Top 50 scariest movies of all time

The Boston Globe ^ | October 28, 2010 | Boston.com Staff

[EveningStar]

Click the link to view a slideshow with a picture and a writeup of each movie.

[The Comedian]

I think they are all the more terrifying because they contain no super-natural, or even particularly unusual protagonist forces.

Just the sort of people I studied about in Criminal Psychology.

I think that makes them paralyzingly scary.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Oratam]

List isn't complete without Horror Express starring Telly Savalas.

[Young Werther]

Rehash of second try movies. What about Vincent Price?

I like TCM and the black and white scariest movies. "The Tingler" was recently on TCM.

I saw it at a Kids matinee when I was in high school. I saw one of the first showing when the seats were wired for a mild shock when Price announces that the tingler is loose in the theater!

There was "The Fly" and other Priceless price movies!

Boooo!

[pabianice]

Any such list without “The H-Man” is worthless. That film kept millions of 13-year-olds sleepless for weeks/months. I was one of them.

[TexasFreeper2009]

I agree Cape Fear was one of the scariest movies I have ever seen, unlike most on that list that is the kind of movie that scares me... where what is happening COULD happen to me, things like Friday the 13th don't scare me a bit.

[Riley]

Carpenter’s The Thing was quite disturbing.

"I don't know what's in there, but it's weird and pissed off."

"I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time, I'd rather not spend the rest of this winter TIED TO THIS F**KING COUCH!"

[Calvin Locke]

Maybe the worst list of all-time/How old were these decision makers? Teenagers?

This list is from the Boston Glob which is owned by the Slimes. Suggesting that the list was compiled by teenagers is an insult to teenagers.

Even adjusting for personal favorites, and those I haven't seen, it still is a pretty crappy list.

Some classic hits poorly ranked, and some snoozers that shouldn't be on it at all, let alone above 40.

[A_Former_Democrat]

I apologize to teenagers everywhere . . . throw infants in there too.

[momtothree]

I don’t think you listed Brokeback Mountain. (I crack myself up)

[gitmo]

I’m surprised ... I’ve seen 5 of these. Maybe 7.

Willie Wonka? That was cute.
Jaws? OK. I’ll buy that one.
Exorcist. Been there, done that.
The Fly was funny.
Open Water looks like it would give me the willies all right.

[patton]

“The Good Son”

[circlecity]

Blue Velvet

[RandallFlagg]

Self ping for ZPL ping when I get home from work.

[Swede Girl]

No “Creature From the Black Lagoon”?

[dawn53]

I avoid scary movies, and I’ve seen lots on that list, so they must not be too scary, LOL.

But we’ve had the discussion in our family before and they all say The Ring was very disturbing. Evidently The Descent...is a scary movie too, in their view.

[reg45]

The scary - this could really happen - movies....

One that scared me was "Cujo".

[Overwatcher]

I can’t believe the absolutely scariest movie of all time didn’t make the list. “Plan 9 From Outer Space” frightened me so much that I won’t watch another scary movie ever again. I still have nightmares. What Ed Wood did with a $50 dollar film budget is incredible. And, Vampira! If she doesn’t scare the crap outta you, I don’t know what will (except for that “Obama Gets Re-elected” movie mentioned above.

[evaporation-plus]

To me, the 1951 version of The Thing was the most disturbing.

As a kid growing up in the 50s I can't remember a film that made me cover my eyes so many times. The sounds and the lighting were just great.

[reg45]

“Dead Calm” (1989), Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane

[weef]

#1. The Exorcist

By far the scariest movie ever.