horror
What horror movie shook you to your core?
I didn’t really get into horror films until about 7 years ago (~30F at the time), and I feel like I’m still pretty genre specific. I enjoy zombies, psychological, monster, sci-fi / lovecraftian, and folk / witchcraft. Slashers are a toss up. I rarely watch what some consider ‘torture porn’ / anything Saw-esque; and paranormal is not really my jam.
I was recently discussing single watch sort of movies. One I thought was a great film but really got to me, and I have no desire to see again, was Evil Dead 2013. I feel like I might be pretty weak for that given the context of this sub haha. But I was curious what movies y’all just cannot / will not watch again because it really just hit you too hard.
Discussion
The Hills Have Eyes. It’s sick and disturbing.
That was disturbing af. I’ve only seen that one once, and I think I’m good with that
This was the first film to really make me feel ill when I watched it. I was impressed that it got such a visceral reaction from me.
The rape scene is so disturbing and it is seems like it's never going to end!
Yeah, I checked out at that. Not my kind of horror.
The remake, right? That fucked me up so bad. Still haven't rewatched it
Yeah, it's disgusting. The book is worse.
I really gravitate to dark and disturbing literature. But just the idea of this story being put to text and actually reading what is portrayed is making me ill
I hated the part with the baby crying
The Strangers (2008). “Because you were home” stuck with me at 15 and on a recent rewatch it stuck with me again. The scariest movies for me, remind me that anyone can be an absolute monster.
What makes it weirder is it takes place in almost real time. Makes it just that little bit more plausible and that part still bugs me a little.
So I’m a huge horror movie buff and I’ve never seen this movie. My Mom called me up one day about 15 years ago and said she had watched the movie the night before and not to watch it. She said she knew me well and I’d never sleep peacefully again (I had 2 young kids and my husband worked nights) I don’t think I’ll ever watch it. Such a shame but my Mom knew me well!!
Literally still to this day my absolute favourite horror flick... Nothing beats a true savage home invasion ... That shits so real...
This! I look for movies like this and they all are disappointing but this movie truly scared me.
Agree. Some person was on the sub trying so hard to ignore literally that line + interviews the director did and was just determined to find DeEpEr MeAniNg by dismissing that premise. I think it just meant he didn't get the film.
This will always be the scariest movie ever to me 😭 (just the first one) it sticks with you!!! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in bed and remembered that I didnt lock the back door and will be like “meh it’s fine” and then ✨because you were home✨ plays in my head and I go lock up and get some sort of protection 🤣
Dude, I also constantly get up to triple check the doors at night lol. I got one of those sort of bars that wedge under your doorknob and it’s made me feel a little better. I have a German shepherd too, but I’ve seen too many horror movies with dogs..
I still close my curtains before sunset out of fear a person in a mask will be on the other side of the window. LOL
I still kind of regret watching Sinister. Some of the tape segments were too realistic for me.
The videos were disturbing!
Sinister is the one movie I thought was actually evil. very disturbing
A couple comments about Sinister now. I’ll have to add it to my list
Watch it alone with the lights off. Hope you make it xD
Just a hunch, but I feel like this is a bad idea
Soundtrack alone is terrifying. Report back!
Omgahhh! That movie is freaky and I don’t get spooked easily.
I’m gonna be honest… the tapes were great, but once the ghost children show up, it’s all downhill from there. Kills all intrigue for a vague “creepiness” that comes off as more cheesy. And a cheap and shitty jump scare at the end.
I'm convinced they were forced to include that by the studio or whatever because it didn't really vibe with the rest of the movie's tone at all.
I watched an analysis video recently that said that was exactly what happened. Pinch of salt, of course, but anecdotally, this isn't the first time I've heard that
Watched it in the cinema and I nearly shit myself. Only time ive ever checked the back of my car before getting in.
I thought it did wonderful holding tension - and that makes a horror movie good for me.
A not so good movie that did this well for me was the newer When a Stranger Calls.
No, it’s nowhere near as good as the original, but it does good maintaining tension.
One of the best horror movies
I'll be honest I think I found Sinister so scary that I've blanked almost all the details of that film out in my mind, lol.
The thing I remember the most is that VERY loud bang at one point, made me go into a cold sweat, sheesh...
I hear you, the only things I remember from that movie are the yard and pool tapes. It didn’t actually scare me in the sense that I was nervous, it just felt like watching an execution on the internet or something. It was more “real” than I want to see.
That is possibly the most viscerally upsetting sound I’ve ever heard in a horror movie (assuming you mean the same one). Just a decent movie overall, kind of got away from itself, but the tapes do stick with you. The tree…
That movie legit scared me, it still does
Love Sinister. That soundtrack lives rent free in my brain and just plays in my mind each time I think/read about the movie.
I've never watched Sinister but there is another sequel coming soon. I may give it a watch.
When i was around 6 or 7 I LOVED Ernest scared stupid. But it terrified me. Im almost 40 now so nothing really since then.
Yes i know the troll head is a reused killer klown
Old lady Hackmore was so freaking scary lol
Creep. It’s not really “scary” at all. But that morhwrfuxker just really got under my skin. I totallly could see that movie being real.
Mark duplass is such an excellent actor. He was so creepy... So I guess the movie is aptly named! I heard there's a Creep tv series now, but haven't had the chance to check it out yet
I'm obsessed. So talented
Did you see him in Good American Family? Quite a different role but still .... I think it's his facial expressions!
Gonna take a tubby
I just met Mark Duplass and had him sign an blank VHS tape, and he wrote “Tubby Time” on the case ;)
Omg, that's awesome 🤣
watching Creep as a woman was tough, from the very beginning there was at least one red flag per minute and main character caught up too late (even when still earlier than most horror protagonists) and I was ready to rip my hair out. It's like watching Barbarian without the knowledge that MC ignoring red flags was a deliberate choice by the writer-director, like no way jose
Oh I loved CREEP & CREEP 2! Did you watched The CREEP Tapes on Shudder? Side note: I just recently met Mark Duplass, and he couldn’t have been nicer!
Has anyone watched the spin off series The Creep Tapes? I'm thinking of starting it. Loved the movies.
I binged it in a day! It's great, though some of the episodes mainly work because they're 20 minutes vs an hour and a half 😂 also, watch the last two episodes together - they fit super well, plus they're both SO different than the rest in the best way!
I can't wait for season 2!
Its like the subtle ways he keeps pushing your boundaries and manipulating you past your comfort zone.
Dude is just really pushy to an uncomfortable degree
I have tried to watch Creep so many times because of all the recommendations here, but, duuuuuuuude. The second hand awkwardness is unbearable.
You're referring to the bath scene by any chance? Because that's also where I checked out on my first attempt to watch it.
Stick with it if you can, it's totally worth it.
Ugh yes this. I hated that movie because it was too real and too creepy.
Creep 2 is even better!
The electric boogaloo
First of all, your name isn’t Franken
House of 1000 Corpses (that ending tho!)
I really should have been more disturbed by that movie than I was, mainly because as mean-spirited as it was, it so clearly identifies with the freaks and has this off-kilter style that prevented me from taking it seriously (in a good way IMO).
it’s that bald actor lol he was gifted RIP
Yeah Sid Haig bookending the film was a smart decision, it's one of those brief but memorable appearances that sets the tone.
Threads (1984)
When I’m feeling particularly nihilistic, I like to rewatch Threads and then pair it with When The Wind Blows (1986). Sometimes I’ll also throw in Barefoot Gen (1983), The Day After (1983), Countdown to Looking Glass (1984), and a few others. I think all of these are free to watch on YouTube.
Such a grim movie! I had a high school teacher who showed this to us a couple of years after it came out. Most of us were in a really fucked up kind of headspace for a couple of days afterwards.
The Descent!!
I rewatched this one not long ago and very quickly regretting my decision. It had been so long, I think I forgot how absolutely stressful it was
SOOOO stressful!
Eden Lake
I already know I'll never watch Eden Lake
Me either. I read the plot synopsis on wikipedia, and just reading it, I wanted to kill the bad people in the end!
I don't do home invasion or any kind of slasher films. Or horror films with dogs. The dogs always get offed. Zombie, vamps, haunting, psychological horror, all good!
I see this so often in the sub and I’m finally watching for the first time tonight! I hope it sticks with me the way it sticks with so many here.
Lol it's been 6 hours so I kinda figure you've probably watched it by now. How you doing bud, do you need a hug? 😅
I feel fine, tbh. At the end of the movie, I felt more sad than scared. The main villains were destined to be awful considering the revelation at the end.
Yeah maybe people's comments gave the wrong impression. I think usually when people bring this one up it's not because it's a terrifying film, moreso emotionally devastating. Like there's not a lot of movies that have the balls to end the way it ends and you sort of just feel shit for everyone involved.
Pls update ive been in the same boat forever and would love to know what you think before i finally watch it lol
It’s a solid watch. Definitely one of the longest 90 minute movies I’ve ever seen as once the thrill starts, it doesn’t stop. There are two scenes, imo, that are extremely hard to watch. I’m also almost positive there’s some mid-level psyche course using this movie to demonstrate the Milgram experiment.
Keeping in spirit with Evil Dead 2013.... Evil Dead Rise I will never watch again.
That one I saw in theaters! I cracked up the couple sitting next to me with a few of my screams during jump scares
Rewatched both, wonderful movies 😊
Aaaah! You’re one of those!
We had people thank us for bringing my mother-in-law to Evil Dead 2013 because she’s so boisterous.
Was weird and funny.
🤣 I am. They always get me, especially in big loud theaters, and even when I KNOW they’re coming. At least everyone seems to find my twitching and yelps amusing lol. As much as I hate my reaction, I kinda love it too Edit: I just have a lot of fun when I see a movie in theaters. Seems to be much more enjoyable these days, even though I tend to hit matinees and it’s not very crowded
Well, did you know that couples who go to horror movies together report being happier than the romantic comedy crowd?
The excitement gets partially attributed to your companion in your brain!
Shutter (2008) I saw it with my with my friends in high school, and the idea of a guy Spoiler: "paying his friends to assault his drunk girlfriend just so he could dump her for "cheating" DEEPLY disturbed me.
Yea, any sort of assault is always difficult for me to watch. I’ll always avoid the movie if it makes it a main theme, which is why I avoid a lot of torture type movies
Funny Games
The Japanese version of The Grudge.
Ju-on was the first movie that actually scared the shit out of me when i was a kid lol
It scarred my childhood, specially that scene in the bed 🫠
Saw the American one in theaters as a teen and it gave me nightmares lol. Haven’t watched the original Japanese though. I should probably give it a go
The Japanese version is way better than the American version. Good luck!
That movie still haunts me. Even the word grudge bothers me. I kind of mentally skip past it.
Requiem For A Dream. I can not watch that again. I can watch pretty much any horror movie and not be bothered, but R4AD fucked me up. I know most would say it isn't horror, but it absolutely is. It's been probably 20 years since I watched it.
I saw that movie when I was in 5th grade and to this day it gave me the creeps. The music espicially and how addiction can get you
Making kids watch this movie followed by interviews with krokodil addicts would be far more effective than DARE could have ever dreamt of being.
5th grade is bonkers.
Funny Games (2007)
Aniara (2018)
The Sadness (2021)
All bleak endings. I recommend a cold shower to wash off each viewing.
Aniara is so good! perhaps the only movie that really understands the raw SIZE of space
Aniara... my gawd
I loved speak no evil. I will also never watch it again.
Irreversible and inside plus Frontiers is what shook me into French horror movie addicting
Side award for melancholy
The Mist, cannot watch the ending again.
The first time i saw the ending i sat there with my mouth open for minutes and was baffled..
I saw this on a list and rewatched today. I got bored like an hour in the time so I never finished it. Holy fucked up ending!
What's funny is that it's not even the original ending. Frank darabont re-wrote it. Steven King said he liked it better than what he wrote
The ending of Se7en has to be one of the most upsetting moments I’ve ever felt. Also Becky’s disposal at the end of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.
Martyrs
That’s one I haven’t and probably won’t ever watch. I’ve just heard too many things about it; I don’t think I have the stomach for it
i put this movie off forever because of its reputation. it’s definitely gory but wasn’t as bad as i thought it would be
Same it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought, still bad but I was so scared. Next one to cross off is Irreversible
Yeah don’t watch it unless you’re prepared I’d say. But it’s actually a very good story 🤣
I can’t think of any movie that switches gears so quickly like Martyrs.
It’s honestly great lol
I was really baked when I watched this movie for the first time and lemme tell ya, that wasn't the greatest idea.
Green Room. The original Last House on the Left. The original Evil Dead.
Might be a bit uncommon but possum freaked me out and more so one I rewatched it and truly understood it
I watched that one on a whim because I love that obscure shit. It was so uncomfortable. Might be worth a rewatch
The Poughkeepsie Tapes freaked me out. I don’t even know if I would call it a horror movie but it was just so unnerving and made me so uncomfortable. As far as “found footage” films go it seems more realistic than other ones.
The Exorcist
Bring Her Back really fucked me up. But in the best way, it got under my skin, into my brain and hasn’t let go.
The ending of talk to me. Scariest thing I’ve seen in years.
I want to ask why to all of these comments, but I’m so cautious of spoilers haha
Yeah that was rough. And had some poetic justice for sure.
The ending of Session 9 stuck with me for weeks after.
Session 9 is very well-made. That one got recommended to me at an honest-to-God Blockbuster back in the day. Catching on to something that cool via IRL word-of-mouth was peak mid-00s. My friends and I who watched it still quote & love it.
I love a good movie / book hangover haha
Common answer but Martyrs. I don't think I've ever felt a sense of nihilism from a movie like that
Host. The 2020 version.
Calvarie was pretty bleak
Cannibal Holocaust. I regret watching that one.
Correct answer.
I Saw The Devil
Not a traditional horror movie
More of an intense action horror movie. But man did it mess w my head for a couple days after. It was brutal
The original Hitcher. I loved horror movies my whole life. I watched Nightmare on Elm St, Halloween, Friday the 13th, etc. None of them ever bothered me. The Hitcher is the only horror movie that ever gave me nightmares.
Blair Witch Project and VVitch. Throw in You Won’t Be Alone in there for good measure
I’m surprised to see You Won’t Be Alone in this sub. Great film! I didn’t necessarily think of it as horror until you mentioned it but I can see how it could fall in there
I watched Bring Her Back last night.
God damn 🥶
Yes, I have been begging everyone I know to watch it so I can share the trauma.
Along with Talk to Me - Jesus, those writers are fucked up.
Talk to me was cool, fucked up but I watched it again as soon as it it video.
Take Her Back…god damn. I might have liked it more. But damn.
Kinda felt like Hereditary on horror fan steroids.
Watched these two back to back yesterday. Loved em!
Especially Talk to Me. I still wonder how long Mia was dead for at the end. Could have been decades of just wandering in the dark. Only to get 90 secs of light and then infinite darkness again😢
Hereditary
Not much gets to me, especially with horror, but that one kind of did. And the soundtrack is exceptional
I Saw The Devil. Made me realize the devil is me too.
(rec)
The Coffee Table. I don't get shaken up too easily, but this one got me. Phenomenal movie, will not watch it again.
I just finished bring her back and I know it's a new film but as a life long horror fan I really enjoyed it. First half was unsettling because you were waiting for the beat to drop....but it's pretty brutal and very well acted the foster mum especially
The Wailing
The Divide can fuck right off. Forever.
Society (1989)
The Skeleton Key isn't really a horror movie, but when you realize those were kids that were hung and that their own parents did it...it hit me differently.
House that Jack Built. Incredibly done, but so disturbing
I am struggling to give Misommar a second watch because of the car exhaust sequence, which I found to be incredibly upsetting.
I went into this movie blind. So like, knew nothing about it and hadn’t seen any trailers. That scene was so disturbing that despite wanting to rewatch it now, I just haven’t been able to bring myself to yet
Boxing Helena
I still remember the first time I read Salems Lot and it terrified me enough to yell out load in class, it isn't just scary when reading it either, it stayed with me for weeks afterwards.
A Tale of Two Sisters. The scene in the kitchen… probably the most disturbed I’ve ever been watching a film.
bring her back. first horror movie i’ve seen in a while that has me thinking about it days and weeks later.
I watched “Men” on Prime a week ago and now I can’t be home alone. 10/10 it fucked me up. It’s an A24 movie
I have to recommend the German horror movie “Gonger” which is absolute nightmare fuel and does so many things right. The design of the ghost boy, the sound effects when he’s approaching. It chilled me to my core and if you have never seen it, try finding it somewhere because it is worth a watch!
Sinister got to me when I first watched it
That movie scared the shit out of me. It was the videos
Mother!
Sinister, The Dark and the Wicked and Kairo (aka Pulse) all left me feeling a little unnerved for a day or so after watching them.
Last Shift was also especially effective on me. It’s about a rookie cop who has to guard an empty decommissioned police station overnight and of course creepy stuff happens. I was working as an overnight solo security guard at a big empty warehouse/office building at the time I watched it, and it definitely left me a bit creeped out at work for a few days afterwards.
The first 15 minutes of Hereditary and Midsommar.
Midsommer is one I want to watch again, but haven’t been able to bring myself to yet. I went into it knowing nothing about the film, hadn’t seen any trailers or anything. And after the opening I was definitely shook, dead silent, no words. It’s one of my personal 10/10 rated movies. But those first 15 minutes are rough
The opening of Midsommar is arguably one of the most horrifying parts of the film.
Hereditary messed me up for a couple weeks. Midsommar was mid to me. I didn’t really feel the same hype as most others. Maybe I’ll give it another watch but I just remember feeling underwhelmed.
Chucky , i guess because i was a child when i first watched it and it made me believe that one of my toys could become what chucky was .
It follows did it for me.
Saving this post. I’m looking for a good scare.
The Danish version of Speak No Evil.
The Sadness
Aftermath. I found it genuinely horrifying
No One Will Save You
Ok so i scrolled all the way down. Nobody here has mentioned the medium on shudder. That movie did what it needed to do!
Sinister. At the bottom of the stairs.
None. I love horror so much, I’m always entertained and never shocked.
You’re the very first person to say none! I want to watch all my movies with you now so you can make me feel safe haha
Sinister. Probably the only film to scare me in a visceral sort of way. It almost felt too real.
The Void. I smoked a bowl before things got real. Holy shit
When evil lurks.
Bone Tomahawk
Lake Mungo.
I was recommending the movie to someone recently and I got goosebumps just from thinking about it. Didn't need to say much more before they decided they should check it out.
The visit. Old people scare me more than paranormal stuff.
The Thing (2011) shook me to my core with how bad it was.
Smile 2. Not cuz it was necessarily disturbing or gory, but the plot twist inside of a plot twist followed by a plot twist inside of a plot twist inside of a plot twist was just incredible imo. So creative, yet still scary. The music was SO amazing (blood on white satin will probably end up on my spotify wrapped bc it’s at least a daily listen for me), the plot twists were unexpected and shocking but yet not confusing, and made perfect sense in context of the movie once they were revealed. That movie was incredibly well written and I applaud whichever writer attempted to one up the first movie (a bold move in itself), but then actually pulled off making the sequel truly better.
High Tension
Smile
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). I grew up in the 80s as a kid that loved horror films. My parents wouldn't allow me to rent it back then. I first saw it in 2007 as an adult and the movie drained me of energy and my jaw was on the floor for about 10 minutes after it was over. It's still my fave.
The first time I attempted to watch the 2003 one when I was a teen, I had to stop it barely into it lol. I finally watched it a few years ago, and it was still terrifying. Haven’t seen the original though
Edit. 2003, not 2007. So many different franchise remakes to keep track of
The 2003 one is so hated on, its a really scary film
Is it really?! I thought it was scary as hell!
I wouldn’t compare the original to the remake. Although the stories are essentially the same, the original is so creative/inventive and the remake really just goes for gore as the main tactic to build fear. The original is one of my favorites of all time.
I’ve never watched the original. I’m starting to realize that that I really need to start making it a point to watch the originals of all these films. I definitely appreciate creative fear over gory fear. So much horror, so little time!
Yeah, I understand. The original is just raw and gritty. And for a low budget film, the original delivered a gut punch to me. Just the idea that this could actually happen is terrifying in itself.
The movies that are even mildly plausible are so terrifying! I saw Scream when I was ~10/11 and it fucked me up. Older cousins for the win 😑
The older cousins thing is so real!! Oh, the things that we were exposed to as youngsters, LOL
Masterpiece of low budget horror.The family was so damn creepy l had to close my eyes.I don't think any horror movie disturbed me more.lt just felt real.
Saw it for the first time in a cinema last year and the way the dinner scene is just pure insanity is so fcking good.
Somehow I watched this at a sixth grade birthday party (the mom actually rented it for us!), it messed me up badly.