# Horror Movies That Actually Scare You **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [October 20, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126 "2025-10-20T15:11:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IMadeLem0nade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imadelem0nade/32/19241_2.png) [@IMadeLem0nade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMadeLem0nade)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/1 "2025-10-20T15:11:03Z")
I am having a date and I need some movies that have scared you, made you jump, or generally just have that quality of creepiness. Not some cheesy movies, but I need some movies that have actually scared you. If you don’t really have any suggestions, please don’t post saying ‘Oh I’m NoT ScArEd Of AnYtHiNg’ or something like that. If you have multiple, could you list them from scariest to least scary? (I’m putting this in IMHO but idk if that fits best) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/2 "2025-10-20T15:26:57Z")
The Ring The Shining I think that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/3 "2025-10-20T15:30:41Z")
The Thing ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/4 "2025-10-20T15:33:19Z")
The Haunting of Hill House 1963 (I think, IMDb search seems to be down at the moment) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/5 "2025-10-20T15:36:52Z")
**[Obligatory link](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-create-a-horror-movie-too-scary-to-be-commercially-viable/1007649/4)** to my lengthy treatise on why I believe there cannot be a single simple answer for what makes a movie scary, and why our reactions depend so heavily on our individual mindset. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/6 "2025-10-20T15:44:29Z")
I generally find horror movies silly. The big exception for me was **The Exorcist**. So creepy and scary even if you don’t believe in anything supernatural. Also found the original **Hellraiser** got my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/7 "2025-10-20T15:48:11Z")
Poltergeist still scares the bejeebers out of me, although the special effects haven’t really held up. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/8 "2025-10-20T15:48:47Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > The Shining After all the numerous parodies (most notably the Simpsons’) and the insane levels of overacting on the part of the principals, I instead find it a laugh riot from start to finish. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/9 "2025-10-20T15:57:36Z")
> [@IMadeLem0nade](#): > > I am having a date and I need some movies that have scared you, made you jump, or generally just have that quality of creepiness. Not some cheesy movies, but I need some movies that have actually scared you. Um…why? P.S. How old are you? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/10 "2025-10-20T16:13:13Z")
It’s like Casablanca, full of clichés. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/11 "2025-10-20T16:16:10Z")
Um… maybe they like horror movies and since it’s October want to watch something scary? Why are you acting like there is something wrong with that? As for films I found scary: The Ring The Orphanage Caveat Terrified Hell House LLC ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/12 "2025-10-20T16:18:50Z")
Good answers so far, I will add **[The Omen.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Omen)** ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/13 "2025-10-20T16:23:26Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why are you acting like there is something wrong with that? Not _wrong_… just really _young_. I’m testing my powers of observation and deduction WRT all the elements of the OP. Hey, I was young once. But only once. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/14 "2025-10-20T16:25:26Z")
_The Blair Witch Project_ ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/15 "2025-10-20T16:32:04Z")
I think _Alien_ is pretty freaking scary. Also _It Follows._ Seconding _The Thing._ ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/16 "2025-10-20T16:51:17Z")
_Alien_ _John Carpenter’s The Thing_ _The Fly (1986 version)_ ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/17 "2025-10-20T17:09:14Z")
Moved to Cafe society. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/18 "2025-10-20T17:12:36Z")
Moderating: > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > > Why are you acting like there is something wrong with that? > > Not _wrong_… just really _young_. > > I’m testing my powers of observation and deduction WRT all the elements of the OP. Hey, I was young once. But only once. This is a threadshit, and borderline insulting the poster. Please drop this line of discussion. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/19 "2025-10-20T17:16:45Z")
Fifthing or whatever _The Ring_. I found _Audition_ quite scary. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126/20 "2025-10-20T17:26:15Z")
_Sinister_ (2012) starring Ethan Hawke is as creepy as anything I’ve seen in recent years. _Zodiac_ (2007) is based on the true story of the Zodiac killer in the 1960s and 70s in the San Francisco area. It has a really well done sense of dread, as you’d expect for the subject matter, and one scene in particular is creepy as hell. Not really a horror movie but I found it terrifying because it’s true. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horror-movies-that-actually-scare-you/1024126.md?page=2)