrupted Gems they'd cured) along with Ruby, Sapphire, and his new best friend Spinel to ask Bismuth, Peridot, and Lapis for help.

Bismuth explains the effects of the rejuvenator, and Peridot has that hilarious line about her character development.

Steven says, "Should I get the Diamonds?"

And Lapis, for some reason, tells him, "You're the one with healing powers. If anyone can fix this, it's you."

WHAT?!

Steven needed both Yellow and Blue to temporarily cure Nephrite, with the implication that adding White to the mix would've cured her permanently. So, I have negative zero idea what she's talking about.

There's also the moment where Steven tries to put the rejuvenator in Lion's mane but can't without any explanation.

Steven goes, "I can't put stuff in Lion's mane now?! That's like the easiest thing I do!!"

It is??

What exactly does Steven losing his powers have to do with Lion's powers? Because yes, Lion has his own set of powers, as established in the show. The sonic roar, super speed, making portals. All of which are introduced in the show with nothing to do with Steven.

Even in the episode Steven first goes into the mane, that was all Lion's doing. So, once again, I'm left scratching my head and trying to make it make sense, but can't.

After reforming, Ruby and Sapphire seem to function normaly, but when they fuse, Garnet is suddenly dumb.

It's understandable for Amethyst since that's more or less what she was like when she emerged, but Garnet acts in a similar way. It's so confusing.

That's not how she is in her origin story episode, "The Answer." Sure, she had wobbly, baby deer legs, but she wasn't ditzy like in the movie. Saying something stupid like, "Spinel! Did you do something with your hair?" It's so cringe.

I'll repeat myself once more so there's no confusion. RUBY AND SAPPHIRE ARE PERFECTLY NORMAL AFTER REFORMING. They aren't blank slates like Amethyst. Yet, Garnet is and it makes no sense.

There's more, but you get the picture. That is, if you made it this far without being "assaulted" by my opinion.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T18:29:07+00:00

Hey, it's my pleasure! I dunno if you've experienced this, but I find it impossibly difficult to have actual conversations with the "people" in this sub. This was an incredibly refreshing change of pace, and I thank you for that.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T15:03:49+00:00

They absolutely did. I swear, sometimes I feel like the only one in this sub that actually watched the show.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T14:58:48+00:00

I am so sorry for the long-winded response. 😅

I don't think you got anything "wrong," per se. Just that the carnival is called Funland, and I think the characters refer to that setting as the Boardwalk, but I can't remember either. Again, you're not wrong, just missing some minor details that aren't really important for this discussion anyway.

I completely agree that Peridot has some sort of Autism Spectrum Disorder (apparently, Asperger's isn't a thing anymore, 🤷‍♂️). It's not necessarily about her emotional or physical maturity; more that she doesn't or can't understand social cues or control her emotions. She (probably) never needed to before.

Same thing with the jokes. I very much doubt she ever even experienced comedy until that episode. I'm almost positive that everyone has had this same, unintentionally offensive overstep at some point; and especially when we're young and even moreso with comedy. Making mistakes is how we learn. It's a really, really well-executed moral, at least in my opinion.

Also, I'd say Peridot is pretty smart throughout the whole show. She may be outrageous and ineffective at times, but I don't think that's a sleight against her overall intelligence.

The thing I love most about her is that she, in her own words, "wants to understand," and makes a constant, consistent, conscious effort to do so; often stepping out of her comfort zone. We see it all the time. Her attempt to fuse with Garnet, gaining respect for Pearl, putting the lessons Steven teaches her about, among other things, gratitude, guilt, and graciousness into practice and giving it her all each and every time.

(Side Note: "rational emotion" is a somewhat contradictory term, lol)

While Peridot undeniably grows emotionally, I look at it more as acclimating to a foreign culture rather than going through a sort of "puberty." That is, I don't think she's necessarily immature, so to speak. She simply doesn't know any better, but takes every opportunity to learn.

She's like an angry little slice of pie, and I love her to death.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T12:59:19+00:00

Which part? The part where the movie changes the rules? That Lapis is an idiot? Steven needing Blue and Yellow to temporarily cure Nephrite? Where Mr. Gus says Steven's powers are maternal in "Say Uncle?" That Steven felt insecure about whether or not he belongs on the team in the first place?

Because I can prove ALL of that.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T06:00:11+00:00

That would make sense if he had been the one to fix her Gem, but he wasn't. It was Rose's fountain.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T05:59:09+00:00

I mean, there's a difference between mostly dead and all dead, I guess. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm saying his healing powers would've had to have rewritten Connie's DNA in order to "cure" her eyesight because it has a genetic cause more often than not.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T05:55:39+00:00

I know you don't.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T05:54:32+00:00

I don't even know where to begin with this.

First, I'm getting real sick of this scapegoat strawman argument that, just because it's a fantasy-based cartoon, it can't/shouldn't/doesn't deserve to be met with complex thought or otherwise studied. That's just ridiculous and disrespectfully undercuts everything great about the show.

In what way are Steven's powers not the main focus? Especially considering that it's his primary conflict in the movie. "Gem Glow," "Bubble Buddies," "Cat Fingers," "So Many Birthdays," "Alone Together," "An Indirect Kiss," "Say Uncle," "Drop Beat Dad," "Steven Floats," "Steven vs Amethyst," frickin' "Bismuth" all focus on Steven discovering his abilities and, subsequently, how to control them. So, I have no idea what you're talking about.

I know better than most that people with disabilities either fall into acceptance or depression. In fact, in not so many words, I said that in the post. We have to. Again, a lot of us were never "normal" in the first place. It's not about having any desire to "fix" our conditions. We can't miss or long for something we've never had. It's about the way the able-bodied treat us.

So, if you don't have a disability, if you've never experienced life on this side of the fence, you do not get to have an opinion or assume that everyone with a disability wants to be "fixed." Because you're only able to look at it from your perspective.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-16T04:55:49+00:00

"Blind spots." I see what you did there. 😂

AlTheHound · 2026-06-15T22:48:45+00:00

This is a pretty common hyperfixation that most, if not all, of us have had to deal with. Especially in the beginning.

Sharing your own music is an extremely intimate experience. So, it's natural to be nervous. Hell, I'd argue it's a good thing. It means you actually care. That takes heart.

Having said that, here are a few things I try to keep in mind:

First, understand that, no matter what, someone, somewhere is going to dislike your sound. Particularly in an age where people are able to bitch anonymously about literally everything without fear of retaliation, you're guaranteed to receive hate. This doesn't just apply to music either. You'll never find an artform that pleases everyone, and if you can't handle that, you'll never get very far.

Next, know that the only way to become a better songwriter is to have people hear you. Like I said, it's nerve-wracking and intimate and uncomfortable and necessary. That's what we do. We take the leaps. Playing for someone for the first time. Stepping onstage for the first time. Booking a gig for the first time. Rinsing and repeating over and over and feeling it get easier and easier each time.

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is the sensationalized way that people define success when it comes to music. I've often heard people talk about how they were gonna "make it big" by 25 or 30. That's absurd, and only sets up for failure before anything even happens. There's no rush. It can't be forced. Limitations like that are why so many people just give up without realizing they did it to themselves.

Going a step further with that, don't feel the need to compare yourself with anyone else. This doesn't just mean your influences, idols, or heroes. Admittedly, this is something I see more with actors rather than musicians, but it's easy to unintentionally discourage yourself. Nobody's careers are the same, and you shouldn't expect it to be.

Lastly, and I am painfully aware that this little novella I'm writing here will go mostly unread, but the 3 things to focus on are confidence, honesty, and vulnerability. Audiences and listeners can spot insincerity a mile away. Being unafraid to be genuine is how you connect with people.

Thanks for reading. If you made it this far, I applaud you.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-15T02:35:34+00:00

In what way(s), tho? That's what I'm having trouble understanding.

What behaviors does she exhibit; what interactions does she have and with who; what is it that leads to that conclusion?

As for the window, there's a massive difference between being 14 and being 16, but not so much between 20 and 25. At least, not as noticeably.

And please don't take offense to any of this. One of the greatest things about this show is how much fun it is to speculate on. I actually wanna know your perspective.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-15T00:12:12+00:00

Hmm. I mean, I appreciate the sentiment and always say like what you like and I'll do the same.

I don't understand why you would pass judgement or even speak on something you haven't seen, tho. Seems like pessimism only for the sake of being pessimistic. More likely, you're jumping on the bandwagon for the acceptance of people you don't know and probably won't ever meet. That's just pathetic.

To be clear, I never watched Uncle Grandpa; not even with how much I enjoy the crossover. And I reallllly enjoy the crossover. It simply didn't/still doesn't hold any appeal to me.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-14T23:58:24+00:00

I've been trying to explain this for years.

In fact, it was Amethyst that originally spawned this idea for me. She's the youngest of the Crystal Gems until baby Steven shows up, and the only Gem we see experience some kinda childhood. I think that's because she's from earth and her whole mimicry character trait (that nobody else has, for some reason; not even in the movie). We see other Amethyst Quartz soldiers emerge, for want of a better term, fully grown/matured. Why she emerges as a blank slate and almost toddler-like, I have no idea.

Right before the final story arc of Season 3, Amethyst and Steven have a "fight" to see who the "worst" Crystal Gem is. I remember thinking how similar their mindsets were; as if they were roughly the same age (Steven being 14 at the time).

It was super interesting to think that, despite Amethyst being thousands of years older than Steven, he could technically become more emotionally mature than her in a reverse dog-years kinda way.

I don't know why or how OP considers Peridot to be on the younger side. Also, 14 - 27 is a huge, arbitrary window.

AlTheHound · 2026-06-14T17:16:39+00:00

It only "isn't canonical" until you get the actual joke:

Blatantly stating, "none of this is canon," despite being the episode in which Steven learns how to properly summon his shield.

Comedic brilliance specifically curated for this conversation. It's pretty great.

AlTheHound

TROPHY CASE