Welcome to the final installment of The 30 Scariest Film Scenes Of All Time. Be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2 to see what’s been covered before checking out the Top 10.
If you’d like to buy one of these films on DVD or Blu-ray from Amazon, just click on the movie box image. I’ll also note which films are available on Netflix Streaming.
***SPOILER ALERT: since I’m discussing iconic scenes, there will be potential spoilers for certain films.
10. ‘Poltergeist‘ (1982)
[amazon_image id=”B000V4UFZK” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Poltergeist (25th Anniversary Edition)[/amazon_image]
Clowns used to be beloved kids entertainers (remember Bozo?). But that changed in the 80’s thanks to John Wayne Gacy and ‘Poltergeist‘. The film about a family’s haunted house is full of good scares, but it’s son Robbie’s creepy clown doll that is iconic and scared many a kid in its heyday. When Robbie can’t find his doll during a storm he gets worried….and he should be. Check out the classic clip:
9. ‘The Shining’ (1980)
[amazon_image id=”B000UJ48WC” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Shining [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is revered for its depiction of Jack Torrance’s descent into madness.
But he’s absent from one of the scariest scenes which involves his son Danny. He’s exploring the Overlook Hotel on his Big Wheel. It’s all innocent fun…until 2 twin girls show up out of nowhere…followed by a lot of ‘Red Rum‘…
8. “The Thing” (1982)
[amazon_image id=”B001CW7ZWG” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Thing [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
Available on Netflix Streaming. (Click Here to get a free, month-long trial of their service).
John Carpenter’s killer remake has a chilling concept. An alien can replicate any living organism. It’s invaded an Arctic research facility and the crew are being taken over one by one. Our weary hero Macready (Kurt Russell) has a theory to decide who has been changed. If he tests everyone’s blood samples with heat, the Thing will react. Given how the creature can separate into different entities, he believes the blood cells will do the same. This proves uneventful, until one sample reacts violently, the blood flies through the air and the creature is exposed. Check it out.
7. “Jaws” (1975)
[amazon_image id=”B007STBUIW” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Jaws (Universal 100th Anniversary) [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet][/amazon_image]
The scene that always gets me is when Richard Dreyfuss’s character Hooper enters the water at night. He swims under the boat , discovering a large hole. He finds a large shark’s tooth caught in the wood. As he shines light on the tooth to get a better look, he’s startled by a corpse’s head floating out the hole.
*Check out my review of the new ‘Jaws’ Blu-ray release
6. “Carrie”
[amazon_image id=”B001D8W7CW” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Carrie [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
This Stephen King adaptation shows the dark side of high school. Carrie is an awkward teenager with telekinesis who goes into a murderous rage after a vicious high school prank, culminating in her demise. But its the final scene that’s the scariest; remorseful schoolmate Sue visits Carrie’s grave. As she lays flowers on the grave, Carrie’s undead hand shoots through the soil to grab her. Turns out it’s only a nightmare, but it’s still scary as shit.
5. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)
[amazon_image id=”B001APM41C” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Texas Chain Saw Massacre [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
This film affected me viscerally. Being a Texan, it made me feel that if I were to break down on a back road I’d meet a bad end by crazy hicks who want people meat in their BBQ.
The scariest scene involves Kirk, who has separated from his stranded group. He ventures into an unlocked house, which looks uninhabited. Then abruptly, a metal door opens, and out pops Leatherface. He delivers a deathblow to his head with a hammer. Then he grabs his dying victim, slamming the door shut with a sickening metallic thud.
*Find out which character from ‘Texas Chainsaw‘ wound up in my most annoying movie characters list.
4. “Psycho” (1960)
[amazon_image id=”B003IWZ1D8″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
Some say the shower scene in ‘Psycho’ is dated now But Hitchcock’s film inspired the slasher genre and serial killers in films. 1960’s, audiences freaked at the killing of the film’s protagonist midway through the film. It was unheard of (and few films since have been as bold). And the idea of one’s vulnerability while taking a shower is still terrifying.
Check out the preview for the new film biopic ‘Hitchcock’, which chronicles the making of Psycho.
3. “The Exorcist” (1973)
[amazon_image id=”B001992NW4″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Exorcist (Extended Director’s Cut & Original Theatrical Edition) [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
‘The Exorcist’ remains one of the most disturbing horror films because it makes the supernatural tale of a possessed girl seem real. One of the scariest moments happens before the exorcism. It concerns Father Karras, who is having a dream about his ill Mother. And then out of nowhere, a flash of a demonic face appears. It appears again towards the film’s climax, but the true origin is left unexplained
Check out the face at the .20 mark here. Still gives me the chills (it’s also featured in the trailer.)
2. “Alien” (1979)
[amazon_image id=”B004RE29T0″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Alien [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
A film so creepy it has TWO equally terrifying scenes.
The Alien chestburster scene is deservedly well celebrated. Audiences fainted. There was no precedent for its shock.
But the second, less celebrated scene involves the crew trying to flush out the Alien through its airshaft. Captain Dallas volunteers, armed only with a flame thrower and a tracking device. The device picks up the Alien’s movement, but problem is he doesn’t see the creature, even though the meter confirms it’s right on top of him. He tries to back out of the area…but turns into the arms of the Alien’s dark scaly embrace.
1. “Halloween” (1978)
[amazon_image id=”B000UR9QHQ” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Halloween [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
John Carpenter was inspired by ‘Psycho‘ when he directed the groundbreaking ‘Halloween‘ (even casting ‘Psycho’ star Janet Leigh’s daughter Jamie Lee Curtis as the heroine Laurie Strode) .
It remains one of the highest grossing independent films, starting the slasher craze. And as a pioneer, many may find it dated. They’re wrong. Michael Myers is a ghostly killer, a murderous blank slate impervious to death. Poor Laurie learns this the hard way.
Near the end of the film, she thinks she’s finally killed him. But Myers shoots bolt upright behind her and rises, like an automaton. The simple 2 note piano figure amps up the intensity as he draws closer to her. Check it out at the 3.59 mark.
Click here for my list of Top 20 Horror Movie Scores
*An honorable mention goes to the underrated sequel ‘Halloween 2‘ which has one nail-biting chase between Laurie and Michael throughout a hospital.Check it out at the 1:10 mark.
[amazon_image id=”B0089BSM70″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Halloween II (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray / DVD][/amazon_image]
So that’s it! My 30 Scariest Film Scenes Of All Time. Agree? Feel I had some glaring omissions? Sound off below. You might also like my review of the new horror film “V/H/S”, and the 15 Grossest Horror Movie Scenes.
And I’ve also made a list of Best Movie Commentaries. which features several horror entries that are listed here.
In the meantime check out my Squidoo list of Best Horror And Sci-Fi Blu-rays
Haunted Halloween Sale! Up to 35% off
There’s a drawback to audio commentaries — getting info on how something’s done, so when you watch the scene again your attention is drawn to this detail, like Carpenter revealing this was an artificial hand holding the blood sample. Otherwise, I would’ve never noticed. A minor thing, I know, but I still wish I didn’t know about it.
With the “Alien” scene, it’s interesting in that Scott originally wanted to film it where the alien was slowly following Dallas from beneath this walkway, but he found it too hard to film. Wanna know my favorite shot in that scene? The one right after Parker looks at the radar screen and we see just that one dot, accentuating Dallas’s vulnerability.
With “Psycho,” I already knew of the shower scene beforehand, so I wasn’t as shocked. But when Norman strikes out at the Martin Balsam character, now *that* causes me to jump every time!
Finally, with “Jaws,” it’s interesting in that Spielberg shot this after principal photography wrapped, and he did so in a normal swimming pool!
Interesting about the hand…the part that always drives me crazy is using the same scalpel on everyone’s hands! I don’t think wiping it off on your pants would prevent mass infection do you??
I love that part in ‘Psycho’ with Balsam as well. I also think the original ‘Cape Fear’ he was in, is pretty frightening in parts.
And I think ‘Jaws’ is the ultimate example of a film working with its limitations instead of fighting against them.
You know, I’ve wondered: If it had been Ripley who’d gone into the air shaft rather than Dallas, would she have met the same fate? For Dallas panicked while I think Ripley would’ve kept a cooler head, as she displayed later in the shuttle.
Well when you look back, it’s clear that the only character that behave rationally throughout the whole film is Ripley. Except for dragging ass during the self destruct sequence!
[…] joy here with all 14 of Hitchcock’s films from 1944-76, including classics like ‘Psycho‘, ‘Stranger’s On A Train’, ‘Rear Window’, ‘North By […]
[…] ‘Alien‘ related (check out my list of Geektastic Blu-rays and DVD Sets including ‘Alien‘ and ‘Prometheus‘ goodness)! Looks like these are all currently out of stock, but […]
[…] infamous shower scene, is a highlight in this film as well, both in watching the behind-the-scenes execution and the […]
[…] of Hitchcock, and Richard Franklin, he directed the sequel to Hitchcock’s classic. But how could he top the original? He doesn’t, but it’s still a fun thriller, with […]
[…] infamous shower scene is discussed in-depth. It wasn’t without conflict; Stefano didn’t to Hitchcock speak […]
[…] looking at you Gus Van Sant). So it’s a miracle that Richard Franklin’s follow-up to Hitchcock’s classic works so well. Credit a lively performance from Anthony Perkins, and sharp gallows wit for much of […]
[…] So that wraps up the 2nd installment of The 30 Scariest Film Scenes Of All Time. Now go check out Part 3. […]
[…] summarize a question like this if you look at a movie like Night Of The Living Dead or Evil Dead Or The Exorcist…something like that where there’s a possessing demon and has a voice…you look no […]
[…] above image is from the scariest scene […]