Top 10 Scariest Movies Ever - 10 Horror Films You Don't Want to Miss!

Earlier today my girlfriend and some friends decided to investigate on what were the top 10 scariest movies ever to watch on Halloween none stop. Well, what better place than the internet to do the research on horror films. We went to several forums, asked some experts, we even went to Ask500 and did a couple of polls. I have only seen 4 of these movies personally, and yes they will scare the living hell out of you. But we are saving the good stuff for Halloween, you should join us! Here are our conclusions:

Top 10 Scariest Movies Ever

1. The Vanishing (Spoorloos) - 1988

2. Don't Look Now - 1973

3. The Sixth Sense - 1999

4. Halloween - 1978

5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - 1974

6. The Shining - 1980

7. The Omen - 1976

8. The Haunting - 1963

9. Poltergeist - 1982

10. The Exorcist - 1973

While personally, me and my friends have only seen 4 of these top 10 scariest movies ever (The Sixth Sense, The Vanishing, Poltergeist and The Exorcist), we can truly say that these movies are not to be played around with, you definitely have to be over 18 and even then you might be going to a therapist after October's end. Take into account that we have asked over 1,000 people for these results, don't take them lightly.

One word of warning though, you actually have to watch the films I mentioned from those years. There are tens of hundreds of horrible remakes (and not in the scary way) especially the Hollywood commercial remakes, those are really terrifying to watch. If you are serious about watching some good and spooky stuff, you need to watch the old versions.

Top 10 Horror Movies for Halloween 2010

Here we go fancy dress fans, to start getting you into the 'spirit' of Halloween, here's a top 10 list of horror movies... If you were a teenager in the 70s or 80s, you are going to remember them all!!

1. The Exorcist

This 1973 horror film deals with the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother's desperate plea to get her daughter back through the ancient exorcism rite to rid the devil, which is performed by two priests.

The most profitable horror film of all time, with 10 academy award nominations, it was one of a cycle of demonic child movies produced in the 60s and 70s. The Best Bit? The 12 year old girl shows very strange and unnatural powers including levitation, huge strength along with a strange male demonic voice spewing out obscenities. Loved the bit when her head rotates and projective vomits vile green sludge...

2. Evil Dead

A horror film many of you will remember from the 80s, made famous with its storyline of the five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a remote wooded area who find an audiotape that releases evil spirits. Evil Dead made headlines because of its extremely controversial and graphic terror, violence, and gore!

For its time, it was pretty radical. Stephen King called it 'the most ferociously original horror movie of the year'! Best Bits? Well... it's just a continuous pummelling of the audience with one insanely horrific shock effect after the other.

3. Nightmare on Elm Street

Nancy is having horrible nightmares. She discovers so too are her highschool chums, but they are being slaughtered in their sleep by the same hideous character of their shared dreams. Nancy, ignored by the Police has to confront the killer in his shadowy lair...

This movie was made by the master of the horror genre, legend, Wes Craven. Johnny Depp makes an appearance in his first starring role, and Nightmare on Elm Street gives birth to one of the most notorious and infamous undead villains in film history; Freddy Krueger.

Most memorable scary bit... the children singing... "One, two, Freddy's coming for you. Three, four, better lock your door. Five, six, grab your crucifix. Seven, eight, better stay awake. Nine, ten, never sleep again..."

4. Scream

Another of Wes Craven's blockbusters, the movie scream was hugely popular in the 90's for its resurrection of the teen slasher movie genre. The plot was apparently inspired by the Halloween movie series and Gainseville Ripper murders of 1990.

The plot of `Scream' is pretty simple: Halloween costumed knife-wielding psychopathic serial killer is busy stalking high school students and brutally killing them off one by one. The killer's inordinately obsessed with one of the girls, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who gets involved in the quest to unmask the insane killer Funny Bit? The wassuuuup phone conversation between the killer and three lads.

5. Carrie

The 1976 supernatural horror movie shocked millions of viewers during the 70s, based on the novel 'Carrie' by Stephen King. Carrie is the story of a socially outcast teenage girl who discovers she possesses psionic powers which are brought to life when she is angered. After humiliation by her peers, teachers and abusive mother, Carrie turns her supernatural powers on them to devastating tragedy.

Best Bits: The moment the bucket of pig's blood is tipped over Carrie, who is on stage, who has just been named prom queen... but this is eclipsed by the final moment when the only survivor of the prom, dreams of visiting the plot where Carrie's house once stood. As she places flowers on the ground, a bloody hand reaches out, grabbing Sue wrist...*shiver*

6. An American Werewolf in London

The 1981 horror-comedy film about two young American men on a backpacking holiday round England, where they eventually find themselves deep into the moors one night and they are attacked by a werewolf. Jack dies and David ends up in a London hospital and is visited in his dreams by the ghostly apparition of his friend who re-appears to tell him that he is now a werewolf and will transform at the next moon. Sure enough he does and goes on a murderous killing spree and awakens to find himself back to normal, but caged at the London zoo.

Best bits - the ever decaying and zombie like corpse Jack returning telling David to kill himself.

7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

This horror film from 1974 introduced the spine chilling character of Leatherface and was originally presented as a true story involving the ambush and murdered of a group of friends by cannibals on a road trip across rural Texas.

The film however is completely fictional, but no less horrifying. This terrifying movie has gained a reputation as one of the most influential horror films in cinematic history, with its portrayal of the killer as a large, hulking, faceless figure whose weapon of choice is a power tool to unleash inexplicable horror on its victims... brrrrr, watch this one during daylight hours with friends...

8. The Shining

Made in 1980, The Shining based on Stephen King's novel and directed by Stanley Kubrick, is a psychological horror that has become a classic of the horror genre and it has been ranked as one of the best horror films of all time! It's intensely eerie and powerfully menacing. A writer, his wife and young son head off to care-take an isolated hotel in its off season. The son who is psychic, can see ghosts and predict things from the future or past. Following a ferocious winter storm, the family are barricaded in the hotel and the father becomes influenced by the supernatural presence in the haunted hotel, he descends into insanity and ends trying to kill wife and son.

Memorable Bits; Jack Nicholson's descent into madness and when he turns against his family... 'Wendy? Darling? Light of my life, I'm not gonna hurt ya. You didn't let me finish my sentence. I said, I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just going to bash your brains in'

9. The Amityville Horror

This 1979 horror film gained huge popularity with its claim to be based on a true story of the Lutz family and the paranormal disturbances they experienced at 112 Ocean Avenue, a large Dutch colonial house in Amityville. 13 months before the family moved in, Ronald DeFeo, Jr shot and killed 6 members of his family. After only 28 days, the Lutz's flee the house, having been terrorized by a supernatural presence.

Some of their experiences included; - George waking at 3:15 every morning to inspect the boathouse (the time that Defeo murdered his family) - Kathy having vivid nightmares about the murders and a feeling of being embraced in a loving manner by an unseen person. - The red room, a room painted in blood that did show up on the houses blueprints. - The image of a demon in the fireplace, which his head half blown off - Strange smells of excrement and perfume in random rooms of the house. - Missy's imaginary friend, a demonic pig-like creature with glowing red eyes. - Slamming doors and German marching bands were heard by George. - Kathy levitating off the bed and receiving red welts on her chest. - Green slime oozing from the walls and plagues of flies - George received bite marks from a four foot high ornamental china lion.

A terrific horror film and the book is even better... don't be scared if you start waking at 3:15am...

10. Night of the living Dead

This 1968 black and white movie is the first and original zombie movie that sets the bar for all other zombie laden gore-fests. It follows the story of 7 folks who are trapped in a rural farmhouse in Pennsylvania. It's a long night of survival as the house is being attacked by mysterious ghouls, the living dead, otherwise known as zombies who swarm around the house in search of living flesh.

The story focuses on the characters weaknesses, their cowardice, their greed and stupidity and makes the drama inside the house as palatable as the danger from outside. The undead zombies are lumbering beasts, they appear unstoppable and relentless in the quest to feast on the living. Most horrifying Bit? A knife-wielding little zombie girl... zombie kids? That will keep you awake all night long.

So there you have it fancy dress fans, the top 10 best horror movies from the 20th century. It's enough to inspire you to host a horror flick marathon sleepover this Halloween. BYO pillows to scream into! Have a great Halloween!

Top 10 Horror Movies

A few months back I set a poll on one of my sites which asked horror fans to rate their top ten horror movies of all time. In this article I list the movies and explain what makes horror fans rate them so highly.

Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho terrifies audiences because it is an exploration of insanity which concludes that anyone, even the sane, can become insane and suffer terrible consequences.

Alien (1979)

The powerful theme in Alien is one of disease. The crew aboard a futuristic space vessel become infected by an alien species and hunted down in grisly fashion. Perhaps the most terrifying thing about Alien is the theme it shares with Psycho: Evil is inside of us and, thus, cannot be easily escaped.

The Shining (1980)

Almost every college campus bedroom has the poster of Jack Nicholson peering through a recently-axed bathroom window, grinning in his uniquely iconic, maniacal manner. This easily deserves to be one of the top 10 horror movies of all time. Derived from the book by Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece is a haunting look at insanity and claustrophobia, as the Wife and Son of Jack Torrence are mentally abused and later on hunted down by him in a remote hotel called The Overlook. What perhaps scares us most here is the possibility that our trusted loved ones can become our worst enemies.

Aliens (1986)

In Aliens we see Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) return with a rescue team to a colony where she must do battle with yet more aliens. No one believes her, of course, until it is too late and both herself and the other crew members are besieged by dozens of drooling, toothy beings. It is the claustrophobic settings here, more than the Aliens, that we find most scary.

Les Diaboliques (1955)

A boarding school headmaster is murdered by his mistress and wife who has a weak heart. They submerge his corpse in their school's swimming pool but, upon being brained, the body has disappeared. What ensues are scenes of suspense that slowly turn the murderers insane with tension. This movie is painful and terrifying to watch as we, unwillingly, must become the killers and share their fears. Although it is one of the top 10 horror movies of all time, I would say it is - possibly - the best suspense movie of all time.

Jaws (1975)

Amity Island has everything: beautiful beaches, warm weather, friendly inhabitants . . . oh, and a fifteen-foot killer great white shark! This is the original summer block buster known to all movie-goers. The theme here is man against nature. What terrifies most about Jaws is the uncompromising monster. He will not be reasoned with, he will not stop eating, and you will not escape his teeth, even if you're an expert shark fisherman. In this film only the lucky survive.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

This horror movie takes up where Frankenstein left off. Frankenstein and his monster are both still alive. The crazy Dr Pretorius kidnaps Frankenstein's wife and blackmails him to create another monster to become bride to the original abomination. With grave-digging, decaying corpses, re-animated living tissues, and the terrifying theme that man should not play God, this is a truly terrifying tale.

The Thing (1982)

In a remote Antarctic station, an expedition of American scientists encounters a dog, being perused by a helicopter which crashes. That same night the dog attacks both dogs and scientists and soon a shape-changing entity is loose among the survivors. The notion that evil lurks within those we trust is explored here to terrifying affect.

King Kong (1933)

When original audiences watched King Kong many of them literally ran screaming up the isles. Never had a monster been so realistically portrayed.

The Exorcist (1973)

In the Exorcist we are confronted by the ultimate evil: The Devil and his minions. Unlike serial killers or ghosts, Satan seems invincible; success feels hopeless. This terrifying film was made shocking by the use of blasphemy, a child becoming possessed and spouting obscene language; and the weakness of Good (namely an alcoholic priest) in the face of purest evil.

The top 10 horror movies of all time will, of course, change in the future, but - perhaps - the themes will remain the same. We will always be scared of inner evils (insanity), invincible evils (nature and the Devil), and monsters, of all shapes and sizes, will likely still prove to entertain and terrify!

Top Horror Movies For Teenagers

Let's face it, most teenagers love a good horror movie. As a parent however, you may not be too keen on the idea of your child watching them. Most of these movies contain extreme violence, nudity and blood and gore. In a world full of violence you more than likely do not want your teenager seeing it on the big screen! Well not all horror movies are like that. Here is a list of five horror movies that will give your teenager a fright but at the same time not full of the things you do not want them to see.

1. The Others

This film stars Nicole Kidman as a mother to two children that cannot be exposed to light. Strange things happen among them that lead Kidman's character to believe it's supernatural.

2. Poltergeist

This film is about a typical middle class family whose home is haunted. At first the ghost seem friendly but as time goes by their 5-year old daughter disappears and her voice can be heard on their television.

3. Creepshow

This film has five short stories written by Stephen King. These stories pay homage to horror comics from the 1950s.

4. The Sixth Sense

This film is about a little boy that can see dead people. With the help of his psychologist played by Bruce Willis, the boy comes to terms with his frightening fate.

5. Evil Dead 2

This movie is a sequel to Evil Dead and was directed by Sam Raimi and is a combination of horror and comedy. Ash, the main character is fighting demons that have been unleashed in the previously film by the Book of the Dead.

Top Horror Movies, Ghost Movies

Personally I love being scared silly and a spine tingling ghost movie works for me. Of all the top horror movies genre out there like; vampires, zombies, killer tomatoes, the eerie, transparent ghoul that is floating around the room and whispering warnings to you in the dark, ghost movies are the best!

The love for a good ghost movie came about for me at a tender young age...thanks to two cousins!

It was a crisp fall day when I, at an impressionable age of eight or nine was dropped off at my grandparent's farm for a weekend stay.

My bratty two older cousins were staying there also. For sleeping, the three of us shared two feather mattress beds in the open basement of the old farmhouse.

That was where I experienced my first ghost story. In the silent darkness my cousins told me a spine tingling story that "actually" happened not too far away. A tale worthy of being one of the top horror movies ever. They began in detail, a story about a kid, my age, getting his head chopped in half with an ax by his crazy grandfather. The poor ghoulish kid with half a bloody head now roams the countryside.

I never slept a wink that night. In fact it was a good while before I slept at my grandparent's farmhouse again.

Halloween is near, enough of the vampire genre! That is why this article is about the eeriest, scariest ghost movies, twelve of them! Put in chronological order from oldest to newest and worth watching in this order. Notice how the older ghost movies were remade.

1) The Uninvited (1944)

A brother and sister move into an old seaside mansion. Bought very cheaply and came with a sinister past is now haunted.

Starring: Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Donald Crisp, Gail Russell.

2009 - The new ghost movie has a very different storyline. Hair standing straight scary never the less.

Starring: Emily Browning, David Strathaim, Elizabeth Banks.

2) House On Haunted Hill (1959)

Eccentric multimillionaire and his wife invite five unrelated strangers to a huge, isolated mansion. They offer 10,000 dollars to each guest if they make it through the night (12 hours). All five arrive by hearse and in the morning all five will be leaving by hearse, one-way or the other.

Starring: Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long.

The new 1999 movie has the same story line, slightly altered like one million dollars instead of 10,000 and of course better special effects.

Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Famke Janssen, Taye Diggs, Chris Katten.

3) 13 Ghosts (1960) Out of all the top horror movies this ghost movie is one of the best. Uncle Zorba, an occultist, wills a huge unusual house to his needy nephew Cyrus and his family. This house came with three surprises; treasure, thirteen ghosts and special goggles to see these ghosts.

Starring: Charles Herbert, Donald Woods, Jo Morrow.

2001 version has the same story line, with creative well done effects and Cyrus is the uncle's name.

Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Shannon Elizabeth, F. Murray Abraham.

4) Carnival Of Souls (1962)

A ghostly man appears through mirrors at first only to an innocent church organist. Did someone or something at the deserted carnival prompt this ghoulish image which keeps appearing to this poor girl? Even though this is a low budget movie it still merits a decent level on the fright meter.

Starring: Candace Hilligoss, Frances Feist, Sidney Berger.

1998 version was much more brutal with a not so funny circus clown.

Starring: Bobbie Phillips, Shawnee Smith.

5) The Haunting (1963)

An old mansion called Hill House gives paranormal proof to Dr. Markway and his invited guests. The good story line made this a spooky movie.

Starring: Julie Harris, Richard Johnson, Claire Bloom.

1999 movie has the same story line only its Dr. Marrow, a high standard cast and great movie magic.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Lili Taylor.

6) The Fog (1980)

One hundred years ago a ship carrying lepers purposely crashed drowning all on board. Now the ghoulish lepers are back for revenge and coming through the fog. John Carpenter can certainly put together a great ghost movie, not only once but twice.

Starring: Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Houseman.

2005- Very similar to the 1980 version but with better effects. Mr. Carpenter has also become more successful in the last twenty five years.

Starring: Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, Selma Blair.

7) Witchboard (1986)

College students start playing with an Ouija board that becomes evil. Meanwhile they were all thinking it was the spirit of a nice ten year old boy.

Starring: Todd Allen, Tawny Kitaen, Clare Bristol.

8) The Sixth Sense (1999)

In this subtle ghost movie, nine-year old Cole Sear can see, hear and talk to dead people right after they pass on. Dr. Crowe, a child psychologist tries to help Cole with these...hallucinations. I love movies that have a good twist ending and this is one of them. Definitely one of the top horror movies.

Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette.

9) The St. Francisville Experiment (1999)

In a little town in Louisianna is a known haunted house. The house is haunted by the ghosts of slaves who died enduring horrible torture.Four people are unprepared for the horrors that are about to occur.

Starring: Tim Baldini, Madison Charap, Paul Palmer.

10) What Lies Beneath (2000)

The wife of an university scientist begins to see apparitions. Her husband thinks that she is nuts until he sees the images for himself. Now, they must both uncover the truth and find out what lies beneath.

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Katharine Towne, James Remar.

11) Ghost Ship (2002)

This is a 'better get ready to hang on to something' ghost movie. I would consider this as one of the top horror movies. A 1962 elite passenger ship was suddenly found floating adrift by a salvage crew, forty years later. Old, rusted, deserted, full of gold and ghosts.

Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Julianna Margulies, Ron Eldard, Isaiah Washington.

12) The Ring (2002)

A strange video tape with eerie footage that seems to kill the viewer in seven days. Seconds after the video ends, a phone call, one week later you die a horrible death. Originally a 1998 Japanese film called 'Ringu". I had to add this flick to the top horror movies list.

Starring: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Jane Alexander.

You want to be frightened this Halloween season? My recommendation for a great scary ghost movie is any one of these twelve films. They are all worthy to be on the 'top horror movies' list.

So after the costumed kids are done ringing your doorbell and threatening you for treats, grab a pillow to hang on to, turn off all the lights and put on one of these scary movies. Great way to end Halloween.

Happy Halloween, Cinema Serge.

Top 10 Horror Movies

If you are a horror movie fan you already know how intense an experience these types of films can be. There are some horror movies that combine humor with the storyline as a way of letting the audience catch their breath. Other "scary movies" maintain the fright factor throughout the film. Which movies you like depends on your own personal tastes but here is a list of the top 10 horror movies of all time in no particular order. These are big screen events that every horror aficionado should see at least once.

1. The Blob

Who can forget this cool movie that dates back to the 1950s. This horror movie starred Steve McQueen as a young tough with a heart of gold who battled the fierce outer space blob of goo that was devouring everyone in its path. The remake of this horror classic was not nearly as good as the original version which became a drive in staple for a number of years. This was a movie that was created when people were less jaded and although the special effects are indeed laughable by today's standards at the time when this movie was released the audience let their imaginations provide them with the best scenes.

2. Jaws

This Steven Spielberg production still is one of the cinema greats and definitely deserves to be listed among the top 10 horror movies of all time. Who cares if no one really got to see a great deal of the marauding shark demon, this was another big screen flick that catered to imaginary fears and shocked audiences around the world with surprisingly little onscreen carnage being shown.

3. Friday the 13th

This modern day horror movie is still reeling in viewers and attracting new fans. Although an entire series of Friday the 13th films have been produced it is still the original that people remember best. Jason and that hockey mask are indelibly etched into the minds of all who have seen this "creeped out" thriller.

4. House on Haunted Hill

Is another early movie that still managed to latch onto those fears of the unknown and shock millions of frantic fans. This was a film that specialized in creating horror scenes that were more emotional than visual.

5. The Exorcist

During the 70s few films attracted the fervent publicity that this one did. When it was first released people stood in extraordinarily long lines for their chance to be part of the audience. Linda Blair shot to stardom as the young girl possessed by a demon and that scene showing her head spinning round like a top can still create chills for anyone who rents this movie. The fact that several people associated with this horror movie were injured or killed even led to conjecture that there was an "Exorcist" curse. Of course this type of gossip only made the movie more popular among the millions of horror fans around the world. The Catholic Church even had a few choice words to say against this film, but nothing was able to defeat this horror movie at the box office in its heyday.

6. Jeepers Creepers

This is a movie that was created along the lines of Friday the 13th. You have two young people who are drawn into an underworld of murder, horror and nightmarish fears as well as a hulking, maniacal killer who is set on wreaking carnage and destruction on anyone in his path. This movie formula has been the basis for a number of great horror movies and Jeepers Creepers found box office gold among an audience consisting mostly of teens and young adults.

7. Candyman

This was a 1992 release based on a story written by horror master Clive Barker. You have to love a horror movie that captures the supernatural effects of pure horror and blends them with those "oh, so believable" urban legends. By the time this movie is ending everyone in the audience is convinced that there is a "Candyman" lurking somewhere in their neighborhood.

8. The Sixth Sense

Paranormal activity has always been a staple for many horror flicks but this movie elevates extra sensory perceptions to a brand new level. The young boy who is the central character can really see and speak to departed souls. For him this is a traumatic fact because some of these lingering spirits are truly "horrific" to look at since most of them have suffered a violent death. The twist for this movie is that the psychologist who is helping the young "medium" deal with his fears is also one of these departed spirits but the kind hearted psychologist does not yet realize that he has died. This movie qualifies as a "tearjerker" as well as being one of the best horror movies of all times.

9. The Blair Witch Project

This horror movie was released in 1999 and it was created with a shoestring budget. It became a runaway hit even though there was very little to see in the way of true horror or special effects. This was a psychologically powerful movie that catered to people's superstitious beliefs and it raked in millions at the box office. College students, a New England town, witches and a video camera are the main components of this film. The plot is a bit disoriented and it is difficult to keep track of what is taking place on screen but the fear factor for this movie flew off the chart. Even today you have people who are convinced that this really was a project undertaken by a few intrepid college students who became victims of the curse of the Blair Witch.

10. Night of the Living Dead

This is another 60's black and white horror film that continues to be popular with audiences. The story begins in a graveyard where zombie-like creatures are walking about. These are dead people who have come back to life and are out to literally devour any humans they find. A small group of individuals hide in a house and attempt to fend off these monsters. The living dead are not easy to kill and resourcefulness is the key to survival. This is one of those horror movies that lets the audience use their imagination which is one of the reasons that it has become such a classic favorite.

There are many other great horror movies for people to watch and enjoy. Some of the newer movies are using explosive special effects and makeup to create intense scenes but true horror buffs realize that what you don't see can often be even more terrifying than what is recorded on camera. The best horror movies captivate your imagination early in the movie and allow you to become part of the action. Thanks to new technology it is easy for horror fans to choose to watch either older films or new releases. This means you have the best of both "fright filled" worlds at your fingertips.

Top Horror Movies

We watch movies in order to experience a roller-coaster ride of emotional responses. Horror movies aim to evoke fear, whose family of tertiary emotions consist of shock, alarm, mortification, panic, hysteria, horror, terror and fright. Whether or not a horror movie is good or bad is subjective. This short article explores those movies which are commonly regarded as the top horror movies; the movies that - for one reason or another - most potently engaged our fears.

Psycho (1960)

Originally a book by Robert Bloch, later adapted for the screen by Joseph Stefano, and famously directed by the late, great Alfred Hitchcock, this is the seminal slasher movie that shocked America and set the fear-formula for many future horror movies. We have a serial killer who dresses in drag to imitate his Mother; we have a beautiful heroine who, shockingly, dies a third of the way in; we see a bloody bathroom scene that was all the more jarring for earlier audiences, who were unused to seeing toilets on cinema screens. But none of this captures what really terrifies us about Psycho, for psycho is an exploration into madness, a place where - God forbid - anyone of us might one day journey.

Night Of The Living Dead (1968)

A group of people hold up in a farmhouse and must fight off the hungry advances of an approaching zombie army. Written by John A Russo and George A Romero, and directed by Romero in 1968, this is the original zombie flick that even today ranks as one of the top horror movies ever put on film. What makes it so scary? Honestly, I think it's the simplicity. We have a lonely farmhouse besieged by the undead and no explanation as to why the dead are rising, other than the haunting line "when there is no more room in hell, the dead shall walk the earth". We have zombies obsessed with one thing: eating the living; and the living obsessed with one goal: avoiding becoming a zombie-dinner! Even the film stock is simple: grainy black and white. At times, perhaps when the camera jolts and the sound crackles, as we watch brain dead zombies tear apart and chew on their freshly dead neighbors, we get the distinct impression of documentary filmmaking. Simplicity can be terrifying.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

The movie that proves sequels can surpass their originals. Boris Karloff reprises the role that made him famous, that of The Monster and, likewise, James Whale returns to direct another sinister masterpiece. The primary theme in both Frankenstein movies is man should not play God because there will be horrible consequences; indeed, even The Monster is aware that his existence is an abomination. What makes Bride better than Frankenstein? I'd say both Whale and Karloff use their experience of the original to enhance their performances.

Halloween (1978)

In Halloween we see a deranged murderer escape a mental asylum and return to his home town where he slays the local teenagers. The movie opens with a scene from the point-of-view of Michael, a young boy who proceeds to massacre his sister with a kitchen knife. This sets a shocking and unpredictable tone for the rest of the movie. Yet again simplicity in horror proves to be the terrifying ingredient, easily making this one of the top horror movies ever made. Michael is a simple, yet efficient killing machine, much like the shark in Jaws. What we find so chilling about him is his God-like ability to remain alive, but - as they say - you cannot kill the bogeyman!

The Exorcist (1973)

The best word to describe The Exorcist? Shocking. A girl who becomes possessed by an evil entity and her mother enlists the help of two priests to save her. Watching this movie you get the distinct impression that what you see is real. Audiences are compelled to believe both the Devil and his demons exist. But what truly shocks are the taboos: a weak, alcoholic priest; intense use of blasphemy; a young girl who urinates, curses, blasphemes and implores a priest to sexually gratify her. The Exorcist leaves you with a persistent uneasy feeling, wherein you find yourself believing more so in the devil, a creature whose evil is definitely unquantifiable.

There are many more top horror movies but you'll find the five listed above to be those commonly regarded as the scariest.

Top 10 Horror Movies

A few months back I set a poll on one of my sites which asked horror fans to rate their top ten horror movies of all time. In this article I list the movies and explain what makes horror fans rate them so highly.

Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho terrifies audiences because it is an exploration of insanity which concludes that anyone, even the sane, can become insane and suffer terrible consequences.

Alien (1979)

The powerful theme in Alien is one of disease. The crew aboard a futuristic space vessel become infected by an alien species and hunted down in grisly fashion. Perhaps the most terrifying thing about Alien is the theme it shares with Psycho: Evil is inside of us and, thus, cannot be easily escaped.

The Shining (1980)

Almost every college campus bedroom has the poster of Jack Nicholson peering through a recently-axed bathroom window, grinning in his uniquely iconic, maniacal manner. This easily deserves to be one of the top 10 horror movies of all time. Derived from the book by Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece is a haunting look at insanity and claustrophobia, as the Wife and Son of Jack Torrence are mentally abused and later on hunted down by him in a remote hotel called The Overlook. What perhaps scares us most here is the possibility that our trusted loved ones can become our worst enemies.

Aliens (1986)

In Aliens we see Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) return with a rescue team to a colony where she must do battle with yet more aliens. No one believes her, of course, until it is too late and both herself and the other crew members are besieged by dozens of drooling, toothy beings. It is the claustrophobic settings here, more than the Aliens, that we find most scary.

Les Diaboliques (1955)

A boarding school headmaster is murdered by his mistress and wife who has a weak heart. They submerge his corpse in their school's swimming pool but, upon being brained, the body has disappeared. What ensues are scenes of suspense that slowly turn the murderers insane with tension. This movie is painful and terrifying to watch as we, unwillingly, must become the killers and share their fears. Although it is one of the top 10 horror movies of all time, I would say it is - possibly - the best suspense movie of all time.

Jaws (1975)

Amity Island has everything: beautiful beaches, warm weather, friendly inhabitants . . . oh, and a fifteen-foot killer great white shark! This is the original summer block buster known to all movie-goers. The theme here is man against nature. What terrifies most about Jaws is the uncompromising monster. He will not be reasoned with, he will not stop eating, and you will not escape his teeth, even if you're an expert shark fisherman. In this film only the lucky survive.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

This horror movie takes up where Frankenstein left off. Frankenstein and his monster are both still alive. The crazy Dr Pretorius kidnaps Frankenstein's wife and blackmails him to create another monster to become bride to the original abomination. With grave-digging, decaying corpses, re-animated living tissues, and the terrifying theme that man should not play God, this is a truly terrifying tale.

The Thing (1982)

In a remote Antarctic station, an expedition of American scientists encounters a dog, being perused by a helicopter which crashes. That same night the dog attacks both dogs and scientists and soon a shape-changing entity is loose among the survivors. The notion that evil lurks within those we trust is explored here to terrifying affect.

King Kong (1933)

When original audiences watched King Kong many of them literally ran screaming up the isles. Never had a monster been so realistically portrayed.

The Exorcist (1973)

In the Exorcist we are confronted by the ultimate evil: The Devil and his minions. Unlike serial killers or ghosts, Satan seems invincible; success feels hopeless. This terrifying film was made shocking by the use of blasphemy, a child becoming possessed and spouting obscene language; and the weakness of Good (namely an alcoholic priest) in the face of purest evil.

The top 10 horror movies of all time will, of course, change in the future, but - perhaps - the themes will remain the same. We will always be scared of inner evils (insanity), invincible evils (nature and the Devil), and monsters, of all shapes and sizes, will likely still prove to entertain and terrify!