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Amongst Roger Moore’s James Bond films, “Moonraker” might be the most light-hearted and whimsical, but it contains a particular scene that gave me quite a scare as a kid. The Roger Moore era of James Bond movies are distinctly products of their time with a sprinkling of corny jokes, flamboyant villains, an abundance of cool gadgets, and a dash of playful humor; all in all, they make for delightful viewing, and Moore imbues the character with almost illicit levels of charisma. Although I believe “The Spy Who Loved Me” is the only genuine James Bond classic that Moore starred in, I hold a fondness for all his films.

Some fans of James Bond find Moore’s exploits in movies like “Octopussy” and “Moonraker” unappealing, often dismissing the latter as a space-bound farce with excessive humor, lavish sets, and all the aspects that criticize the Moore films. However, for me, “Moonraker” is an enjoyable guilty pleasure that doesn’t deserve the criticism it receives. It boasts a memorable villain in Drax (played by Michael Lonsdale), offers a traditional spy adventure with various exotic locations before venturing into space, and marks the last appearance of Jaws (Richard Kiel), the iconic metal-mouthed henchman.

Jaws Stalking Roger Moore’s James Bond In Moonraker Terrified Me As A Child

Making Jaws an antihero did little to reduce my terror

In Moonraker, Jaws went from being a fearsome henchman to an antihero who eventually assists Bond in defeating Drax in the extraordinary finale. Since Jaws was well-liked by kids after his appearance in the earlier episode, they decided to make him less menacing and more cartoonish for Moonraker. Although he’s clearly a sillier character in the 1979 sequel, the scene where Jaws, wearing an oversized clown costume, chased Bond and his Brazilian contact Manuela (Emily Bolton) through the Rio Carnival was truly terrifying.

Particularly noteworthy is the scene where Jaws menacingly advances towards Manuela in an eerily vacant alleyway, a sight that could easily be mistaken for a terrifying dream sequence. Several of the earlier Bond films incorporate horror elements, such as Blofeld feeding his minion to piranhas in “You Only Live Twice” and the supernatural antagonist Baron Samedi (played by Geoffrey Holder) in “Live and Let Die”. However, none of these scary scenes had as much impact on me as the one where Jaws pursues both Bond and Manuela. The chilling moment when he removes his mask to attempt biting her was particularly unnerving.

In essence, Jaws isn’t dissimilar to a classic slasher movie antagonist. He stands imposingly tall, employs an unusual means of killing victims, and appears almost indestructible. This scene from Moonraker has the feel of an opening from an ’80s horror film, adding a chilling and suspenseful element to this sequel, which is known for its outlandishness featuring Moore’s 007. Whether it gave me an actual nightmare or not, I can confirm that whenever I revisit the VHS version, I always feel apprehensive returning to that particular sequence.

Moonraker Is Roger Moore’s Silliest Bond Adventure, But It’s Still Loaded With Horror

Moonraker is a wild ride tonally

One aspect I appreciate from the Moore era is the wide range of tones movies exhibited. In an instant, Bond might utter a cheesy double entendre that makes you cringe, only to execute a cold-blooded assassin in the next (as seen in 1981’s For Your Eyes Only). Although Moonraker is quite eccentric, it manages to incorporate shocking moments of terror as well. For example, Drax’s brutal murder of his pilot Corinne (Corinne Cléry), by unleashing his hunting dogs on her.

In daylight, Corinne flees for her life, seemingly trapped within the eerie surroundings of a forest. The atmosphere seems surreal yet unsettlingly real. There’s no explicit violence, but this scene marks a tragic demise for a sympathetic secondary character.

Another spine-tingling moment in Moonraker occurs when Bond witnesses the death of two scientists, poisoned by a unique nerve gas concocted by Drax. Despite finding humor in the scene where Bond is pursued underwater by an artificial snake that appears fake, the sight of Drax’s followers calmly observing Bond’s struggle is genuinely chilling.

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2025-05-29 16:38