Friday the 13th: The Top-10 Scariest Movies of All Time

This is a re-print of an article that ran in Bed-Stuy Patch on May 13, 2011

Today is Friday the 13th.

Time for Hollywood to unveil its latest scary flicks. So, as a nod to this film tradition, BSP is rolling out its own unscientific list of the Top-10 scariest movies of all time.

Although there were a ton of scary movies to choose from, most of them were duds, with cheesy costuming, predictable moments and gratuitous gore. Still, without question, everyone can point to at least one movie that hits just the right chord of fear, and I’m talking a head-under-the-cover, fetal position, thumb-in-your-mouth-type of fear.

These ten scary films, arguably, rise above the rest, with three things in common: They are smart psychological thrillers; they’re generally a little more believable than the average scary movie; and their writing and direction can run with the best of them.

#10. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – C’mon, admit it, the first time you saw the original version of this movie, it flew to the top of your list as the scariest of all time. There’s nothing more pernicious than vengeance. And our good old friend Freddy, is out to get it while you’re in your most vulnerable state—asleep! So, you can run, but you can’t hide, because everyone has to fall asleep. Everyone. No one is safe from Freddy and his hand of blades.

#9. Candy Man (1992)– Awww, sookie sookie, this villain is from the projects -- Cabrini Green at that! This movie is about an urban legend, Candyman, who, if you say his name five times in a mirror, will appear (similar to the Bloody Mary folklore). Candyman is tall, dark and handsome. His voice is deep and thick like molasses. He is, quite disturbingly, mesmerizing. Next, throw in a bunch of bees, now you’re in a trance. And before you know it, the Candy Man has cut you into six different pieces. Even as a far-fetched folklore, this movie’s plot is still smart. And guaranteed, for years after seeing it, no amount of money will convince you to say Candyman’s name five times in a mirror.

#8. Texas Chainsaw Masacre (1974) – Okay, if I had to die early, I’d choose quick and dirty. But this sado-masochist-killer has other things in mind. Leatherface kills his victims by cutting off their body parts with a chainsaw and then celebrates it all with a little happy dance. He stalks his victims wearing the sawed-off face of another and gets thirstier with each kill. But what makes this movie so scary from the start is the appearance of five words in the beginning: “Based on a true story.”

#7. The Omen (1976) – Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined being scared by a 5-year-old boy. But this devil-boy scared the bajeezus out of me, and he hardly said a word throughout the movie! Evil prophesy movies are just plain scary to begin with. This may very well be the only time in your life you experience a movie where the movie's soundtrack scares you more than the actual characters. This movie’s cinematography also is fantastic, shot from very large and looming angles. As for that little devil boy Damien who was born of wolves… let’s just say, to this day I still bristle at dark-haired, blue-eyed, five-year-old little boys.

#6. Dawn of the Dead (1978)  – This is one of the few times where a movie’s sequel outdoes the original. Director George Romero one-upped his original thriller, “Night of the Living Dead” when he made “Dawn of the Dead.” (Momma!!!). If you’re a zombie movie lover, this movie, without question, is the gold standard. These zombies are frightening! You’ll be running out the theatre with your arms out in front of you like a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character. What other movie can boast being so scary after its release? (It was banned in 17 countries).

#5. Open Water (2003)— This slept-on movie is frightening on the strength of its simple and believable premise: Helplessness. Imagine you and your happy-go-lucky spouse accidentally were left behind on a diving expedition. You figure, just stay calm, surely the rest of the crew will realize their mistake and turn the boat around to come rescue you. Fast-forward about six hours -- you’re still floating in the water, you’re freezing, it’s pitch-black midnight, you cannot see more than 12 inches in front of you, and something very large and very strong in the water just thumped your leg…

#4. The Shining (1980) – “Honey, I’m home!” (“And guess what else, dear? I’ve brought a nice, pretty hatchet with me to chop off your head!”). Again, there’s no scarier feeling than being trapped and helpless. Now, imagine catching cabin fever to the nth power and then finding out the your husband slowly but surely is going totally insane. This movie is based off of the book “The Shining,” by Stephen King—a brilliant madman himself. The film adaptation is casted and directed exquisitely, perhaps director Stanley Kubrick’s and actor Jack Nicholson’s most “shining” moments. Part psychological thriller, and part slasher suspense, the mood in this movie is so dark and morose, it gets deep inside of you. And stays.

#3. Saw (2004)— Don’t front: You know that the original Saw is the most terrorizing thing you’ve ever seen. This movie is so painstakingly frightening and disturbing, you are certain the movie’s writer must have been Jigsaw himself, because who else could conceive such dark and detailed psychosis? Sure, the gore in this movie is gratuitous, but it’s realistic, as it seldom gushes but instead oozes. And that’s what happens when you’re being tortured to death: Everything seems to ooze painstakingly slow.

#2. Alien (1986) – I don’t care what anyone says, back when this movie was released IT WAS SCARY! (and it still is today)! This is “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” meets “The Andromeda Strain” meets “Apollo 13.” This movie is horrifying, bar none. Not sure what singular thing does it… Is it the creepy quietness of space? Is it the cold and cave-like feel of the spaceship? Or is it the alien’s bone-chilling, blood-curdling squeal? The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including a Best Actress nomination for Sigourney Weaver. It had some of the best sound effects and visual effects of any movie of its time.

#1. The Exorcist (1973) – Ummm, let’s just say that if you’re an atheist, after seeing this movie, you’ll be running for the nearest Bible to chant, chant and re-chant John 3:16. The phrase, “What the devil has gotten into her?” is made literal, as the movie’s protagonist-- innocent little Linda Blair-- is possessed by Satan himself. This is another movie supposedly based off of a true story, which makes it evermore frightening, haunting and disquieting. Does the devil really walk amongst us? According to this movie, “yes.” Watching Blair float, dive and twist her head in a full circle is one of the greatest freak-out moments of all time. For at least an entire year after first watching this movie, you will try your darndest to live a righteous life, for never, ever has one single movie so thoroughly put the fear of God in you.

Honorable Mentions

Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Jaws (1975)

Poltergeist (1982)

Amityville Horror (1978)

Old-School Chillers

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Freaks (1932)

Psycho (1960)

The Birds (1963)

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