I'm interested for a couple reasons: A new horror movie, The Grudge, is turning out to be an enduring hit, and that piqued my curiosity. It also reminded me of my two most horrifying experiences with horror movies. When I was 14, my parents let me see an evening showing of The Blob...at a theater three miles from my home. I grew up in a town and a time where there was no problem or danger with my getting myself home. The deal was, I could go to the movie, but I had to walk home. I broke the deal: I ran the three miles so fast I wish I'd been timed, because I would have qualified for the olympics. I also ran the three miles with my head turned almost all the way around--checking behind me for that freakin' blob!
My other experience that is unforgettable? The Exorcist. Saw it when I lived in the country. Twenty miles to the theater. I was driving, and went to a midnight showing. Exhausted (sleep deprivation ruins logic, of course, and self-control), and spooked from that spooky movie, I drove the twenty miles home...with my head turned all the way around! Kept imagining things in the back seat! Hmmm...maybe I've been avoiding horror films because I'm so damned suggestible.
Freepers...your thoughts?
The Changling --with George C Scott. It's a really good ghost movie.
And Aliens...Action/Horror hybrid.
A STAR IS BORN the 1978 Barbara Streisand version.
"The Apartment" made by Roman Polanski, who stars in the film. Peerless for its mood and psychological thrill.
"The Shining" and another called "The Cube".
Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' had me ducking (no pun intended) for years. I could never look at a flock of seagulls quite the same after that one. It really made me concious of the critters around me.
An American Werewolf in London.
Glad to see other fans of The Haunting here. I love that movie. I've seen it at least 6 times, and it never fails to scare the daylights out of me. I love that scene where Julie Harris and Claire Bloom are cowering in bed while something comes stomping down the hall towards their room. We are never allowed to see the ghost, if there is one, and for me that heightens the tension.
The second-scariest movie I've ever seen was Poltergeist. The scene where the guy rips his own face off in the bathroom still gives me the creeps. To this day I can't watch that scene. And then there's that evil clown doll, LOL.
For me, that depends on my age and the circumstances when I saw a particular movie.
As a child <12:
I enjoyed being 'scared' by such movies as Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. These held my imagination, were just the right amount of 'scary', but didn't cause nightmares. In short - a lot of fun. But then there were 2 that scared the crap out of me. After seeing The Creature from the Black Lagoon, I couldn't go swimming for a month - and I loved swimming. Then there was The Blob. Wouldn't walk home alone in the dark after that one for weeks.
As a teenager:
Psycho and Straightjacket absolutely made me jump out of my chair during the scariest scenes, but they had no lasting fear effect like the 2 movies mentioned above. IMHO, Hitchcock is the all-time master of suspense.
As a young adult:
I'd have to go with The Exorcist for lasting effect and Aliens for making me jump out of my chair. Both, however, had more effect on the people with me at the time. I saw the Exorcist with a group of friends that included an Hispanic Catholic. He came unglued during the movie. He had to go to the 'restroom' at least half a dozen times and he always made someone go with him. He had brought a small flask and took a couple of belts in the lobby each time - never made it to the restroom. (We were in our early 20's) Some of the others started teasing him, but I stopped them cold because I could see the look of abject terror on his face. He was a very strong Catholic and absolutely believed in demonic possession. As for Aliens, the 3 people with me all had left for a few moments (2 girls to the restroom, 1 guy for popcorn and drinks). So there I sat in the theater all alone (well, no one close by) and that's when the alien pop's out of the guy's chest. I must have jumped 3 feet in the air - way cool, but no lasting effects. The others missed that scene, but the rest of the movie really made them squirm. I, however, enjoyed the suspense, but no major 'scare' - I'd already been had - nothing else to 'get' me.
As an older adult:
my ex - nuff said. (I just wish it had been fiction)
I guess that's the main appeal of scary, horror type flicks - that moment of being 'had' - like when a friend sneaks up on you and yells 'gotcha'. It's the adrenaline rush of the moment, then the relief that follows. I've never really liked the gory stuff - all blood and guts, too little suspense and/or story line - nothing to grab the imagination. (yeah, I was 'had' by my ex)
JMHO
The scariest movies I ever saw wered documentaries..."The Exorcist" and "Devils Advocate". For suspense that scared me was De Niro in "Cape Fear"..."Look at us councelor, 2 lawyers just working it out."
My dad told me that when he was a kid he went to see the original silent Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney, Sr. Scared the pants off him so much he remembers it to this day.
Pet Semetary.
Rosemary's Baby still gives me the creeps.
Any devil movie gives me the creeps.
Jennifer Eight.
Alien and I particularly liked the scene of Sigourney Weaver climbing into that deep sleep thing at the end of the movie. Man, was she hot in those days.....
There was one scene in this old haunted English house nestled on the white cliffs of Dover where the door to living room suddenly flew open and a faint mist floated in. This was all before big time special effects, and this was a black and white movie, too.
I'll never forget that scene because I was in the neighborhood theater with my mother, and we both screamed and hugged each other.
The Shining scared me when I was a kid. So did any movie starring Vincent Price.
The Exorcist --- 'Nuff said.
"It takes a Whole Lot of Critters to Make Farmer Vincent Fritters."
