What are the Three Scariest Movies of All Time?

[CrawlingKaos]

I couldnt possibly name the scariest film Ive ever seen. I just never thought horror films were ever scary to tell the truth. Just think they are fun. But really man... you think Leaperchaun is scary? I'll have to go back and see it again I suppose.

[Midian]

The 3 movies that I found most frightening at various points in my life are:

I. Suspiria (Dario Argento) - Horror as art.
II. The Haunting (Robert Wise) - Sometimes what you don't see is the scariest of all.
III. Night of the Living Dead (George Romero)

[centerstagefilms]

Great picks by all here. Here are 4 of mine.

1. Psycho - Possibly one of the top ten movies of all time in any genre.

2. The Sentinel - Has some really effective moments.

3. Seven - Great casting(even with Brad Pitt) and great use of symbolism in the cinematography.

4. The Grudge/Ju-On (Take your pick) - That girl and kid creep the hell out of me.

Thanks

[MrWelldone]

Suspiria
The Exorcist
Rosemary's baby

But the best...
The Vampyr
The Seventh Victim
Evil Dead
Hour of the Wolf
The Bride of Frankenstein
Lost Highway
Haxan

Some other close ones...
Ginger Snaps
Session 9
Dead Alive
M
The Serpent and the Rainbow
Alien
The Believers
A Clockwork Orange
Dr Jeklyll and Mr Hyde
May
The Shining
Vampire's Kiss
The Hunger
Shivers
The Brood

[hollowhead]

I must say it but out of the many horror films i have watched, none have scared me whatsoever. The only one that creeped me out was Candyman, i thought the music in that was chilling and puts you off mirrors for quite a while...i haven't looked in a mirror since and i'm so desperate to shave

I don't really know how leprechaun could scare anyone but not everyone has the same feelings so it just happens to scare some people.

[FrankZitto80]

In my opinion, today's horror films have potenial of being just what it's suppose to be, very scary. But the film makers of these films destroy what bit of potential they may have, with computers and lack of suspense. It seems as if many young so-called horror film directors, are caught up in a Rambo time frame, which serves as a base for the films in general.

My list for the top 3 scariest films of all time are as follows.

1 - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974. Tobe Hooper's classic masterpiece, was so well done with patience and detail. The low budget that it took to put this film together, added a realistic world of terror that touched me during the 80's when I first viewed it on video.

2- George A Romero's Night of the Living Dead 1968 - Romero's first installment to his beloved dead series, has labled him in my opinion as the George Lucas of Horror. NOTLD stood alone in 1968, as a taste of what horror cinema had to offer in the future. When Alfred Hitchc*ck ruled the mystery world, and Hammer films were pretty much the rulers of pop culture, as well as the independ genre. Romero shook the world of movies with a horrifying and controversial work of art.

3 - Halloween - John Carpenter 1978 - From the opening sequence with the jack o lantern's crooked evil grin, slowly moving close to the screen, to the open window seeing a dissapearing Mike Myers, this film stand as one of the most terrifying movies of all time.

Friday the 13th 1980
Zombie 2 1979
Maniac 1980 all honorable mentions stands in classes by themselves.

[BoogaBooga]

It's interesting seeing the varied definitions of scary. I wouldn't scoff at a one as each person has their own fears and squeamies (no really, that's a word).

I think overall, specific scenes are what "scare" me as opposed to an entire film but even with their faults, films like 'The Ring' and 'The Others' set a strong tone that resonates throughout the whole film.

My picks, subject to change are:

1>Texas Chainsaw Massacre: I never get people who laugh at it... It's still often unsettling to this day. As a kid, this was like an urban legend where I lived. Obtaining a copy was like getting a 'Faces of Death'. I still get goosebumps when Leatherface tears open that silver door.

2>Nightmare on Elm Street: Sure, being a kid helped compound the effect... but it was the first film that kept me awake all night long.

3>Scream: yeah... I said it. Go ahead and mock... I was a big boy when I saw this. LOL. While some horror purists loathe putting this into the genre, I could care less. Not only did this film reignite my passion but what made it scary for me was character. I am not usually affected by the cheap "boo" scares, big bad killers, blood and guts, etc... What gets my heart racing is when a character I attach too is in dire straits. Ghostface didn't lumber after you, he sprinted.

Also, I went into 'Scream' thinking I was getting more satire than slasher so those first 15 minutes knocked me for a loop and that set the tone. After Casey bought it, I didn't feel secure about any of them. All time favorite flick, and proud of it!

other notable selections...

Exorcist - Did not help my issues with the devil as a child.
Mother's Day - wigged me out. Twisted... Cheesy, but twisted.
Friday the 13th - all about the "chee chee chee ha ha ha"
Trilogy of Terror - Zuni Fetish Doll. Nuff said.
Creepers - Argento is visually effective all around, but something about this one packed more punch for me.