# Were there any horror or scary movies that actually scared you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604 "2003-11-27T18:37:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/81 "2003-12-01T19:20:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\*I just remembered an episode of **Alfred Hitchcock Presents** that scared the crap out of me and my brother. It’s the one where the rich bitch gets sent to prison and makes a deal with the gravedigger \*\* That episode scared the crap outta me. So did the nightmare episode of M_A_S\*H. But movies? _The Changeling_ with George C. Scott scared me. The soggy, red and blue ball bouncing down the stairs after he’d gone and thrown it in the river. Brrr. It’s the kind of movie that gives you the heebie jeebies when your house settles a bit making a little “crrreeeeak” noise. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/82 "2003-12-01T19:34:55Z")
Oh, and my former housemate came home from _What Lies Beneath_ compeltely _blanched_, mumbled “it was scarier than _Sixth Sense_…”, made a whimpering noise, went in his room, and shut the door behind him. I haven’t seen it yet. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/83 "2003-12-01T19:51:41Z")
I’m proud to say I’m getting over my issues with _The Shining_, which used to be my scariest movie of all time. Repeated viewings over Halloween weekend sucked the scare out of it, even with the butt-face girls. “Come and play with us, Danny . . .” When I first saw _The Ring_, I wasn’t really freaked out, but some of those images really stuck with me. The way the first girl looks in the closet, the swirling effect on the faces in the photographs, and how Samara’s hair hangs limply over her own face got to me in a big way. Then my father called me about five minutes after I finished the movie and I was all, “_helloooo_?” I get very freaked out at anything with mirrors. Sometimes I have problems washing my face or brushing my teeth at night because I’m terrified I’ll look up and something will be looking back at me, standing right behind me. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/84 "2003-12-01T20:19:35Z")
I am pretty easily scared at just about any scary movie, but the one I really couldn’t get over was _Silence of the Lambs_. I have actually blocked much of that movie from my memory now but I was so creeped out by it for weeks afterward. I still remember the end, though, when she is in the dark…brrrrr. And the scene in the elevator. As far as the movie that had the biggest impact on my life though, it has to be _E.T_. Ok, I saw it when I was 4. To this day I have to say, who the hell thinks a movie about a creepy-ass alien who comes up in the woods in the dark is a good kids’ movie. I was terrified of E.T. for years, I tell you. I still don’t like him. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/85 "2003-12-01T20:40:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DesertGeezer \* > \*\*When Alan Arkin leaped out of the shadows at Audrey Hepburn in **Wait Until Dark** I literally came out of my seat, along with about half the audience in the theater. \*\* I still do, even when I know it’s coming. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/86 "2003-12-01T20:58:47Z")
For me it was **The Exorcist**. According to my dad, I was white as a sheet when I watched it. I just saw **Mulholland Drive** a couple days ago. I was really scared during a lot of the movie because of the palpable air of menace. The scene where the two guys go to look behind the dumpster at Winky’s was the worst because I had no idea what they’d find there. I feel the same about certain episodes of **Twin Peaks**. The last one, certainly, but other parts, too. There’s one shot of BOB climbing over a couch that terrifies me – whenever I see it I can’t shower for the next two or three days because I’m afraid when I close my eyes to wash my face that he’s going to get me. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/87 "2003-12-01T21:49:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Judith Prietht \* > \*\*I’m proud to say I’m getting over my issues with _The Shining_, which used to be my scariest movie of all time. Repeated viewings over Halloween weekend sucked the scare out of it, even with the butt-face girls. “Come and play with us, Danny . . .” \*\* Well, if I can put some of the scare back into it for ya… Kubrick based the two little girls on a [photograph](http://www.msu.edu/user/sullivan/images/ArbusIdenticalTwins.jpeg) by Diane Arbus. _Real_ little girls… “come play with us Judith…” ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/88 "2003-12-01T21:54:47Z")
Well, although it was a pitiful movie overall, “Exorcist III” with William C. Scott had one of the effective “shock” moments I ever saw: a jumpy nurse is watching over a ward during the late night shift. There’s a fake scare, a security guard wanders in and out of scene, and just when I was starting to wonder if anything at all was going to happen in the scene, the serial killer (dressed as a nun!) comes bolting after the nurse with a pair of autopsy shears. Yike! That gave me the creeps for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/89 "2003-12-01T21:56:37Z")
Oh, _The Sixth Sense_! The part where the little girl just appears in the tent had me screaming. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/90 "2003-12-01T22:11:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\*Well, if I can put some of the scare back into it for ya… Kubrick based the two little girls on a [photograph](http://www.msu.edu/user/sullivan/images/ArbusIdenticalTwins.jpeg) by Diane Arbus. _Real_ little girls… “come play with us Judith…” \*\* Urge to scream rising . . . Rising . . . RISING . . . ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/91 "2003-12-01T23:47:55Z")
I was raised by very religious parents (fundy dad, way-Catholic mom) and never thought _The Exorcist_ was scary. When I was little my folks were always so sure that demons were possessing people everywhere that it became old hat. “Oh, she’s possessed. That’s nice. I’m gonna go read a book.” I did find _Frailty_ disturbing though. Not exactly scary, but it was like watching my alternate-reality autobiography. And I’ve had a life-long horror of _The Texas Chainsaw Massacre_ in all its incarnations. I too fear power tools. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Danno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Danno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Danno)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/92 "2003-12-02T00:58:19Z")
Thank you, **Velma** , I was worried that I was the only one who thought that _Silence of the Lambs_ was one of the scariest movies ever. I remember when I went to see it - I was travelling on business and went to see it one night after work. Alone. Big big big mistake. I was in a strange town, living in a strange room, sleeping in a strange bed… Yikes! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/93 "2003-12-02T02:10:55Z")
The only movie that ever really frightened me, strangely enough, wasn’t a horror movie; it was “Memento.” The idea of being injured the way Leonard is (for those who have not seen it, he’d been hit in the melon and from that point on he can remember everything before the injury, but afterwards can only remember the last ten minutes) really, really disturbed me. I had nightmares about it for months. I can’t think of a more horrible fate. ---
**Author:** ![DeaganTheWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DeaganTheWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeaganTheWolf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/94 "2003-12-02T02:37:40Z")
Okay all these scared the hell out of me as a child, “Pulse” This was a flick about an evil little blob that killed people. FOr some reason this scared three kinds of hell out of me. “Critters” After this i would jump onto my bed; I was SURE a critter was there waiting to eat my toes. The episode of the X-Files in which a man’s parasitic twin crawls out of him at night and kills people by crawling into them ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/95 "2003-12-02T03:04:56Z")
Yes! Thank you, **DeaganThe Wolf**! I’m not the only one who was terrified by _Critters_ as a child! I’m the youngest of three, so sometimes I’d stay up to watch my brothers’ movie choice. Usually a bad idea. (Sometimes I just picked up fun lanugage. 😃 ) To this day, I’ve never seen a single _Nightmare on Elm Street_ all the way through. Couldn’t do it growing up and just seems silly now that I’m 23. _Blair Witch_ would’ve been scarier if my oldest brother hadn’t blabbed the ending after I **specifically** told him not too. And I accidentally caught the “secret” of _Sixth Sense_ at work one day. I couldn’t sit through it the one time it was on and my hubby watched it. ---
**Author:** ![BrandyFine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrandyFine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandyFine)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/96 "2003-12-02T03:27:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cbawlmer \* > \*\*And I’ve had a life-long horror of _The Texas Chainsaw Massacre_ in all its incarnations. I too fear power tools. \*\* It was a scary movie. I’ve read recently that part of the reason is a lot of what the actors were going through was actually real? That the actors were badly abused on the set. I don’t know how much of it’s true but leatherface was recently interviewed and he said it was one of the worst experiences of his life. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/97 "2003-12-02T03:55:28Z")
In **The Others** I jumped at the scene towards the end where the blind Psychic opens the door to the cubby hole the kids are hiding and while saying “Come with us.” ---
**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:** [December 2, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604/98 "2003-12-02T05:13:36Z")
The scariest movie that I saw recently was **Darkness** (2002) with Anna Paquin and Lena Olin. There are a few good scares in the recent **House on Haunted Hill** (1999), Chris Kattan notwithstanding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-horror-or-scary-movies-that-actually-scared-you/215604.md?page=4)