Scariest Movies, Ever

[TC1968]

I've spent an... unjustifiable amount of time watching horror/thriller films and will try to recommend some of the more /modern/ ones that I've seen - I've wasted enough of my life sorting the good from the bad, you shouldn't have to. Everyone knows the classics, but... Some seriously brilliant stuff gets created when low budgets or new technologies get involved. Personally, I feel that "true" scary movies require/illustrate some of the greatest techniques possible. Suspense is key - and my preference is to honestly never even see the threat at all. These are a few off the top of my head, I'll try to update if I can remember...

BlumHouse (responsible for Whiplash, which is GREAT - but not quite relevant, lol) has some really stellar stuff (Insidious/Conjurish/Hush/Oculus)! Creep was a pretty neat character piece through found footage. Session 9 is a long-time favorite, from the early 2000s, set in an abandoned psychiatric hospital. (As a nyctophobe... *shudders*) Pontypool is a low-budget, black-box gem: very well-written and entertaining, super neat concept. It Follows was innovative with a great soundtrack by Disasterpiece (who did the music for FEZ, a favorite puzzle game of mine). Autopsy of Jane Doe was VERY GOOD. They Look Like People was an under-stated joy to watch on Netflix. The Invitation was a good thriller with an intense twist ending. Split, with James McAvoy, was exceptionally intriguing - many of you will likely love it, as well, as he depicts a character with thirteen(?) different "alters". Terrific acting. The Woman in Black, with Daniel Radcliffe, is heinously underrated. Green Room and Blue Ruin are two films directed by the same brilliant mind that I was really surprised by in terms of quality. Last Shift was another surprising Netflix gem, very low-budget but effective in suspense. The Void, the Orphanage, the Awakening, and the Others were all pretty okay. I'm also a sucker for the Village (and the Visit, Shyamalan's newer work).

The most recent movie that I watched which REALLY shook me was called "Coherence". Definitely look it up - a completely improvised thrilled which... just... really blew me away in terms of the direction and thought it required.

All good choices. The last 4-5 years has seen an upswing in good indie horror after being stuck in the rut of cheeseball zombie movies, found footage, and various SciFi mashup movies.

 

[makeorbreak]

I'd have to say "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" because it was based on a true story about a serial killer in the south, one who was never caught. He attacked mostly young people parking in secluded spots and, at the end of the film, they simply showed his boots walking down the street. I couldn't go parking for the longest time after I saw that movie and that was during my high school years, one film I should never have seen.

 

[TC1968]

Maybe we can resurrect this thread!

I've noticed some great comedy horror over the past ten years or so

What We Do In The Shadows

Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse

 

[polymoog]

the omen (original). demonic child? very creepy.
the thing: one of my all time favorites. ennio morricones score is phenomenal. the movie is simply a masterpiece. no cgi crap-- rob bottins best work-- ALL practical effects. yes, its gory but brilliant.
the prince of darkness: another carpenter film. again, the score is brilliant.
invasion of the body snatchers (original): classic scary film which seems eerily possible.
night of the living dead (1968): not super scary, but worthy of inclusion. the sense of dread and hopelessness give it a big boost.
the shining: kubrick classic.
halloween 3 season of the witch: another carpenter film with a great score. look, one cannot have a quality horror film with lousy theme music. its essential.
hellraiser had the potential to be scary, but it fizzed out towards the end.

the amityville horror: worthy of inclusion for 2 reasons: 1. its based on a real story, and 2. the jody scene.

 

[Annonymous_Damsel]

Pet Sematary. Scary as heck.

Especially Part one.

 

[TC1968]

the omen (original). demonic child? very creepy.
the thing: one of my all time favorites. ennio morricones score is phenomenal. the movie is simply a masterpiece. no cgi crap-- rob bottins best work-- ALL practical effects. yes, its gory but brilliant.
the prince of darkness: another carpenter film. again, the score is brilliant.
invasion of the body snatchers (original): classic scary film which seems eerily possible.
night of the living dead (1968): not super scary, but worthy of inclusion. the sense of dread and hopelessness give it a big boost.
the shining: kubrick classic.
halloween 3 season of the witch: another carpenter film with a great score. look, one cannot have a quality horror film with lousy theme music. its essential.
hellraiser had the potential to be scary, but it fizzed out towards the end.

the amityville horror: worthy of inclusion for 2 reasons: 1. its based on a real story, and 2. the jody scene.

I watched a couple very good documentaries recently, one about the oldest son of Kathy Lutz who claimed that the hauntings did in fact happen, but that they were made worse by George Lutz who was involved in the occult and attempted to contact the demonic forces in the house. He also said George was a very violent man and that the children and Kathy were terrified of him.

The other doc, had to do with the Defeo murders, they interviewed friends and neighbors and they talked of the father being very violent, and possibly sexually assaulting his wife and daughters. There was also speculation that Ronnie Defeo was involved in an incestuous relationship with the oldest daughter, and that the murders may have originally started as a murder/suicide pact between the two siblings.

Very dark stuff, I can see how things went nuts in that house when the Lutz's moved in.

 

[Helioform]

the prince of darkness:

This is probably the most awfully gory/disgusting movie I have ever seen. It's not that scary though it's just that you don't want to eat for a few weeks after seeing it. But the story is pretty good though. I especially liked Satan's language that is being decoded by the scientists, which are apparently quantum physics equations.

 

[polymoog]

This is probably the most awfully gory/disgusting movie I have ever seen. It's not that scary though it's just that you don't want to eat for a few weeks after seeing it. But the story is pretty good though. I especially liked Satan's language that is being decoded by the scientists, which are apparently quantum physics equations.

its not THAT scary, but theres some scary parts. great music!! yes, the satanic language was good. i liked that as well.
if you think thats gory, what do you think of kronenbergs stuff? : )

 

[lovesoul]

Fire in the sky.

 

[TC1968]

This is probably the most awfully gory/disgusting movie I have ever seen. It's not that scary though it's just that you don't want to eat for a few weeks after seeing it. But the story is pretty good though. I especially liked Satan's language that is being decoded by the scientists, which are apparently quantum physics equations.

The only thing that really creeps me out in that movie was the reoccurring dream that one character had that you figure out was a transmission from the future

 

[Helioform]

its not THAT scary, but theres some scary parts. great music!! yes, the satanic language was good. i liked that as well.
if you think thats gory, what do you think of kronenbergs stuff? : )

Never seen any Kronenberg movies except some parts of Existenz.

 

[Helioform]

The only thing that really creeps me out in that movie was the reoccurring dream that one character had that you figure out was a transmission from the future

Yes I admit that was creepy.

 

[RaXz]

Skank Wars: The Farce Awakens

 

[TC1968]

Never seen any Kronenberg movies except some parts of Existenz.

Cronenberg made some great horror movies from the mid 70's until the late 80's then his interests turned more into drama. Eastern Promises is probably one of his better movies of the latter genre.

 

[The Zone]

QUOTE="The Zone, post: 69443, member: 31"]I guess I should weigh in since I started the thread.. I am rarely scared from horror movies or sci-fi but I am creeped out on occasion. I have little use for slasher films but did try and stomach most of the horror movies which push the limits or are on hard to watch lists. While I find them gross at times, I keep it in perspective and it gives me an idea of what others are thinking. I can mention some hard to watch horror suggestions but they are for the pros in the group and not the squeamish. I actually am most affected by psychological or suggestive terror than gore, but some of the movies on a dare to watch list mostly have gore.[/QUOTE][
QUOTE="Lurker, post: 69633, member: 89"]Please do. I ain't skeered.[/QUOTE]
Okay... at your own risk. These are the ones which push the limits.

- Martyrs (French version only, not the American version.) Torture porn but a story with a twist that is about the elite and disassociation.

- Dead Girl (sick)

- The Girl Next Door - This movie made me want to kill the actors in it. I hated the way it made me feel.

- Hostel (the original) and the others. I have no doubt that this kind of thing goes on.

- Inside - Do not recommend this one either.

- The Human Centipede - do not ask.

- Bug - this movie was pretty out there and sick about paranoia.

- Antichrist - I felt dirty and in need of a shower and just hated what I was seeing. It is repelling.

There are several other exploitation films that will test your mettle, but these are the ones that pushed the limits for me.

 

[sickgirl15]

The Ring spooked me some. Then again, I was the only one up in the middle of the night watching it.

I agree that The Ring was very scary! Sinister was as well....!