# The ABSOLUTE creepiest movie **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2000, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947 "2000-08-11T11:13:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/41 "2000-08-11T20:05:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asmodeus \* > \*\*If you want creepy, wondering why the hell am I watching this god awful movie/subject… > > 8MM with Nicholas Cage. > If you’ve seen it…you know what I mean. \*\* I had to _try_ to watch that movie half a dozen times before I could actually make it through the whole thing. Wow. Yep, go for that one, definitely. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/42 "2000-08-11T20:27:32Z")
Add me onto the list for “The Vanishing,” Dutch version. It is creepy in the extreme. I could never have guessed the ending. I told my husband about the plot of the film, and even HEARING about it creeped him out, and he never wants to see the film, ever. This is one of his phobias. And all this without gore, shock (except one), weird-looking people, etc. This is its strength, and it is stronger because it is true. Sociopaths look no different from you and me, and probably act no differently. Just look at Ted Bundy, Jeff Dahmer, or other serial killers. At no time did the sociopath in this film look or act abnormal, and therein lies the film’s horror. Way more effective, if you ask me, than guys with nails stuck in their heads, or automated dolls running around with knives. 10.0 on the creepy scale. ---
**Author:** ![INTERPRETER](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dbc845/32.png) [@INTERPRETER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/INTERPRETER)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/43 "2000-08-11T20:29:05Z")
The grandaddy of them all! The one that launched a thousand vomit fests and caused the Catholic church to publicly denounce it - the one, the only, the uncut, uncensored version of---- THE EXORCIST. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/44 "2000-08-11T20:34:28Z")
Shallow grave was suspenseful _nod to gravity_ But what about Texas chainsaw massacre? If you can keep from laughing at the girl who just runs thru the woods banging into trees and getting her hair caught in the branches, the scene where the next victim is thrown into the room full of chopped up body parts and the furniture is made of arms & legs & stuff will definitely scare the shit out of you. Also, a little bit older, Trilogy of Terror–staring Karen Black–the one with the murderous doll, and Black Sabbath–no Ozzie but I think Boris Karloff, black and white truly creepy ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/45 "2000-08-11T20:59:51Z")
Psychological creepinesss: Seven The Silence of the Lambs and I second the votes for: The Shining (Wish they’d stayed truer to the book, though; especially in the end.) The Thing The Exorcist Hellraiser Pumpkinhead (Hey, I need at least one cult classic type!) ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/46 "2000-08-11T21:02:05Z")
Hill House? Hell House? I’m confused. But I think this is the movie I’m thinking of [The Legend of Hell House](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006GFG/qid=966025747/sr=1-1/103-9969045-3175831) There’s a lot of creepy banging and booming and other strange noises, a la “The Exorcist.” The single most terrifying movie I’ve ever seen is “The Silence of the Lambs.” I sincerely tore the skin from hubbie’s arm, and I ain’t particularly skairdy. The book was also good, as well as the sequel, “Hannibal.” I remember reading a review of Picnic at Hanging Rock by Roger Ebert years ago and have been on a low-grade search for it ever since. All I have near me is stupid Blockbuster, so I can never find anything good or artsy. Me, I’m always up for an Ed Wood film, though! 😉 (See sig! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/47 "2000-08-11T21:11:42Z")
A couple more:[list] [li]If you are looking for _disturbing_ movies, there aren’t too many more disturbing than **Seven**. Without giving too much away, don’t expect a happy ending.[/li][li] **The Hitcher** is one of my favorites. Rutger Hauer as a psychotic hitchhiker. [SPOILER (SORT OF)- READ NO FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THIS MOVIE][/li]. . . . . I like The Hitcher because I think that what’s happening in this movie is similar to what was happening in Fight Club, only in The Hitcher, they don’t hit you over the head with it. You have to figure it out on your own. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/48 "2000-08-11T21:16:42Z")
Ok, so now you’ve all got me really wanting to see The Vanishing. I’ve found that it’s available through Movies unlimited, but they want $18.99 for it and, based on what all of you say, I’m not sure I want to spend $20 for a movie I wont have the guts to watch twice. None of my local video stores have it. Does anyone have a copy that they’d be willing to rent me? ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/49 "2000-08-11T21:41:41Z")
Lucky, I don’t have it but do make sure you’re looking for the Dutch/French version, not the horrendous, boring, American (typical) remake. I am surprised that none of your video stores has it - it isn’t that obscure a film. It was marketed here with an English name - The Vanishing - not under its original Dutch name. Did you look in the Foreign Film section? I’ve gotten it a couple of times at Blockbuster. And it is way creepier than anything else mentioned here. It’s not scary - it’s **creepy**. The ending will make your skin shiver. It will probably take several seconds for it to dawn on you just what the hell is going on, and then you will probably have trouble sleeping for a few nights. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/50 "2000-08-11T21:48:13Z")
Undoubtedly one of the creepiest films ever: [10 Rillington Place](http://www.britmovie.co.uk/genres/drama/filmography/063.html) > [@](#): > > The movie belongs to Richard Attenborough, **his portrait of Christie is one of the creepiest things ever to crawl onto the screen, subtly terrifying even when performing such innocuous tasks as brewing a pot of tea.** (emphasis mine) Creepy because it’s a [true story](http://www.parmaq.com/truecrime/Rillington.htm)…(spoilers on true story page). ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/51 "2000-08-11T22:37:15Z")
> [@](#): > > 8MM with Nicholas Cage. > If you’ve seen it…you know what I mean. Absolutely. You’re left at the end thinking, “In L.A., there live people who _let Joel Schumacher direct movies_.” If that doesn’t shake your faith in the order of things, I don’t know what will. As far as creepy movies, I have nothing to contribute that hasn’t been said already. I do want to go rent The Vanishing now, though. ---
**Author:** ![Babar714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Babar714](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babar714)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/52 "2000-08-11T22:50:01Z")
Just a side note: The Exorcist is being re-released soon, digitally remastered, never before seen scenes… the whole deal. My theater got a couple trailers in the other week. I can’t wait. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/53 "2000-08-12T02:31:49Z")
This is an old movie about circus freaks where the actors really are actual circus freaks. I saw this in 1978 and one scene–where this guy who is just a torso and a head is moving across the ground with a knife in his mouth–is STILL stuck in my head. ::Shivers:: ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/54 "2000-08-12T02:34:32Z")
Oops, I forgot…I also agree with Spoke about The Hitcher being very good. This is not my genre, but I do know that The Hitcher scared the bejesus out of me. Hey, I want my bejesus back! ---
**Author:** ![a\_young\_Morgan\_Fairchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/da6949/32.png) [@a\_young\_Morgan\_Fairchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_young_Morgan_Fairchild)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/55 "2000-08-12T02:44:42Z")
Morgan Fairchild gets stalked by Andrew Stevens. The creepy part for most people is where he follows her home and sneeks a peek at he naked outside in the spa/pool. The creepiest part for me, though is every guy I’ve dated ends up telling me I look like her in that scene! Like they’re ever going to see me skinnydipping! ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/56 "2000-08-12T03:11:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Athena \* > \*\*To those of you who haven’t gotten it yet - all these suggestions are fine suggestions, but none of 'em have the impact of **The Vanishing**. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that it is in a class by itself, above and beyond any other disturbing movies. Yeah, the Shining was weird, but not like the Vanishing. Jacob’s Ladder? Though somewhat distrubing, not even remotely in the same class. The original Haunting was child’s play compared to the Vanishing. Exorcist, Silence of the Lambs, both good movies, but I remember them with a certain fondness. The Vanishing conjures up nothing but dread and horror. I hesitated before I even suggested it, because there’s no way in hell you could get me to watch it again. \*\* Ok, many people have posted on this movie, specifically the Dutch original. I THINK I’ve seen the American remake with Keifer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock. Is this the movie where a guy buries someone alive? I didn’t find the American remake more than mildly disturbing, but many have said the original is something else. Why is that? What is “creepier” in the original? SHould I go see it? What should I expect? Help, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/57 "2000-08-12T05:22:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SwimmingRiddles \* > **You’re talking about Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, aka Castle of the Spider’s Web. It’s his remake of MacBeth, and it’s breathtakingly brilliant. And VERY, very creepy.** **Wow! This is it?!! REALLY?!! Man, my siblings and I have been trying to figure out the name of this movie for years!!** Thanks so much SwimmingRiddles, for answering one of the two questions that have been plaguing my family since the day before never. Now, if you can only answer the other one: The name of this song, an instrumental, that goes: “dee-dee-da-dee-da-da…” Well, I **told** you it was tough… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/58 "2000-08-12T06:37:04Z")
What about _Dead Ringers_ where Jeremy Irons stars as identical twin gynaecologists? After I saw that, I told myself, “David Cronenberg is definately the most fucked-up person making movies today.” ---
**Author:** ![Michi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@Michi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michi)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/59 "2000-08-12T11:56:23Z")
If you go for Carnival of Souls, do not pick the recent version. Go for the old back and white one. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947/60 "2000-08-12T15:05:53Z")
I second the nomination for **Se7en**. Also, I’d like to add **Bad Lieutenant** to the list. Some very, very disturbing scenes in that film. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolute-creepiest-movie/28947.md?page=4)