So, it’s Halloween today. So what’s your scariest movie? I thought I’d share what movies have frightened me when I was younger (ha):
#1 The Exorcist – it’s amazing to me that this film still has the ability to scare me. Often after watching this movie I have to sleep with the lights on for a day or two. I’m not a big fan of movies about demons, spirits, possession and that sort of thing. Nope.
#2 Seven – you’re probably wondering why this movie is even on a list like this.. Seven deadly sins, just the idea of someone going around forcing people to atone for their sins…the overall look of the film is grainy,bleak and dark and is graphically violent and creepy. I watched this one last night for the hundredth time. Love that octane, adrenaline rush ending.
#3 The Entity – only needed to have seen this one once and yes, the film was allegedly based on a true story – scared the crap out of me
#4 The Thing – ah, Kurt Russell out in the middle of nowhere with a lot of snow and a shape-shifting alien. Saw this one when I was a tween and the nightmares I had watching this film. Recently saw it again and I don’t know what I was so afraid of…(ha) but I still can’t see that scene with the dog
#5 Poltergeist famous quote: “They’re heeeeeere.” This is the movie that made me quit leaving my TV on late at night…kidding.
Anything I didn’t mention means I didn’t watch it (maybe). I have friends who just can’t watch scary movies. I’m kind of split, will watch some but not all especially if it’s dealing with the spiritual world. Anyway, the Boston Globe has a list of the 50 scariest movies of all time if you want to see what you’ve missed. With trailers! Be safe and have a good one.
It´s funny because books hardly ever scare me, but films is quite another matter. I watched parts of that horrible Hitchcock film with the black birds decades ago, and it scared me stiff! No, I didn´t watch the ending or my heart would have stopped.
Hi Dorte – I know what you mean, like you books don’t really scare me either but watching it on the big screen or even on TV is another thing entirely.
Exorcist definitely. I’d have to add Night of the Living Dead and The Birds. The Birds is horrible.
I refuse to watch most horror movies, though. I’m too easily frightened by fake things. Thanks for the link to the Top 50 article, that was fun! Not that I’ve seen most of them …
That’s a good list. I think for Halloween fare The Changeling (the George C Scott one) and Carnival of Souls (the 1962 version) are also two good choices! And you can stream CoS on Netflix.
Streaming? I am so there. I’ll have to check these out. Thanks for the recommendations.
I watched a lot of horror films as a teenager, and quickly became immune to the scare factor in most of them. The made-for-TV adaptation of Susan Hill’s ‘The Woman in Black’ terrified me. It’s seriously creepy. I can’t imagine the upcoming film starring Daniel Radcliffe (ew!) will be as good. ‘The Shining’ is another film which scared me senseless.
Hope you enjoy your Halloween!
The Woman in Black is scary! I’m dying to see the play, the Radcliffe version, not so much ;-D.
I’ve seen parts of The Shining but never the whole thing. Curious about The Woman in Black as I’ve never heard of it.
I agree with you about Seven, that movie is scary and just amazingly good! And Gwyneth Paltrow gets killed which gives it extra points, IMO.
To me the scariest movie is The Omen (the original one) there’s something about evil little kids that’s just creepy!
LOL. Never saw The Omen. Anything dealing with the devil is a pass…
I’d forgotten about the Entity and it was definitely the most scary movie I’ve ever seen. Now I need to try and forget about it again – before it gets dark . . .
Ann
whoops sorry about that… That movie was….sheer terror.
The film version of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, Vincent Price in The House of Wax. For sheer nightmare power, however, it was the final scene in Carrie, when Carrie’s hand shoots out of the ground. I had just relaxed at that point and was so rattled, I just wanted to get home and lock all the doors. The Shining as a movie didn’t have the impact the book did, but still scary enough all around.
I finally saw Carrie! As in watched the whole thing. Enjoyed it and yes, the hand shooting out of the ground was truly creepy. Thanks Darlynne.
Honorable mention: Amityville Horror. OMG I cannot watch that movie either.
I think my scariest movie is “Psycho” with the character Norman Bates by Alfred Hitchcock. To me, that shower scene is like none other. And the rest of it is just plain eerie. How about “Rosemary’s Baby”? That one was weird. Darlynne mentioned “House of Wax” with Vincent Price and it was in 3D also–very scary. Another is “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” with Joan Crawford and Betty Davis. These are two actresses whom I never liked, but they did a superb job in this one.
Ah, the shower scene! Yep, very scary. I’ve seen Rosemary’s Baby, agree, weird movie but not very scary to me. Never saw Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. Need to see if that one is available. Thanks Tee.
Actually, Keishon, I should clarify that Rosemary’s Baby and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane are more mind thrillers than actual physical thrillers. So, if you’re wanting the physical thrills, these movies are not that kind. They’re more the viewer’s imagination taking over. I like those sort of movies a lot (and books, too). LOL
Definitely mind thrillers, especially Baby Jane. Creepy, creepy, creepy. I can’t watch it and haven’t after the first time. You go right ahead, Keishon. I’ll be over here with all the lights on.
Psychological thrillers are good
and I know what you mean. Just like Seven (the film) is a psychological thriller. I enjoy those too. You should look up “Dream Lover” with James Spade. Not a horror film though but a good psychological thriller. Love that movie.
@Darlynne – now I definitely must find Baby Jane movie.
As a kid I saw the original Night of the Living Dead thanks to a babysitter who didn’t grasp that it wasn’t really appropriate viewing for a 10 or 11 year old. Completely freaked me out. And I don’t really watch scary movies anymore. When I was a kid, sure, but as an adult, living in an old house that creaks and makes noises, scary movies made me paranoid about what might be in the basement or attic. Yes, I’m a wimp.
Loved Se7en though.
I don’t blame you. I’ve quit watching them too (more or less). Nowadays it seems as if horror and violent films are on the rise (or have been). Disturbing.
I’m gutted that I missed the timing of this post. ‘The Exorcist’ didn’t scare me when I was a kid and again, a teen. Same with ‘The Shining’. Weird. ‘The Thing’ on the other hand? A real nail-biter. I still can’t watch the kennel scene. I have to fast-forward this bit. I had seen The Entity, but I was far too young to remember anything than the “invisible fingers in boobs” bit. Hm, I should get a DVD.
It’s hard to choose top 10 scariest films. I’ll have a ponder.
Until then, here’s my list of top 10 plain good eerie ghost films (no gore / all in English language / in no particular order)
1. The Changeling – a haunted house + George C. Scott? Fantastic.
2. Dead of Night (1945) – one of my favourite horror/ghost anthology films (Tricks ‘r Treats (2009) is good as well)
3. The Watcher in the Woods – cheesy, but it had my attention good when I was a kid. The downside is the blonde skater actress. She was utterly crap. Thankfully the story and Bette Davis are the film’s saving grace.
4. Whistle, And I’ll Come To You – BBC’s 1968 one-off drama adaptation of M. R. James’s short story. There’s a remake, broadcast on BBC last Christmas, with John Hurt, but I haven’t seen it yet.
5. The Signalman – another BBC adaptation, but based on Charles Dickens’s story, featuring Denholm Elliott this time. Train tracks + dark tunnel + signalman + ghost? Behind a sofa is the best place.
6. The Stone Tape (1972) – it won’t work for some, but it worked for me.
7. The Uninvited (1944) – Ray Millard and Ruth Hussey are meh, but it’s still worth seeing because it’s widely regarded as the first haunted-house film.
8. Night of the Demon (1957) – I expected a cheesy monster film, but it turned out to be a creepy supernatural thriller. An exceptional film.
9. Carnival of Souls (1962) – a classic. No more, no less.
10. Session 9 – I’m still not sure whether to include this as it’s basically a psychological horror film, but I think it should go on the list anyway. Slow, but still–don’t watch this alone in the dark.
Ordinarilly, movies don’t scare me, but the shower scene in Pyscho scared the living crap out of me. Anthony Perkins was the quintessential Norman Bates.
Thank you Maili! Will look up some of these and Beverly, yes, yes he was.