Me searching for good horror is like a junkie looking for a fix. Things that terrified me a decade ago I roll my eyes at now. Enter October. Every year I read countless lists purporting to have the scariest movies of all time.
Balderdash.
Those lists are nothing more than the same recycled films with click bait images compiled by bloggers who can’t write for themselves and have never watched any of the films they are referencing.
This is the definitive list. The ten horror movies that will scare you the most – guaranteed!
10: A Quiet Place (2018)
A little noise is okay…a big noise is not okay. The premise is terrifying. An invading force of monsters that are bloodthirsty and seemingly unstoppable. You avoid them by being silent. Writer/director John Krasinski takes the unique premise and applies hints of rugged survivalism and family togetherness, blending along some elements from cinema’s greatest thrillers to craft a wonderful and nearly perfect gem of a scary story.
9: The House on Pine Street (2015)
I stumbled across this indie film a few years ago and it became an instant favorite. It’s a standard haunted house story with some artistic appeal. A pregnant woman. Lurking ghosts. The film does a masterful job of creating a gripping horror story that never strays too far outside the realm of possibility, using of compelling tactics to create a perfect balance of horror and drama.
8: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This may be a cliché entry but believe me, it deserves to be here. The original film has a terrifying atmosphere courtesy of the 80s slasher genre. The premise alone is horrific. Fall asleep and Freddy kills you. It includes some of the most haunting imagery on film. It includes a perfect blend of ambiance and jump scares that never exceed the limit. Just avoid all the sequels.
7: The Woman in Black (2012)
Harry Potter all grown and doing the town. Daniel Radcliffe stars as an attorney who stays in a desolate mansion. He’s not alone. Ghostly apparitions begin to stalk him. And it includes one particularly terrifying sequence that is one of the scariest scenes I have ever watched in a movie.
6: It Follows (2014)
This is starting to appear on lists and rightfully so. This indie film has a unique premise, an uncanny presentation, and some chilling moments that include a pleasant blend of jump scares and tension building terror. “It Follows” includes non-sensible elements that will keep your subconscious mind scrambling from start to finish. The ambiguous nature of the demonic entity adds to the mystery, and its constant and consistent slow approach and seemingly never ending lust for blood is a marvelous creation for horror.
5: Pet Semetary (1989)
The book terrified me, and I read it as a grown man. The original film was one I would dare myself to watch as a kid when it consistently aired in USA Network on Saturday afternoons. To this day, I can’t bring myself to watch it. Its a combination of low-quality effects and makeup and a grisly story penned by Stephen King that make it memorable.
4: Paranormal Activity (2007) (1-3)
Sequels suck, especially in horror. But this is the exception. The first three PA films are the definition of flawless found footage horror. The plots are never forced. The scares are subtle and thoroughly effective. Watch these with headphones on and lights out for maximum experience.
3: Eraserhead (1977)
If you’re looking for something non-traditional, this David Lynch gem is perfect. A synopsis is impossible. “Eraserhead” is odd and disturbing. It’s like a bizarre nightmare. Filmed in a ghoulish black and white, the film is dark in both its metaphorical context and its literal setting. If you enjoy a cinematic challenge, an overload to your senses, and a desire to be truly terrified in ways you never thought possible, I dare you to check it out…if you’re brave. It will give you nightmares long after its over.
2: The Conjuring (2013)
Who says modern horror can’t be good? This James Wan haunted house film is scary. Really scary. Like a roller coaster ride, it’s a fun experience filled with effective jump scares and truly haunting visuals. It’s a standard plot and Wan makes it work with tension and suspense. There’s no grilse or gore. It relies on the terror of the unknown.
1: The Shining (1980)
This entry is on every list. It’s my favorite horror movie; fun to analyze as a film and scary AF to watch. A family snowed in at a haunted hotel. A man on the brink of madness. A creepy kid that can communicate telepathically. And lots of ghosts. “The Shining” has artistic appeal mixed with straight up terror. Several moments can vie for scariest scene of all time. The soundtrack is jarring and effective and setting the mood. Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick set the foundation for brilliance.
And that’s that.
