# what is the scariest movie ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839 "2001-09-15T17:22:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/21 "2001-09-16T04:02:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Although it didn’t give me nightmares, I will absolutely refuse to see Arachnaphobia. Make that: “absolutely refuse to see **Arachnaphobia** _again_.” Once was enough. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/22 "2001-09-16T04:43:11Z")
I’ll put in a vote for **The Omen**. The psychological nuances are very unnerving. The mother _knows_ something is wrong (evil) with her son. She fears her son is not really her son. The father’s descent into a figurative hell as he circles around the truth, not wanting to believe what he is starting to believe until one night he goes into his son’s room to confirm the truth and then… Well, I won’t spoil it for the 6 people who haven’t seen it, but a great “scary movie” moment. I still remember the chills I got when the two men investigated the old graveyard. And when they opened the grave? Hoo boy! Nothing graphic there, just _unnerving_. Even had a couple of nightmares on that whole scene for a while, complete with the dogs and the wrought iron fence. ---
**Author:** ![RufusB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@RufusB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RufusB)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/23 "2001-09-16T06:10:54Z")
For a movie to be considered scary by me it has to leave a lasting impression, not just make me jump at some sudden movement and loud loud orchestral trill. In that category there are only 3 movies that i can think of off the top of my head (two of which i saw when i was about 8 yrs old,might have something to do with those two). The Shining - Something about the scene with the guy in the teddy bear costume always gives me the creeps, even to this day. The Serpent and the Rainbow - Most of that movie was creepy, especially the graveyard scene and when he got buried alive (haven’t seen it in a long time though). IT (tv version, the first half only) - The first installment of that tv movie was one of the creepiest things I have ever seen. I’ve never liked clowns, and that movie didn’t help any. WARNING - the second half was a bit of a letdown though :/. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/24 "2001-09-16T06:27:30Z")
The movie that made the biggest impression (most nightmares) on me was _Jaws_ which I saw as a child (thanks, Dad). The movie that scared me the most was _Night of the Living Dead_. I have this thing about zombies. ---
**Author:** ![saepiroth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@saepiroth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saepiroth)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/25 "2001-09-16T13:02:25Z")
excellent. i am going to go to Blockbuster next friday and rent as many of the movies listed as i can. i think i will try to watch some of the zombie movies, as undead have never scared me, or at least not as much as more mental terrors. i think i am going to try to build up a terror resistance, so i don’t freak out at even the bad horror movies… and now i have to watch _The Omen_ so i can see how it ends. thanks in advance for the nightmares, **DiveMaster**! 😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HairyPotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ab097/32.png) [@HairyPotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HairyPotter)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/26 "2001-09-16T13:21:58Z")
My scariest movie was “Not of This World”. The plot involves aliens from another planet coming to earth to obtain blood. The aliens wear sunglasses and have completely white eyes which, if an earthling stares into them, fries their brain. The aliens routinely hunt down people, fry their brains by making them look into their eyes, and then transfuse their blood to replace their own anemic blood. What freaked me about this movie was the method in which the aliens would hunt people down. People would be zapped while sitting in their den writing a letter, going down into a basement to investigate a noise, or while walking down the street. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/27 "2001-09-16T14:29:30Z")
**The House on Haunted Hill** had some of the creepiest scenes I’ve ever watched. Movies that frightened me that no one else mentioned: **Evil Dead.** Yes, that movied killed me. My one great wish is for it to be remade (verbatim) with modern film techniques. **The Prophecy.** The one with Christopher Walken, not the one about the forest monster. This movie has a Christian background and scared the bejeezus (pun intended) out of me because of it. I don’t know if a non-Christian would be affected by it, but it is THE most disturbing movie I’ve seen. Needless to say, I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/28 "2001-09-16T14:34:42Z")
**Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Candyman** And yet another vote for **The Blair Witch Project**. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/29 "2001-09-16T14:42:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lazlo \* > **The Prophecy.** The one with Christopher Walken, not the one about the forest monster. This movie has a Christian background and scared the bejeezus (pun intended) out of me because of it. I don’t know if a non-Christian would be affected by it, but it is THE most disturbing movie I’ve seen. Needless to say, I love it. \*\* Funny, I’ve seen that movie, and while I liked it a lot, it never occured to me that it was supposed to be a horror movie. I thought of it as more of an action flick like **End of Days**. ---
**Author:** ![struuter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@struuter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/struuter)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/30 "2001-09-16T16:17:31Z")
Since this is pretty subjective–i.e., I don’t get as scared by aliens and zombies as I do by ghosts and serial killers–I thought of a couple more. ‘The Lady in White’ really made me scared–course I watched it day before Halloween. That might’ve helped. ‘Seven’ I hated the ending with a passion, but it was very scary. And I still stand behind the 1961 ‘Haunting.’ Especially if you’ve read Shirley Jackson’s book. _shudders_ And ‘IT’ was scary–especially after reading the book, which I don’t think I could ever do again. The original Dutch version of ‘The Vanishing’ gave me nightmares for a month solid. Just had to wake up to make sure I was still in my bed… ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/31 "2001-09-16T16:26:52Z")
Anyone for SSSSSS Starring Dirk Bennedict? I personally think its only a bit disturbing, but my Mom gets totally skeeved! How about FATAL ATTRACTION, Glen Close and Michael Douglas. No movie before or since have made men mortally afraid of committing adultery. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/32 "2001-09-16T17:03:53Z")
What, no SCTV fans have replied? _Dr. Tongue’s 3-D House of Pancakes_ is the scariest movie ever. Would you like some more syrup? Ooooh, scary. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/33 "2001-09-16T19:53:33Z")
Yeah “SSSSSSSSSS” is a bit corny, but I make an effort to see it when it comes on. One of those movies I rather personally like. That whole turning into a snake thing is so…creepy. So was the attachment the scientist and his daughter formed with their snakes. 🙂 But Dirk Benedict was very hot. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/34 "2001-09-16T19:59:42Z")
_The Barney Movie_ ::shudder:: Well, seriously, I gotta say the scariest one I’ve seen recently is _The Others_ - that was pretty good. Though the ending was predictable and too drawn out. _Session 9_ was pretty spooky. I found _The Blare Witch Project_ to be fantastically dull. (And I did see it in a packed theater too.) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/35 "2001-09-17T01:34:49Z")
Not scared by much anymore, being a manly man 😉 . But in my youth, both _The Legend of Hell House_ and _Let’s Scare Jessica to Death_, seriously creeped me out. And I admit it - Many man or no, _The Blair Witch Project_ worked for me 🙂 . - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/36 "2001-09-17T02:02:14Z")
Hasn’t anybody else here seen **The Night of the Hunter**? Now that was seriously frightening, with very effective use of the camera. ---
**Author:** ![BingoBurringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@BingoBurringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BingoBurringo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/37 "2001-09-17T02:08:34Z")
There’s something about the totally cheap, grainy quality of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR that always gets to me. The scenes of James Brolin and Margot Kidder looking through their prospective home with those completely JARRING cutaways to the murders the year before always send a chill through the sphincter. Plus, the little girl talking to her invisible friend in the rocking chair. AMITYVILLE II had some nice chills, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/38 "2001-09-17T02:20:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lazlo \* > > * * * > > **Evil Dead.** Yes, that movied killed me. My one great wish is for it to be remade (verbatim) with modern film techniques. > > * * * _The Evil Dead_ is a great low budget horror movie. It was remade with a bogger budget as _Evil Dead 2_ ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/39 "2001-09-17T03:41:45Z")
Though it’s far from flawless filmmaking, Even Horizon has some definitely frightening images and ideas. The girl with no eyes!!! OH MY GOD!!! Also, Stir of Echoes really creeped me out at times. It was the hypnosis scenes that made me scared. The way they are filmed are like stepping into a nightmare. It rocks! ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839/40 "2001-09-17T03:56:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number Six \* > \*\*_The Evil Dead_ is a great low budget horror movie. It was remade with a bogger budget as _Evil Dead 2_ \*\* ED2 is not a remake of ED1. Same plot, sure, but different characters, etc. Remember at the beginning Ash goes a little crazy as a result of the events of ED1. The continuity is pretty screwed up with the flashback scenes at the beginning, but it is not a remake. From co-producer Bruce Campbell’s [website](http://www.bruce-campbell.com/) (sorry, can’t link directly to the page. From the home page, click on the link on the left “Everything Evil” then click “Incantations” then “Necronominconifesto” and scroll down): > [@](#): > > Q: WHY ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF EVIL DEAD, EVIL DEAD II, AND ARMY OF DARKNESS EACH DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE BEFORE? > > Well…it’s like this: > > When it came time to do ED2 (7 years later), we couldn’t get the rights to the original footage from ED1 (to do re-cap stuff), and the original actors had all gone off to do other things. So, in our infinite wisdom, we decided to “lie” about how Ash got to the cabin and who he was with (i.e. just Linda). > > This, indeed, confused a lot of people and caused them to think Ash was dumb enough to return to the cabin with another girlfriend (as well as fuel the useless debate that ED2 was really a “remake” and not a “sequel” – pardon me while I fall aslezzzzzzzz). Granted, Ash IS dumb enough to return to the cabin, but that was not our original intent. **struuter** : > [@](#): > > \*\*‘The Haunting of Hill House’ or was it just ‘The Haunting’? The black and white version makes me shudder to think about. \*\* _The Haunting_ was remade recently starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Liam Neeson. In the original (unlike the remake, which is chock-full of computer animated creepies) the audience never sees the ghost. _The House on Haunted Hill_ was also recently remade, this time starring Geoffrey Rush (the original starred Vincent Price). This is one of the few instances where I thought the remark was better than the original. I can’t get the imdb to give me a listing for _The Haunting of Hill House_, although I am sure I have heard of it. Every time I type the title in, it gives me _The Haunting_ remake. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever/81839.md?page=3)