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Last year, the film review site Rotten Tomatoes published a top-ten list of the scariest horror movies ever made.
The RT staff began by compiling a longer list of what they considered to be the most frightening horror films of all time. They ended up with 40 movies in total. They then opened it up for reader input, in the form of online voting.
According to the RT article: “we pulled together 40 of the scariest movies ever made and asked you to vote for the one that terrified you the most.”
The Exorcist, Hereditary, The Conjuring, The Shining, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre earned the most votes from readers. Based on this ranking, those are five of the most frightening films ever made.
Rounding out the top ten were: The Ring, Halloween (1978 original), Sinister, Insidious, and It.
I like that this list was based on reader input. Thousands of RT readers had a chance to weigh in on the subject. The results show what people in general believe are the scariest horror movies ever made.
Top 5 Scariest Horror Movies Ever Made
While the RT list featured 10 of the scariest horror movies ever made, I’d like to drill down on the top five most frightful flicks. Here they are in order of scariness:
- The Exorcist (1973)
- Hereditary (2018)
- The Conjuring (2013)
- The Shining (1980)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Ready for a deeper dive? Let’s dissect the top five scariest horror movies of all time, to find out what makes them so spooky.
#1: The Exorcist (1973)
“The power of Christ compels you!”
When considering The Exorcist as one of the most frightening films ever, we have to remember its age. Most of the “scary” movies from the early 1970s were fairly tame by modern standards. Until The Exorcist came along.
This was one of the first shocking and unsettling horror movies to hit the big screen — if not the first. And it made a huge splash at the box office.
Many people were already familiar with the story, thanks to the 1971 novel that preceded it. So when the movie came out, two years later, theater lines extended around the block.
People had never seen anything like it. The idea that a sweet and innocent 12-year-old girl could become possessed by a malevolent demon blew their minds. (Remember, it’s 1973.)
But the Rotten Tomatoes list of scariest horror movies ever was published only a year ago. That shows how much staying power The Exorcist has. People still find it scary, even today.
I first saw this movie in the 1980s, when I was twelve or thirteen. I’m pretty sure I slept with the lights on for a few nights afterward. And apparently, I’m not alone in this.
According to Katie Doyle, who writes for The Film Magazine:
“The Exorcist also enjoys claims of its apparent sacrilege and being one of the scariest films of all time – its initial release had droves of audiences fainting in the aisles of their local cinemas and even some modern viewers testify to losing sleep after a curious watch.”
Even by modern standards, there are some shocking moments in this horror movie. The crucifix self-mutilation scene (which I won’t describe here) still makes me avert my eyes. It’s a wonder it made it past the censors back in the 70s.
That’s partly why this film finds its way onto so many “scariest horror movies ever made” rankings. It’s an unsettling tale of possession with some truly disturbing moments. The Exorcism practically created the demonic possession subgenre, which is still going strong today.
#2: Hereditary (2018)
“I never wanted to be your mother.”
I was happy to see Hereditary come in at #2 on a list of the scariest horror films of all time. This movie starts out with a slow burn, and then goes completely bananas.
Like The Exorcist, it has some shocking scenes — the kind that leave you with your mouth hanging open. What’s not to love?
Hereditary is a supernatural horror tale about family secrets, family drama, and … well, demon worship. I won’t spoil it by saying any more than that.
Here’s my spoiler-free take on why it appeared on a list of the scariest horror movies ever made:
For one thing, Hereditary puts a fresh spin on a familiar horror trope (demons and possession). There were moments in this film I simply did not see coming. That’s a refreshing change, compared to the more predictable horror movies out there.
This film also contains some of the creepiest scenes and set pieces I’ve seen in a long time. Hint: most of them occur in the last 30 minutes of the film.
Lastly, we have some stellar acting. Toni Collette is solid as usual. Alex Wolf, Gabriel Byrne and Milly Shapiro also turn in great performances.
Here’s how film critic Matt Zoller Seitz described the movie:
“[Writer and director] Aster, his cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski, the camera and lighting crew, and the entire sound department deserve special recognition for coming up with creepy moments so specifically imagined that you truly can say you’ve never experienced them before. It’s been a while since I looked over my shoulder during a movie, to make sure something sinister wasn’t lurking beyond my sightline, but this film made me do it.”
If you’re a fan of creepy and chilling supernatural films, you’ll probably enjoy Hereditary. It made the list of scariest horror movies ever made for good reason.
#3: The Conjuring (2013)
“This thing has latched itself to your family.”
The Conjuring brought the supernatural horror genre back into the mainstream. As of 2021, this movie has generated more than $319 million worldwide — compared to a filming budget of $20 million. It spawned a franchise that now includes eight movies (and counting).
But why? What made The Conjuring such an instant classic? And why does it appear on the RT list of the scariest horror movies of all time?
For one thing, this film has all of the necessary ingredients. We have a loving family, a house with a mysterious past, and a seriously hateful entity. Not since the 1982 Poltergeist has a horror movie checked those boxes so effectively.
Here’s what Variety film critic Justin Chang said about it:
“The mere sound of two hands clapping will have audiences begging for mercy in ‘The Conjuring,’ a sensationally entertaining old-school freakout and one of the smartest, most viscerally effective thrillers in recent memory.”
The Conjuring also has some of the scariest scenes of any horror movie.
Where do we even begin? There’s the basement exorcism scene … the hide-and-clap game … the creepy Annabelle doll … the nighttime haunting of Christine Perron … the witch on the wardrobe. The list goes on.
For these and other reasons, The Conjuring has earned its spot on the scariest horror movies list, several times over.
#4: The Shining (1980)
“Come play with us Danny. Forever… and ever… and ever.”
The Shining holds a special place in my heart. Why? Because it scared the shit out of me when I was just ten years old. (Thanks, Mom.)
Apparently, a lot of other folks like this movie as well. It came in at #4 on the RT list of scariest horror films ever made.
This movie sprang from the 1977 Stephen King novel of the same name. It tells the story of the Torrance family — father Jack, mother Wendy, and their spiritually gifted son Danny.
Down on their luck financially, the Torrance clan agree to serve as winter caretakers for the Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains. This vast, cavernous hotel has been shut down for the winter, but it needs someone to look after it.
The Torrances soon find themselves cut off from the rest of the world, thanks to heavy snowfall. But are they really alone? A quiet, claustrophobic dread hangs over the hotel, punctuated by moments of pure terror.
For me, this was one of those times when the movie version was scarier than the novel that spawned it. Don’t get me wrong … I enjoyed the novel. It gives us deeper insight into the troubled mind of Jack Torrance.
But the book didn’t scare me as much as the film version did. And for that, the credit goes to actor Jack Nicholson. He brought his character to life with a creepiness few other actors could have delivered.
#5: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
“My family’s always been in meat.”
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was a low-budget exploitation film about … well, a chainsaw massacre. Like The Exorcist did a year earlier, this movie shocked audiences by delivering something they’d never seen. Sure, axe- and chainsaw-wielding maniacs are common in current horror cinema. But in 1974, it was something new.
The story in a nutshell: A group of young friends fall victim to a family of cannibals on their way to visit an old family homestead. Horrible violence ensues.
This movie was filmed with documentary-style camera work. Not surprising, since director Tobe Hooper had previously worked as a documentary cameraman.
This is partly what gives The Texas Chainsaw Massacre its gritty, realistic vibe. It doesn’t feel like a movie. It’s like we’re watching a group of real people who fall into a horrible situation. And we’re right there, along for the ride.
I’m a bit surprised to find Chainsaw on a list of the top five scariest horror movies of all time. I found this movie to be more shocking than frightening, the first time I saw it. (I know, I know … everyone’s different.)
Still, I can see why so many viewers did find it scary. It features some truly disturbing moments, especially for the time period when it was released. The infamous dinner table scene is harrowing even by modern horror standards.
Along with Black Christmas and Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre helped usher in a kind of golden age for the slasher genre. The period from 1978 to 1984 produced a steady outpouring of slasher flicks, many of which drew bloody inspiration from Tobe Hooper’s low-budget classic.
Common Features of Frightening Films
The top five scariest horror movies of all time (based on RT reader votes) are different animals. Comparing the supernatural hauntings of The Conjuring to the noisy violence of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is like comparing apples and oranges.
Even so, these films do share a few things in common. I believe these common features are partly what makes them so scary in the first place:
- Originality — All of the “scariest horror movies” above blazed a trail in some way. They featured scenes, storylines or special effects that audiences hadn’t seen before. They drew inspiration from their predecessors, but took the horror genre in a new direction. It’s a good lesson for future filmmakers. Want to make a truly frightening flick? Do something new and original.
- Shocking visuals — The scariest horror movies also deliver unsettling and socking visuals. From the old lady in the bathtub (The Shining) to a head-spinning demon girl (The Exorcist), these films had moviegoers cringing and peeking through their fingers.
- Camera work and effects — All of these movies used innovative camera work, sound editing and effects to create another layer of creepiness. The Shining pioneered new filming techniques, including some low shots with the now-common steadicam. The Exorcist used clever techniques to create its harrowing scenes (including projective vomiting and demonic ventriloquism). The Conjuring offers a master class in creepy camera angles and lighting.
- Inescapable dread — The scariest horror movies of all time create a sense of inescapable dread for viewers. There’s no escaping the horror in these films, whether it comes in the form of a chainsaw-wielding madman or a haunted hotel. You can run, but you can’t hide.
What’s Your All-Time Scariest Flick?
Now, over to you…
What do you think is the scariest horror movie of all time, in your experience? Is there a film that scared the bejeezus out of you that doesn’t appear in the top-five list above? I’d love to hear your input, and I’m sure other readers would as well.
You can share your thoughts in the comment box below.