Characters in movies and TV shows can have many special powers. While some of them are mainstream and appear on a regular basis, such as super strength, speed, or flying, others don’t come up as often as viewers might think. One of the less common powers is the ability to kill with just a look.
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Even if the heroes have this power, they often forego using it since it would make them just as bad as the villains they oppose, at least in their own deadly eyes. That doesn’t change the fact that multiple movie characters have the power of the deadly gaze, and all of their enemies should beware.
1Medusa In Multiple Movies
Who was the original character with the deadly gaze? Some sources suggest that one of the first could have been Medusa. Playing a prominent part inGreek mythology, Medusa had the power to turn people into stone with just a single look. And turning into stone, in most cases, was the end of the road for her victims. Even if she didn’t shatter the stone, it was unlikely that her victims would come back to life.
Medusa has appeared in multiple movies, such as the 1981 fantasy classicClash of the Titans, or the first Percy Jackson moviePercy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief(2010). She’s shown up in TV shows as well, includingAtlantis,andThe Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, to name just two. Even when she sports a different name in some of the adaptations of the myth, her power and the danger caused by it remain the same.
2The Basilisk In Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
Considering the young age of the main trio, Harry, Ron, and Hermione,Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretscan be a surprisingly frightening movie at times; especially when Harry has to face the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets while protecting Ginny. The basilisk had previously turned several students into stone, driven against them by Ginny who was controlled by Lord Voldemort’s spirit via his diary.
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Fortunately for Harry, he knows that he can’t gaze directly into the basilisk’s eyes or he will be killed, which is the same thing that happened to Moaning Myrtle and led to Hagrid being expelled from Hogwarts. It isn’t until Dumbledore’s phoenix Fawkes shows up and gouges the basilisk’s eyes out that Harry gets a fighting chance. He’s then able to kill the basilisk and save Ginny and the rest of the students in the process.
3Superman In Multiple Movies
Superman is one of the most powerful comic book characters. Other than his super strength, speed, and flight, Superman can also shoot lasers out of his eyes. Technically, Superman could use this ability to get rid of his enemies. The good news is that Superman is one of the superheroes who dislike killing people unless they absolutely have no other choice or snap beyond repair (such as when the Joker tricked Superman into killing Lois Lane and destroying Metropolis).
Superman is simply a good guy, so seeing him use his laser eyes in the movies was a rare occurrence, and even then he usually did so for non-lethal purposes. That doesn’t change the fact that his laser eyes are one of his deadliest powers, and a very effective one, too, as Superman’s antithesis, Homelander fromThe Boysshow and comic book series, has proven on multiple occasions.
4Brandon Beyer In Brightburn (2019)
The Boys' Homelander might be the best-known dark version of Superman, but he isn’t the only one. Brandon Beyer from the 2019 stand-alone movieBrightburnis a chilling example of what would happen if instead of helping people and becoming a hero, Superman decided to use his powers for evil. Clark Kent and Brandon share a similar backstory, but the main difference is that Brandon, once he discovers his powers, becomes dangerously unhinged.
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The movie culminates with him killing his adoptive parents, and Brandon’s laser sight comes in handy in this scenario, leading to a rather gruesome scene.Brightburnbelongs in the rare genre of superhero horror and even though it didn’t get the team sequel the ending hinted at, Brandon’s powers and what he does with them still make him difficult to forget, at least for fans of the genre.
5Cyclops In The X-Men Series
Just like Superman, Cyclops initially uses his power with caution to ensure that he doesn’t hurt anyone he doesn’t want to. As a result of his powers, which he has difficulty suppressing, Cyclops always covers his eyes, and he only reveals them when he wants to use the optic blast. At one point in the comic books, however, Cyclops becomes more ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.
Cyclops got to use his powers in the moviesmultiple times, and he usually had a hard time coming to terms with what he can do and how it affects his whole life. Considering the power of his optic blast and its ability to easily blast people into pieces, making Cyclops angry really isn’t a good idea.
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