Top 5 Movies That Scared the Hell Out of Me
Oct 3, 2009 by Ross MillerIt’s October, the month where our thoughts turn to Halloween and scary movies – here’s one list of films that scared the heck out of one of our writers.
Ya’ know, since it’s Halloween coming up at the end of the month, I thought it would be appropriate to make a list of the top 5 movies that, for whatever reason, just scared the hell out of me. It may not be the entire movie, maybe it was just a particular scene/moment; they may not be the technically BEST horror movies (they may not even be strictly “horror” per se.), but just something about them had me hiding behind the pillow, jumping at every noise, looking through the cracks in my fingers, thinking about it for days afterwards, and… changing my underwear — okay, too much information…
Before I get on with the list, just know that (like every list) this is purely opinion and therefore it obviously isn’t going to match YOUR list. If a movie that you find particularly scary isn’t on my list then feel free to let us know in the comments section, but there’s no need to go crazy because “this” movie is on there and shouldn’t be, while “that” movie isn’t on there and should be.
Also, be warned that there will be SPOILERS discussed with each film, so unless you’ve seen the film or don’t mind being spoiled, you might want to just note the title and look ahead to the next film.
Okay, now that we’ve got those things out of way, let’s get on with the scary countdown!
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5. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
While I’m told I used to love watching this movie (particularly for the famous transformation scene), I didn’t properly sit down to watch it from start to finish (now grown up…) until about a couple of years ago, and boy did it scare me. All great horror movies stand the test of time and John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London is definitely one of those movies. Almost every scene that was talked about as truly frightening almost 30 years ago is no less scary today.
The diverse Landis (can you believe he made this AND Animal House?) brought us an eerie atmosphere and a great mix of on-screen horror along with off-screen that’s left to your imagination. The likability of David Naughton as our afflicted leading man makes it that much more compelling – we root for him yet he turns into this hideous monster that terrorizes and attacks people. And the special effects makeup by the legendary Rick Baker are just about unmatched with this type of thing.
Scariest Scene/Moment: There’s quite a few horrific and frightening moments to be found here (such as the repeated moments of the main character’s dead friend talking to him), but I have to give it to the famous, unforgettable scene of our leading character, David Kessler, transforming into the titular werewolf. As mentioned, the special effects makeup by Rick Baker is just astonishing and still holds up today, even after all these years. It’s one of those scenes that serves for re-watches on its own, without watching the rest of the movie. Not just to see the scene again for the effect it has, but to try and see just how technical it “goes down.” I would be very surprised if ANY werewolf movie to come will match that transformation scene.
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4. Misery (1990)
Like John Landis above, Rob Reiner is a diverse filmmaker, going from comedy with such things as This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally; fantasy with The Princess Bride; crime/drama with A Few Good Men; and finally horror with Misery. The latter slides in at number 4 on my scary list and for good reason: Has there ever been such a terrifying female horror “villain” as Kathy Bates’ Annie Wilkes? There’s probably some out there, but I certainly can’t think of any. She’s at first and on the surface a loving, kind and helpful woman – a former nurse, in fact. What more could you possibly want from someone helping you to get better?
Well, as the film shows, she’s a crazed, obsessed fan of James Caan’s novelist, Paul Sheldon, and after he crashes his car after just having written the final book in his series, he unluckily gets “rescued” by Annie who keeps him sedated in her secluded home, eventually forcing him to rewrite his novel because he killed off her favorite character. It’s a fairly straightforward horror/thriller premise (taken from my favorite book by my favorite author, Stephen King), but director Reiner and screenwriter William Goldman draw everything they can from it and make for one helluva of chilling watch. And this is helped tremendously by the performers, particularly Bates as Annie (she won an Oscar for it, FYI).
Scariest Scene/Moment: One scene jumps straight to mind not only when I think about the scariest moments from this film but from any film, and that would be when Annie puts a piece of thick wood between the ankles of Paul and proceeds to break them sideways with a sledgehammer. In King’s book, Annie uses an axe instead of a hammer, which (as you can imagine by the way King describes things) is horrific enough. But somehow the sledgehammer – or at least the way Reiner shows it happening on-screen – is even MORE horrifying.
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Loved your list. Unfortunately, I haven’ seen American Werewolf in London, [REC] or The Descent. But Misery & The Shining are definitely two of the scariest movies I’ve seen based off of King’s work.
I can’t think of a top five list, but I know that I’d have Dawn of the Dead on my list. The first time I watched it I stayed up half the night trying to imagine what I would do if zombies attacked. Also Salems’ Lot. I thought the vampires in that were pretty cool. I kept my windows shut for a week or so to keep any out.
My list.
5. Halloween(remake)
5. Quarantine
4. The Haunting in Connecticut
3. Dawn of the dead(remake)
2. The Ring(american)
I used to not like horror movies- but got into it after the ring, and recently had a girlfriend that loved horror, so I have seen a good deal now, much is Campy, or just fun.
I liked the new Friday the 13, but is was not scary, just good fun and lots of boobies…
Personally I found American Werewolf in London to be more of a comedy than scary. My list would HAVE to include:
- The Exorcist
- Ringu
- Halloween (the original)
- Arachnaphobia (spider really creep me out)
Vic
It’s a personal list, but you know how these things work and while it’s dated and some of these films now seem quaint, I think you have to understand what they were like when they were released, which is why I am placing the date with the listing.
1) The House on Haunted Hill (1959) – I was 7 when I first caught this on TV and when you’re seven years old and have no idea on who Vincent Price is, boy does he give you an introduction. Has there ever been a more powerful narrative to start?
2) Halloween (1978) – Jamie Lee does all of the stuff that you could expect a rational human being to try and she “wins” in the end. A nice realistic horror film with some really good turns by Ms. Curtis, Mr. Pleasance, and Ms. Soles.
3) Alien (1982) – GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did I wet myself when the creature came out of John Hurt’s abdomen, that’s between me and my seat cushion.
4) Jaws (1975) – I was afraid to walk on lawns that were wet after that film. The Score on this film did a great job of letting you know when to be scared (as if you needed any help).
Tie -5a) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – Brought home the fact that there are people out there that are just plain whacko and they could be living right next door.
5b) Deliverence (1972) – Oh yeah, lets go camping and brings home the message on what a thin veneer civilization really is. The dream sequence, well lets just say it was well done.
I am very impressed with your list…
My own is as follows
-Child’s Play (I first saw this when I was 9 years old and It scared the Jesus out of me)
-Hostel (mostly due to the slicing of the Achilles tendon)
-Misery (the sledge and ankle scene…wow)
-Nightmare on Elmstreet: Dream child. (another that scared me as a kid.)
-Saw (no excuse, its just fun)
In hindsight not one of these films scared me after the age of about 16 but I thought for what they were, they were very well done.)
@piratedan
Ack!! How could I forget Alien!! Scary as hell…
Vic
The only film that I can think of that really scared me was “Cloverfield”, and thats not even a horror film.
Right on about Descent
But the scariest movie for me was Stephen King’s IT
I had nightmares for about a week afterwards. Tried to read the book and started having nightmares also. I had to wait about a year before I could finish the book.
I have the DVD on my shelf and I have to cover up the side cover because every time I’m flipping through my dvds and I stumble onto that damn clown face, I get freaked out.
I love it though. Movies that make you actually feel emotions (fear, happiness, laughter, etc.) are amazing.
For me, dang…
The Entity – just plain wrong in so many ways!
The Ring – (Ringu) Eesh.
Dawn of the Dead (original) Man, they just keep coming.
Those come immediately to mind. I’m sure I’ll remember more as I see more.
I just thought the decent was really awful
They’re not the best horror movies, but they did actually scare me, and stuck with me for a few days:
- Signs
- The Strangers
- The Blair Witch Project
- Hostel
@Vic,
I ALMOST put Alien on the list (I actually forgot to put it on the honorable mentions) but personally the others stayed with me longer in terms of being purely scared.
@ogb,
I didn’t include something like IT because technically it’s a TV miniseries (as were a lot of Stephen King adaptations, come to think of e.g. Salem’s Lot, The Langoliers). Ohterwise I would have included Twin Peaks – “That gum you like is going to come back in style.” *shudder* Creepy.
I see the original Ring (Ringu) is a popular choice – it IS a scary film, but I guess I became desensitized to it after the American remake (which I actually think is superior to the original – about the only US remake of an Asian horror that I think that about. Better story, acting and felt more meaningful (although admittedly inferior on scares)). Luckily that didn’t happen with The Grudge, as I saw the original FIRST (that “throat noise” is still in my head…)
nice list but the Blair Witch Project deserves a place in the top 5
5.childsplay.
4.blairwitch project.
3.it.
2.the witches. “really scared me for some reason thought i would become a mouse”
1.nightmare on elm sreet.
Exorcist
Ringu
Human Lanterns
Exorcist III
Alien – The Werewolf (Lon Chaney Jr.) tie
@ Lord Garth
Is Exorcist III where the nurse is crawling up the ceiling in broad daylight?
If it is, I saw that when I was like 8 or 9 and it scared the HELL out of me for all time.
It’s so good that Upcoming movie Legion steals that scene.
My List
1. The Shining
2. The Ring (only time I’ve grabbed the stranger in the seat next to me)
3. The Descent (I’m slightly Claustrophobic)
4. Halloween (Carpenter’s creepy stalker version)
5. Carpenter’s The Thing (such a good psychological mind-F)
Bonus section:
Alien
T2 (the T-1000 Scared me silly for a long time)
[Rec] (it’s pretty messed up towards the end)
Paranormal Activity (I’m scared of my house at night now)
Lost Souls (one of the creepiest endings I’ve ever seen in a movies)
And finally… Chinatown. I’ll never get over how demented the end of that movie really is. Jesus…
The only two films I can agree with on this List are AMerican Werewolf in London and Misery. THe other are pffft especially the Descent. But different things scare different people I suppose.
My list would be.
5. Stephen King’s It
4. American Werewolf in London
3. The Howling
2. The Blob (1988)
1. John Carpenter’s The Thing (nightmares for about 6 months, now is one of all time fav movies)
I am not a big fan of the gory horror genre, but there have been some movies in the horror genre that have creeped me out (whereas most “horror” films tend to be more comedic in their stupidity.) One of the creepiest films I have ever watched was “Se7en.” The ending was just downright disturbing. As for “The Ring” I actually thought it was downright boring and not scary at ALL. “Silence of the Lambs,” “Alien,” “Halloween,” and “NIghtmare on Elm Street” are all scarier movies IMO.
Fun topic, though.
Here are mine…
5. 28 Days later- I thought it was a great movie with the perfect amount of Gore, (which is hard to find in a zombie movie.)The cast was great, and i loved the movie. However, it really wasn’t a Scary movie in the normal scare you stiff type of way.
4. Jaws- I was about 15 when I first saw it… and it scared me stiff. After the movie I regretted seeing it because I loved to swim!
3. It- Now I’m not afraid of clowns or anything, but Tim Curry’s performance sealed the deal for it being truly scary!
2. Arachnaphobia- Much like Vic I’m not fond of Spiders… in fact they scare the **** out of me. After I saw the movie I couldn’t turn around in a shower for several days after because of one scene. The Spiders pouring out of the shower head to be exact. Nor would I turn off a light without looking at it, or eat popcorn without checking it!
1. Children of Men- It’s not even a horror movie, but because of it’s subject matter it scared the hell out of me. It had me thinking for many many weeks after I saw it. Their are a couple loud noise scares, and the fact that the movie has breaks of peace followed by long stretches of horror make you really feel for the characters!
I usually don’t watch movies that I think will scare me ****less, not really my genre. I don’t really remember that many movies that scared me. Scariest 2 I can remember right now are The Shining and It (is that even officialy a movie ? I have it as a 1 whole thing on dvd, but I know its been broadcasted as a mini-series).
I saw It when I was slightly to young (I guess) and it scared me beyond belief. It had such an impact I still can’t watch it without getting the creeps to serious degree, lol. (to put it in context, I am now in my mid 20′s).
That’s a good list.
Mine are……..
1.) Jaws (1975)
2.) Halloweem (1978)
3.) Psycho (1960)
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
5.) Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981)- This was a tv-movie that really scared me when it came out. I couldn’t finish watching it when I was a kid at the time. Larry Drake played a mentally handicaped man named Bubba who was killed wrongfully by a lynch mob led by Charles Durning. Each man is killed as a scarecrow is seen at each killing. It is really creppy for a tv movie. no gore, just a lot of suspense and chills. If you haven’t seen this film, check it out if can.
Pleeze… No list can be complete without “Night of the Living Dead.” Saw it the first time at the drive in when I was about 10 years old… It was “Night of the Living S**T” scared out of me! when the kid’s eyes opened after she was dead… and you knew what she had become… That was it for me.
Actually I love lists but to write a top 5 scare list that is very diffcult- I mean when I was a kid I was scared easy films like “House on Haunted Hill” and then “Rosemary’s Baby”
the scariest film list for me
“The Brood”
“The Exorcist III ”
“The Shining”
“Halloween”
“Psycho”
“Night of the Living Dead”
“The Exorcist”
You see there is no way I can list 5 I noticed that most of these films were released in my teens I think that’s when life is scariest and adventurous….. just alittle insight to go along with the list
Good list
. I think everyone’s would be different because different things scare different folks. I’m gonna do this for Halloween – great idea. Thanks 
An American Werewolf would definitely be in my top five. Only just rewatched that recently and it still scares me half to death. The Shining’s classic “Here’s Johnny!” moment never scared me but I think that was because I’d seen a hundred different spoofs or references to it before I actually saw the film. I found the part when Danny rolls up outside 227 scarier – I just wanted to scream at my screen, “DON’T GO IN THERE!”
This is a great list.
For me the movies that scared me the most as a kid, and still do, are. (In no particular order)
1. Stephen King’s IT
2. Arachnophobia (I still to this day can not but on my shoes with out checking for spiders)
3. Pet Cemetery (I honestly still have issues watching this because I think its so scary)
4. Child’s Play
5. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory ( I used to cry when my brothers or sisters would put this on, and frankly, its still creepy as an adult)
Kofi
Yes indeed that is Exorcist III, in fact the William Peter Blatty book which differs a great deal from the film and is even a scarrier read, was called Legion. Blatty, who directed, has said that the film was to be sort of a psychological bookend to The 9th Configuration and The Exorcist. Aside from the somewhat tacked on hollywood bigwig ending (who forced Blatty to add an “Exorcism”) it was one of the smartest and scarriest films of all time. I thought George C Scott was brilliant (as usual)
If you chimps have not seen Exorcist III or 9th Configuration I suggest you make both a Halloween movie night. They will make you think and E3 will also scare the crap out of you
You know this thread got me thinking. We should have a retro review column. As someone who generally prefers films that prefers a grittier more real less plastic Hollywood of the 40′s, late 60′s and 70′s as well as classic Hong Kong and japanese cinema. There are literally thousands of wonderful films that many of the kiddies (and older kiddies) have never seen (That thank the Lord do not have Tatum Channing or Axe body spray commercial overtones in them) and a great deal of films many have not seen since they themselves were kids (I.E. Exorcist III for Kofi)
How about a classic Roy Schider film like Sorcerer, directed by William Freidkin (who directed the Exorcist). Everybit as scarry as the other films mentioned, a film that every geek no matter how old you may be would certainly love.
How about comparing Ringu with the Ring.
Or a look at the films of Kurosawa
Or some of the classic Shaw Bros epics
Or revisiting the classic Universal Monster films
Lot of cool stuff available to share
Jesus Chr@st we need a spellcheck here!!
“3. Pet Cemetery (I honestly still have issues watching this because I think its so scary)”
Good one Drew!