My oldest (she's 11) is really pushing to watch some scary movies. She loves reading scary books, and now she wants to check out what the movies have to offer. In another sure sign that western civilization is crumbling, she tells us about all the movies the kids at school have seen, or at least say they've seen.
Meg and I aren't ready to get into the really scary stuff, but we are ready to start easing into some scary movies. Little sister has a sleep over Saturday night, so we're going to watch Signs. Meg and I love M. Night, well, early M. Night anyway, and we think this will quench our daughter's tween thirst for cinematic thrills. For now.
The oldest has also been asking what our favorite scary movies are, and since it's almost Halloween and all, why not. For this week's Fast Five, I present the five scariest movies I've ever seen.
5) The Thing: I watched this with a buddy this summer, and we were surprised by how well it's held up over the years. I know there's a remake out, but I doubt I'll see it.
4) An American Werewolf in London: A couple scenes stick out from this one: the two travelers being attacked on the moor, and of course, the famous scene where the guy turns into the werewolf.
3) The Shining: I remember reading somewhere that Stephen King was disappointed with Kubrick's adaptation, but it scared the hell out of me.
2) Alien: When that alien popped out of John Hurt's chest, I nearly lost my mind.
1) The Exorcist: To this day, the very thought of this movie reduces my chances of getting a good night's sleep.
What are some movies that send chills up your spine?
Should have seen this post coming!
ReplyDeleteEvery one of those movies scared the crap out of me. I don't like horror flicks, but these were all must sees. Alien has to be one of my all time favorites.
I don't like hardcore scary, but here's a suggestion for your 11-year-old: the "Bad Blood" episode of X-Files, season 5. Easily the best--and funniest--vampire TV I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I like Halloween, I'm not into horror films as much. There are those that stick with you though.
ReplyDeleteThe Shining, with the twin girls, was just scary as hell. At my niece's wedding a few years ago, there were twin girls at the reception. They were around the same age as the girls in the movie and seemed very morose. It seriously freaked me out a bit.
I do like the Paranormal Activity movies though. I remember watching Poltergeist as a kid, which didn't scare me too much. But I remember thinking about the vulnerability they were experiencing in their own home. Paranormal Activity films makes me feel vulnerable in my home, which scares the hell out of me.
The original Halloween, though, is the scariest of them all. I remember seeing it when I was ten or so and it haunted me. That film has one of the best endings I've ever seen in any genre of films.
I am not a fan of scary movies. I guess I od' in my teens.
ReplyDeleteI tend not to want to watch many scary movies as I am a total woos but the biggies such as Rosemary's Baby and the Excorcist couldn't be ignored. Actually a couple of the movies that scared the you-know-what out of me were Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" and Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood". I was in my teens when ICB came out and my dad worked nights which left me alone until 1 AM. For weeks after watching that movie I was scared of every noise.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen The Thing, but the rest of these scared the heck out of me.
ReplyDeleteI get scared just hearing the music from The Exorcist. Terrifying movie. I was also scared to death of the twin girls in The Shining, and "redrum," etc. I'm a total chicken so I'm getting a little freaked out just thinking about these ha ha.
I don't really like scary movies. Planet of the Apes creeps me out.
ReplyDeleteThe Shining and The Omen are what stick out in my mind. I did enjoy The Thing but I'm also not really interested in the remake.
ReplyDeleteIt seems too soon to be mad ebut maybe that's just my age showing.
Did anyone else get creeped out by The Blair Witch Project?... standing in the corner...
ReplyDeleteGreat top 5.
Silence of the Lambs. I had nightmares after seeing that. As an adult.
ReplyDeleteI knew better than to watch The Blair Witch Project since those Maryland woods are so close to home.
I used to love scary movies, but no longer. Must be something about the central nervous system... hmmm... just can no longer process blood, gore and horror.
ReplyDeleteCarrie--way back when it first came out--had me undone for a looooong time. I get the chills just thinking about that movie.
How can Kubrick possibly disappoint?
The Shining was a scary movie. I'm totally not a scary movie person but I did watch all the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.
ReplyDeleteI thought that "The Ring" was pretty scary. I'd also put Blair Witch Project on there and maybe the Paranormal Activity franchise.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Thing when I was growing up. I need to watch it again.
ReplyDeleteI can safely say that I have never watched a scary movie :) A long time ago, I tried to watch Batman, and even that proved too much.
ReplyDeleteWhat costumes did your daughters wear for Halloween?
I hope everything is well for you and your family, and that you're ready for Christmastime :)
No no I don't like scary movies. It's all I can do to watch the Thriller video all the way through!!
ReplyDelete