Scariest Movies Ever Made

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Horrorphile - November 2008

Horrorphile's 13 SCARIEST MOVIES EVER MADE

November 28th 2008 00:54

Over at The Blog of Lists fellow Orble blogger Chris Champion has painstakingly put together The Big List of Scary Movies compiled from 29 existing lists and two polls, all posted online, to see which flicks came out on top as the very best scariest movies ever made. Not surprisingly The Exorcist was most popular.

I’m not surprised because The Exorcist is a very well made movie that exudes a genuine atmosphere of terror and is executed with intelligence and panache. But - and I’ll go out on a limb here – I think The Exorcist is over-rated as being the scariest movie ever made.

Halloween Jamie Lee Curtis and The Shape

John Carpenter's seminal shape of fear

Grotesque and profane possession by the Devil, as clever a cinematic ploy as it is, just doesn’t throttle me hard enough in the terror department. There’s something ‘playful’, something almost silly about it. Perhaps it’s the Christian aspect to it? Perhaps it’s the pea-soup vomit? Perhaps it’s Linda Blair’s potty mouth? Perhaps it’s Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells? The real reason is probably because the movie is so demographically popular. I can think of many other movies that are far more terrifying.

So, in response to Chris’s list, and at his suggestion that I extend my existing list of five all-time scariest movies (compiled and posted back on September 11 - scary date! - 2006), I’ve decided to re-boot my original list, but with a fresh perspective. This is also an indirect response to the lists that Movie Mall has been posting over at Movie Catcher i.e. 10 Lamest Alien Invasions in Movie History, 7 Most Useful Movie Corpses, et al.

Nightmare incarnate: Suspiria

My original selection for all-time scariest movies was based on first impressions (movies that had scared me when I first saw them regardless of how old I was). For this re-envisioning I will be jumping up on the “in my humble opinion” pedestal and championing a definitive cause: the 13 scariest movies ever made. It’s a tough call, and there’ll be tears before bedtime, but someone’s gotta get their hands bloody.

Fear of the dark and enclosed spaces? Oh yes indeedy

Are you alone? Good. Now turn out the light.

Here they are in terrorder:

1. Alien
(US, 1979, Ridley Scott)
2. Halloween
(US, 1978, John Carpenter)
3. Suspiria
(Italy, 1977, Dario Argento)
4. The Descent
(UK, 2005, Neil Marshall)
5. Ils
(France/Romania, 2006, David Moreau & Xavier Palud)
6. Ju-on: The Grudge
(Japan, 2003, Takashi Shimizu)
7. Ringu
(Japan, 1998, Hideo Nakata)
8. Wolf Creek
(Australia, 2005, Greg Mclean)
9. The Blair Witch Project
(US, 1999, Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez)
10. The Omen
(US, 1976, Richard Donner)
11. The Thing
(US, 1982, John Carpenter)
12. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
(US, 1974, Tobe Hooper)
13. Phantasm
(US, 1979, Don Coscarelli)

Ils aka Them aka Fucking Scary Movie

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: lists

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Comment by Damo

November 28th 2008 02:54

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Excellent sellection.

I found The Exorcist brilliantly filmed and precisely paced.
I found the same with The Omen. Even when the horror wore off it still remained an excellent story in itself.

I would have included Event Horizon myself.
But it just stuck in my mind.

Comment by Bryn

November 28th 2008 03:11

Horrorphile

Damo, cheers mate. Ahh, yes, Event Horizon. You're a big fan of that one. I'd love to see an uncut version, the DVD extras show elements of what was cut to avoid an X rating.

Comment by Movie Mall

November 28th 2008 03:32

Movie Catcher
The Invisible Sky

Great list mate! Agree with most.
As I'm new here I never saw the original list you did, but glad you've re-published.
I'm definitely a big fan of those late-'70s and early '80s horors too, especially from Carpenter.
Can't say I've seen Suspiria though.
Saw The Descent just recently and was really impressed. Done by the same guy behind the earlier Dog Soldiers I think.
I would just put Exorcist in there too and maybe Poltergiest and Evil Dead, though haven't seen the last two in a while, may have aged.
Jeepers Creepers wasn't a bad recent horror.

Comment by Bryn

November 28th 2008 03:54

Horrorphile

Movie Mall,
The first list were five movies that had a profound impact on me when I first saw them.
John Carpenter is the only director who gets two movies into my list.
Have you seen any Dario Argento?
Dog Soliders was a great werewolf flick.
I didn't include The Exorcist for reasons explained, but knew it would cause "upset".
Funny you mention Poltergeist and The Evil Dead, cos they were #14 and #15 on my list.

Yeah, Jeepers Creepers was a good flick, I agree.

Comment by Morgan Bell

November 28th 2008 07:12

Deep Pencil
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these are probably too bland for your well developed horror taste buds, but i thought the following were pretty scary:

The Others (2001)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Ravenous (1999)
The Cell (2000)
The Hitcher (1986)

Comment by Bryn

November 28th 2008 11:37

Horrorphile

Hi Morgan,
The Others had some good moments, the best was the ghosts peering at the door.
The Sixth Sense never did much for me ... But then I'm not a fan of any of the three leads.
Ravenous I didn't find scary at all, but I liked the premise.
The Cell had great potential and a stunning production design and special effects, but was let down by a flabby story and Lopez and Vaughn delivered flat, unconvincing performances.
The Hitcher I considered, as it is a favourite movie of mine. It just didn't make the final 13. Great atmosphere and some very unnerving scenes. Rutger Hauer was brilliantly cast.
Thanks for the suggestions, so what did you think of my selection?

Comment by Chris Champion

November 28th 2008 18:59

moneywhither
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old

Hi Bryn,

Thanks for the plug. The Big List in fact now incorporates three polls after adding your own 1st Annual Horrorphile Hall of Infamy poll.

Now I'll add your personal list too. You are the fourth (out of 30) so far to choose Alien as the scariest all-time, taking it to equal second place with Psycho. The Exorcist has 12 first preferences.

Thanks again for the mention. Now I'm off to add your list to my list

Chris

Comment by Jason King

November 28th 2008 22:44

Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness

Awesome list!!

Haven't seen Suspiria, Ils or Phantasm but loved all the others. While I found Alien scary not my number one. When I was younger I would have to say that the Stephen King stories scared the shite out of me. IT and Cujo got me as a kid big time. I still hate clowns!

Also Scream got me - was working at George St cinemas and we got the print 6mths prior to release for a special screening. I had to screen check this film at midnight in an 1100 seat cinema with one friend without knowing what it was about. I remember by the end of the Drew Barrymore part the two of us were sitting on an armrest hugging each other and looking into all the dark corners of the "supposedly" haunted cinema that no longer stands as one cinema. Freaky!!

Comment by Lilla

November 29th 2008 00:26

From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop

Bryn,

Whilst I havent seen all of the films on your list, the big trifecta of scary for me has been

The Exorcist,
Aliens and
(John Carpenters) The Thing.

They cured me, and I stopped watching horror after that, altogether.

Lilla ...

Comment by CraigH

November 29th 2008 00:38

Legal Herald
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Loved Wolf Creek. I watched a John Jarratt interview on ABC, where he says he likes to go out in the countryside and pick up hitchhikers, just to see "the look on their face".

The backpackers at the hotel I worked at used to love it as well.

Comment by The Rusty Can

November 29th 2008 02:35

Everything

Hi Bryn,

The first time I saw The Exorcist was when it was re-released... er... late 90s/early naughties, and I found it quite disturbing.

Like Lilla, I haven't seen all the movies on your list, but Ju-on and Ringu scared the cr*p out of me.

Good post.
Rusty

Comment by Cass

November 29th 2008 05:20

Can't say I agree with the Blair Witch Project though. And the Prince of Darkness should be there somewhere, me thinks.

Just my thoughts.

Comment by Morgan Bell

November 29th 2008 06:23

Deep Pencil
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hi Bryn,

well agree with you putting Alien at number one, and it was great to see Wolf Creek got a mention (that was a terrifying film) . . . i thought the second Blair Witch was scarier than the first one, but i can appreciate how innovative the first one was

overall, you know me, i dont watch that much horror, and what i have seen is usually the remakes or the sequels

i hear The Descent is really REALLY scary, but i havent seen it yet . . . actually it may have even been your review that convinced me i want to see it . . . it didnt seem to get much promotion when it came out, i only heard of it recently

Comment by David O'Connell

November 29th 2008 06:50

Screen Fanatic

Of your 13 the 2 I haven't seen are Ils and Phantasm, but some of the scariest that come to mind for me, like you mate, in the context of age seen and the impact they had -

The Exorcist, Carpenter's the Thing, Alien (especially the scene where the alien-as-blip comes after Tom Skerrit in the air tunnels and we get that one glimpse of it when they meet face to face!!).
Recently The Descent, and that last 10 minutes of [REC].
I'd also say the very last scene of Blair Witch was just chilling, and as a kid The Crate segment of Creepshow scared the crap out of me too!

Comment by Bryn

November 30th 2008 02:42

Horrorphile

Thanks for the great comments everyone! Glad to know I can put together a half-decent list!
I think I'll have to do a Gorehound's Top 13 too, just to balance the horror scales.

Comment by Cibbuano

November 30th 2008 23:24

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I loved "Suspiria" and "The Thing", but I'm not sure I'd say that they were that scary. Great atmosphere and mood - but not all-out scares...

Comment by Bryn

December 1st 2008 00:38

Horrorphile

Cibby, well, I guess I beg to differ. I think the Goblin soundtrack with the intense visuals - disregarding the actual gore, which isn't very realistic - makes Suspiria a totally unnerving and altogether utterly nightmarisy experience. Try watching it alone late at night!
The Thing's broody, pulsating score and the increasing paranoia over who's real and who's alien, makes the tension extremely palpable and the entire scenario very frightening, but people overlook that because the special effects are so full on.
Scares aren't just about going "Boo!", although some movies do that very well. Scary is more about a relentless atmosphere the permeates your entire experience of the movie and your immediate reality.

Comment by Cibbuano

December 1st 2008 23:24

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Ah, I see... I guess we think about the word 'scary' differently.

Yes, I remember now... that Goblin score was awesome.

The problem is that I've never seen these movies in the cinema, just on my small screen at home. "The Thing" would be incredible as a midnight special.

Comment by Bryn

December 2nd 2008 01:16

Horrorphile

Cibby, I saw The Thing at the cinemas when it first came out, and knew it was going to be special. I've never seen Suspiria on the big screen, but I watched it alone on VHS when I was house-sitting many, many years ago, and it scared me rotten. Check out my latest post, it's the other side of the bloodied coin, so to speak.

Comment by Kleonaptra

December 5th 2008 00:35

Kalikapsychosis

I agree, exorcist isover rated. It take a lot for a movie to actually scare me. Blair witch did it big time....But the first time I saw it, the house had emptied after aparty, so there was that real alone feeling...Just me, my boyfriend and his mate smashed in front of the tv and it comes on....We were frozen to the screen, utterly terrified.
Whats that one with the little blonde kid? Poltergiest? That one had some scary moments. Im going to have to get my butt in gear and see some more on your list....

Have you seen Ginger Snaps? I love that movie. It has moments where the gut drops out, because its like a teen movie gone wrong.

Comment by Bryn

December 5th 2008 01:16

Horrorphile

Kleo, check this list of mine here
Also, I love Ginger Snaps, one of my fave werewolf movies ... I reviewed that here
Glad to find someone else who actually finds The Exorcist a little over-rated.

Comment by Kleonaptra

December 5th 2008 05:58

Kalikapsychosis

Oh man. Poltergiest right there in number one! I was over twenty when I saw it, but I am really beginning to feel that we have lost that art of 'suspense'....Where you just feel like somethings going to leap out at you. Poltergiest gave me that feeling.

Ginger Snap URL incorrect apparently....But I loved that movie cos if I had a sister you can bet that would be us...And it just went in unexpected directions. Ive heard theres more to it, but I havnt seen them.
"Its like that feeling, RIGHT there....Only its for ripping shit up, you know?"

One of the best quotes ever. As good as Giles in Buffy ep 'New Man' - "I feel like snapping necks until everyones dead"

Comment by Bryn

December 5th 2008 07:17

Horrorphile

Kleo,
I changed the way I wrote urls after about a year ... and Ginger Snaps was an earlier one ...
Try here
A couple more priceless lines:
Ginger: I get this ache... And I, I thought it was for sex, but it's to tear everything to fucking pieces.
and:
Brigitte: Are you sure it's just cramps?
Ginger: Just so you know... the words "just ... cramps" don't go together.
There was a sequel: Ginger Snaps: Unleashed and a prequel Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning. I plan to review both in coming weeks.

Comment by Kleonaptra

December 7th 2008 23:39

Kalikapsychosis

Oh! thanks for that, couldnt have said it better myself!

Comment by Anonymous

June 16th 2009 21:16

WHAT THE FUCK...THIS ARE SCARY MOVIES ARE YOU NUTS...HAS ANYONE EVER WATCHED CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST,SALO...I MEAN, I CAN WATCH THESE FILMS WITH MY GRANDMA AND LAUGH ABOUT IT

ITS THE MOST STUPID LIST EVER

Comment by Bryn

June 17th 2009 00:53

Horrorphile

ANON, I seriously beg to differ ... Yes, I've seen both Cannibal Holocaust and Salo, I own both on DVD. But I don't consider either of them scary in the true sense of the word. Shocking, yes, definitely, particularly Salo and particularly the slaughter of the turtle in Holocaust. I think you may have confused the emotive reaction of fear with repulsion. Before you start mouthing off and calling my intelligent selection "the most stupid list ever" get your head straight, dude.

Comment by Amy Wang

June 18th 2009 15:12

Why So Cynical: The Unabashed Ravings of a Loudmouth Malcontent
Films, Films And More FIlms

Hey horrophile/Bryn

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE with Texas Chainsaw Massacre! CREEEEEPY to the extreme. And I saw that in broad daylight....

Another film i can think of that really affected me is a Japanese film directed by Takashi Mikke called 'Audition'. Not sure if you've seen it, but if you haven't GO GET IT!!! It's disturbing beyond belief

Comment by Bryn

June 18th 2009 23:59

Horrorphile

Hi Amy, I am very familiar with the work of Miike. My review of Audition is here. I've also reviewed several other Miike movies (enter his name in my search engine top left). However I find that movie more shocking than scary. Brilliantly made nevertheless.

Comment by Amy Wang

June 22nd 2009 12:15

Why So Cynical: The Unabashed Ravings of a Loudmouth Malcontent
Films, Films And More FIlms

Yeah I get what you're saying by 'shocking' rather than 'scary'. I'd say such horror flicks as 'Ichi the killer' or 'cannibal holocaust' as such examples, but Audition to me really was horror. I think it was because the first quarter of the film was so misleading and tricked me into thinking it was going to be a romantic comedy (I watched this film without any prior knowledge!) and then it just plunged into this darkness that i was definitely not expecting! That was creepy. And the way she just sat there...waiting for the phone to ring. That still creeps me out to this day. I'd say it was horror because after I watched it, I was checking behind every door and turned on all the lights to make sure she wasn't in my house haha. Whereas shocking films wouldn't do that to me. I'd just sit on my chair shocked rather than actually afraid. But then again, different people have different reactions!

Comment by Bryn

June 22nd 2009 23:24

Horrorphile

Amy, oh Audition is a horror movie alright. A movie can be shocking and still be a horror movie. My definition of horror is quite broad. In fact, I prefer to call the kinds of movies I review on this blog "nightmare movies", because I cover movies that many people probably wouldn't call "horror", but the content, tone, atmosphere utilises significant aspects and elements that are familiar with the horror genre, for example I've included movies like Bad Lieutenant, because it deals with utter moral corruption and urban disease and I even included Lolita, because of the nightmare reality Humbert ultimately creates for himself, and the tragedy that unfolds. I realise these can be viewed as very tenuously linked to the horror genre, but it makes for an interesting fresh perspective.
I agree that the reason Audition is so powerful and disturbing is that it twists your expectations. What starts as a a kind of nervous light-hearted romance, then moves into a drama, and finally into pure, unbridled horror.

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