# Movies: What scares the crap out of you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420 "2005-02-16T21:17:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/1 "2005-02-16T21:17:02Z")
Partly inspired by **Lady Venom** ’s thread about _Trilogy of Terror_. What subject matter in horror movies turns you, a normally rational and strong adult, into a quivering ball of fear who must sleep with the lights on? For me it’s the undead. Not vampires (who I regard as laughably silly) or mummies or skeletons. But zombies. If George Romero directed it, it’ll freak me out. _The Sixth Sense_ had the same effect on me. First runner up would be anything about children, especially little girls. And undead little girls? Forget about it. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@shadowfax33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowfax33)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/2 "2005-02-16T21:53:28Z")
I don’t know if this is really what you’re looking for, but what scares me the most is the plausible. To this day, “Silence of the Lambs” is the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. There’s nothing supernatural there. Also, _dark_ scares me. If I’m in a dark theatre and looking at a nearly dark screen where I _know_ the baddies are out to get the hero, I get a little freaked out. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/3 "2005-02-16T21:54:58Z")
Things that reach out and grab you from under the bed. I was going to use The Sixth Sense for my example, but tdn’s already mentioned it. I don’t like scary movies and usually avoid them. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/4 "2005-02-16T21:57:26Z")
Well, I’ve always been a little afraid of things in hiding when it’s dark (under the bed, behind the couch, in the closet), so that kind of stuff’ll get me. But really, pretty much anything will do it if it’s properly directed and the right tone is set. I’m just a big 'fraidy cat… ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/5 "2005-02-16T22:27:54Z")
I don’t like creepy kids, either, especially the twins in **The Shining**. But as far as horror devices go, I get freaked when there’s mirrors involved or someone/something walking behind a character’s back on screen. For example, the beginning of the kitchen scene in **The Sixth Sense** , where we see the figure walk quickly behind the kid. Gah. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/6 "2005-02-16T22:31:47Z")
> [@Judith Prietht](#): > > I get freaked when there’s mirrors involved or someone/something walking behind a character’s back on screen. Mmmmmmm. Like the great “jump shots” in Hitchcock’s **Psycho** and Polanski’s **Repulsion**. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/7 "2005-02-16T22:34:49Z")
Argh, got the shivers just reading **Judith Prieth’s** post. Sudden stuff scares me, such as in the beginning of The Changeling when George C Scott is standing outside and a tiny little upper window suddenly blows out, scattering pieces down to the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/8 "2005-02-16T22:41:10Z")
> [@Caprese](#): > > Argh, got the shivers just reading **Judith Prieth’s** post. > > Sudden stuff scares me, such as in the beginning of The Changeling when George C Scott is standing outside and a tiny little upper window suddenly blows out, scattering pieces down to the ground. Does he get hit in the groin with a football? ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/9 "2005-02-16T22:47:16Z")
Puppets that talk, like the one in Saw, scare me. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/10 "2005-02-16T22:53:54Z")
An effect not seen nearly enough in movies but always freaks me out, both at the theater and in real life: the _Christ!-Did-I-fucking-see-that?_ quick-edit. The unverfiable split-second _glimpse_ of something absolutely visibly horrific that you can’t rationalize. You wind up thinking schizophrenically, _Nah, I didn’t fucking see that_ and _Fuck you. Yes, you did! You_ totally _saw that and what does it_ mean? Seen repeatedly in the uncut JACOB’S LADDER, a couple of times in THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE and to a lesser extent, THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS. In JACOB’S LADDER, Tim Robbin’s character glances down at a homeless guy asleep on a subway train and _sees a short tail give a creepy mycolonic twitch and disappears into the filthy rags he’s sleeping in._ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/11 "2005-02-17T00:00:40Z")
Cats that jump out of closets. Oh, wait, that’s just annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Venom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Lady\_Venom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Venom)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/12 "2005-02-17T00:13:47Z")
I’m weird when it comes to Scary Movies. I love them, but I hate being scared. Honestly, I know a lot of people thought it was stupid, but The Grudge scared the shit out of me. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared from a movie before. 13 Ghosts scared me too. Boo-scary is okay, but Mindf\*ck scary is worse! _teehee_ I got refered to in another thread _teehee_ Yea yea, small things amuse small minds ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/13 "2005-02-17T00:21:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Puppets that talk, like the one in Saw, scare me. Speaking of Saw, people in animal masks scare the fucking shit out of me. The puppet was bad enough, but when I left the theater, it was the guy in the pig mask that kept me awake all night. Likewise, I think Kubrick’s _The Shining_ is an awful, ridiculously stupid movie _except_ for the guy in the animal suit giving the guy a blowjob. Just that shot, with the guy looking down the hallway at you. Holy fuck, I’m scaring myself just thinking about it. Horses also scare the crap out of me, even when it’s not a scary movie context. That bit in _The Ring_ almost had me hiding under my seat. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/14 "2005-02-17T00:36:34Z")
There’s a technique that’s been used in recent horror movies (The Ring, Darkness '02, Gothika) in which something supernatural is walking, but frames of film are removed. It’s like a strobe light with the darkness between blinks removed. The effect is that the thing not only moves more quickly but the rhythm of the movements isn’t predictable. Take that and add a screechy, ascending violin and… brrr. I’m right there with you **Lady Venom** - those mindf\*ck scary scenes stay with you. Take David Lynch’s movies for example. **Caprese** , did you see Exorcist III, also with George C. Scott? There’s a sudden scene near the end… ---
**Author:** ![EmeraldGrue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@EmeraldGrue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmeraldGrue)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/15 "2005-02-17T00:48:20Z")
Mirrors. Especially the reflections. Things wrong with faces–for example, freaky eyes or absent features (I know it’s not a horror movie, but when Kate Winslet’s face blurs away in _Eternal Sunshine_ is a perfect example). Things that grab you from under the bed. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/16 "2005-02-17T00:50:16Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > In JACOB’S LADDER, Tim Robbin’s character glances down at a homeless guy asleep on a subway train and _sees a short tail give a creepy mycolonic twitch and disappears into the filthy rags he’s sleeping in._ Remember the quick shot where his girlfriend growled and bared about 70 teeth? _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/17 "2005-02-17T00:51:55Z")
Not a lot scares me, but ever since reading _It_ I’ve been scared of clowns. Even clowns that are meant to be sweet and funny give me shivers. I, like **The Devil’s Grandmother** am scared of things that reach out from under the bed. I watched _Idle Hands_ (a movie meant to be more of a comedy!) and at this one part an arm reaches out from under a bed and grabs an ankle. Because of that one scene that I watched two years ago I will an arm’s length around my bed. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/18 "2005-02-17T01:04:30Z")
Anything that looks human but isn’t. Clowns and dolls and puppets. Creep-ass by nature, in a horror movie SCARY AS HELL. Wasn’t it Billy Graham who swore that a demon was living inside the celluloid reels of _The Exorcist_? I believe it. The filmmakers tapped into something primal, really and truly terrifying with that one. And unlike a lot of later movies, the evil isn’t lurking in corners or swathed in shadows. The demon is front and center. Regan spider-walking down the staircase? The shape of the demon outlined in her door? The flashes of the demon’s face? I didn’t sleep for three days after I saw that movie, even though I never even watched it to the end. Everytime I closed my eyes I saw the demon’s face. _Ugh_. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/19 "2005-02-17T01:22:16Z")
Mirrors. Things wrong with faces, or drastically wrong with the human body. Freaky little girls. And any movie like **Alien** , where you never, ever, see the monster in its entirety - just freaky-deaky glimpses. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420/20 "2005-02-17T01:22:25Z")
I saw a movie once when I was a young child. There was a scene in it where a very old, thin, man with an evil smile (maybe a gold tooth, too) drove a 1930’s model car. He was like the grim reaper, or seeing him meant imminent death, or something like that. The movie was in color, but the scenes with him were either sepia toned or black and white. I used to lay in bed at night and be scared at the sound of every car that came up the street. Those kinds of cars still freak me out. As an aside, does anyone have any idea of what movie it may have been? I’d like to see it again :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-what-scares-the-crap-out-of-you/290420.md?page=2)