It's hard to judge any horror movie that has a reputation - the best films have an element of surprise that enhance the "jump" scenes. My mom has talked about going to see the original Psycho at a sneak preview. She had no idea what it was about - other than it was a Hitchcock film - and the shower scene took her totally by surprise. She said she was reluctant to take a shower for years after that. Talk about being an effective horror film.... While I obviously don't want to develop shower-phobia, I envy that my mom was able to see the film without having seen any spoilers. I don't know if that's possible anymore - the minute a film goes into production, it's every element (script, cast, observations on the set) are all over the internet. Once the film's actually released, the reviews and the trailers tend to give away the best parts. And that sucks, because that element of surprise is gone and can't be taken back. There are so many well-executed horror films - Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Audition, The Exorcist - that I never got to see without knowing key aspects ahead of time. The closest I've had to a true "cold" viewing of a film is The Blair Witch Project, which I saw on opening night 10 years ago at the River Oaks Theater. What made it most effective was the fact that half (or more) of the audience thought they were watching some kind of snuff film. Add the dizziness that the hand-held camera work caused and the "jump" scenes, and it made for one electric and entertaining viewing. Unfortunately, you can't package a setting, and I don't think people who saw the film in a multiplex got the same effect. So I'm not surprised many people who saw it later found it lame.
Dude, I thought that movie was the best ever when it came out... The viral marketing they had on their website was so convincingly done that I really thought it was actual lost footage...
If you like creepy, Silent Hill style horror as opposed to typical slasher pictures, then I'd recommend Jacob's Ladder. Hooper's Texas Chain Saw Massacre sounds like a dumb, B-move from the title, but it really is one of the best horror movies of all time. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (the one with Donald Sutherland) has one of the creepiest endings of any movie I can think of.
Anyone seen Wolf Creek? Its an Australian movie based on the true events of a notorious Australian killer named Ivan Milat who stalked and killed 7 people over a 5 year period, most of them backpackers, in the Australian Outback. Very scary movie, low budget film. Bit slow to start with but moves along pretty quickly after that. Little bit like chainsaw massacre, but scarier IMO, maybe because im an Aussie so its a bit more relevant. Check it out. IMDB Review Ivan Milat Trailer
winner winner. if anyone has a chance to rent or buy the bluray/(or hd dvd) version, do it. they remastered the audio and if have a decent surround system, it will scare the hell out of you.
yes that movie was really creepy, especially all the sound effects and images. where's the love for Hellraiser? 1 was scary, 2 was really cool
Haven't seen a movie that had a "lingering" creepyness to it...including The Exorcist. I think you have be a little bit religious to get an effect from the Exorcist; at least thats what my Catholic friend tells me. I played Resident Evil 2 when I was in middle school. I think that has totally desensitized me.
Nonfiction: Triumph of the Will Cerebral: Open Water scene-only: Psycho (shower) or the chest-burster below General Category: Hard not to echo the consensus picks for The Shinning ("You want to get sued?"). Both Alien & Aliens were pretty awesome as horror movies, too.
Plus 2. The Exorcist is the finest horror movie to ever come out, with The Shining in a close second for me... I also like Evil Dead 2, Baby. Come get some you sucker.
Ha, switch the titles and I'd sign that post. Anyway, some video games are much more scary than any movie I've seen.
I've always said having kids in a place where they don't belong is always the scariest scenes in horror movies. Also what scared me as a kid was that damn Nightmare on Elm St song. In Poltergeist that clown scene under the bed something I will never forget.
Oh damn I forgot about the Evil Dead Trilogy... Now that is an all time Horror classic with some comic element thrown into it...
Another vote for the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Trapped in a house with a family of cannibals that want to kill and eat you. Even grandpa wants a piece of the action with his hammer. Creeeepy and scares the crap out of me to this day. The Shining is a masterpiece too, and one of my favorite movies.
