What’s Your All-Time Favorite Horror Movie?

By Katie Moosbrugger

Ch, ch, ch….ha, ha, ha. One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. Three, four, better lock your doors. ‘Tis the season to tune in to some of our more favorite horror flicks of all time, and this blog is all about the “R” rated movies for adults. Those crazy scary movies for kids (like Coraline and Corpse’s Wife), well, that’s fodder for another blog! I have to admit that I LOVE the crazy, creepy, corny horror movies – especially this time of year. I grew up in the ‘80s, so I come from a background of cheesy flicks, and thought it’d be fun to reminisce about which films truly made us jump off our seats – or just roll our eyes.

So in my own particular order, here are the top 10 films (starting with the scariest) that have completely freaked me out. At the end of this blog, please add yours!

1. The Shining. This movie will forever creep me out! I have yet to participate in one of those local corn mazes we hear about, and I think has something to do with the ending of this flick. Jack Nicolson was ingenious in this film, and Shelley Duvall was pretty freaky, too (and I’m not talking about her fictional character either!).
2. Children of the Corn. Again, corn and mazes. Please help me find peace with this because my children have a birthday party coming up at Kersey Valley Spookywoods (http://www.spookywoods.com/), and I really want to go! But once again, that Malachai character forever did me in.
3. The Blair Witch Project. I know this was really gimmicky, but it got me. Whoever shot – and marketed – this film, in my humble opinion, was brilliant. I used to play in the woods behind my house all the time when I was little, and this movie had forever changed my outlook on letting my children do anything similar.
4. Psycho. This came out a little before my time, but of course I have seen it and some of its scenes have permanently scarred my memories. Like the infamous shower scene. And it didn’t help having a silly uncle play a prank on my aunt (all with the white shoe entering a steamy shower bathroom) when I was young. I didn’t get it at the time, but will never forget. Thanks, Uncle Nicky!
5. The Exorcist. OMG – I don’t even have to explain what scared me with this flick, do I? Not sure if I believe in this as truth or not, but who wants to? Adding to the horror, a few weeks after having my first born, Emily Rose, that movie “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” debuted and has forever tainted me!
6. Amityville Horror. I remember watching this movie when I was really young with my older brother – and while it’s been years since I’ve seen it – I can still recall scenes vividly. Not sure if it was those creepy quarter moon windows on either side of the chimney, the fact that it took place in New York (close to where I grew up), or that it involved an exorcism – but add it up, and it’s one of the scariest movies to me! Not to mention, I woke up at 3:15 am like clockwork for years after seeing that flick!
7. Poltergeist. Ok, I think if I saw this movie as an adult for the first time I would not be as freaked out as I was when I saw it as a child in the ‘80s. But it doesn’t help to know that half the cast happened to die suddenly after the movie was shot. Freak coincidence? I don’t know – you tell me.
8. Open Water. Have you seen this? Not many people have, but despite the fact that it was a low budget film to produce, I think it scared the living bejesus out of more people than Jaws ever did. It’s a true story, and as a former certified diver, it wasn’t pleasant to watch.
9. Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter. Agent Starling. Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb. Total freak show, and one that you don’t soon forget. Also tied in this category is the film “The Lovely Bones.” I know it’s corny to include this film in this list, but together these films exemplify what scares me most as a mother.
10. Tied: Friday the 13^th and Nightmare on Elm Street. It’s been years since I’ve seen either, but they aren’t movies you soon forget! Total cheese – but it balanced well with the angst!

I have to admit that I don’t remember ever actually watching a “Halloween” movie – parts one, two, three, four or what did it go up to anyway? I’ve never been one to want to watch gore – I’m more interested in the fright – but I think I need to someday catch up on that classic. And one that did not make my list but has always been in serious contention with all those mentioned above: The Wizard of Oz. Yes, my children love it – and I’ve just recently warmed up to it.

So…what scares you most????