This is not a monstrous nightmare. This is a winged red lizard. This creature is cumbersome and unintelligent. It holds none of the terrifying grace and agility of a true monstrous nightmare. This bulky lizard could not run and climb and jump across an arena. It could not think about anything more than a snail. Its tail is stiff and rigid, incapable of expressing the animals intrigue or joy. Its talons are that of any generic dragon, instead of the iconic large hooks of a nightmare. Its stance is stuck low to the ground instead of the wide ranges of posture a true nightmare could take on. It angers me.
This is how a true monstrous nightmare is. Its body is large, but light. It has fluid movements and eyes that are not dead with cgi. It is agile and strong, capable of running and leaping and scaring the shit out of anyone. Its eyes are forward facing, indicating its stance at the top of its food chain. You can see the cogs turning in this animals head. Its slightly askew proportions make it expressive and interesting to watch. It is active and quick and intelligent. This animal knows and is aware of what is going on. This animal is terrifying.
Call me negative and unappreciative or whatever you want, but this:
Will always pale in comparison to this: