In the Japanese city of Nara there are two huge sculptures guarding the Nandai-Mon temple gate. They are meant to intimidate you and even now eight centuries later these protector gods do their job. Sculpted by Unkei in the 13th Century they scowl at you from behind grating as if they must be restrained from attacking. I focused on this part, the foot so perfectly rendered in wood, up close and there in real life you could swear the toes might move and it could step forward at any moment if you make a false move. Beyond the spiritual meaning did they also function the way horror movies do today? Seeing these towering  figures must have provided the same chill down the spine I felt.