What movies REALLY scared you?

[Andrew]

I definitely think that "Ringu" is a much better film than "The Ring."  Along with the hideous death grimaces on the faces of the victims, I preferred how the original version did not feel like it had to completely explain everything to the viewer.  The one thing I did like about the American remake was the addition to the story of the horses.

[AnubisVonMojo]

I definitely think that "Ringu" is a much better film than "The Ring."  Along with the hideous death grimaces on the faces of the victims, I preferred how the original version did not feel like it had to completely explain everything to the viewer. 

Has anyone else noticed how a number of Japanese horror movies like to leave parts of their movies open for interpretation, especially the endings? Though it can seem kinda frustrating, it's fun to watch a movie that does this while in the company of somebody who has a good imagination so you can spend the afternoon arguing about what certain things did or didn't "happen" in the movie, heh heh. I used to think this was just lazy storytelling until I realized that it was happening too much not to be intentional. After that, I think the lightswitch in my head clicked on.

[Andrew]

I always love to watch films with other people who have their brains switched on.  Movies like "Ringu" and my recent viewing "El Topo" turn into conversation pieces for days, comparing this and that, talking about the way a certain scene or part of the story could be seen.  My friend's Todd and Gary (and long lost Steve) are those sort of people.  Probably one of the other reasons I love chatting on the board, because a lot of us are moviephiles.

[Kooshmeister]

The book does an even better job of the fright aspect.  If you have not done so, pick it up and give it a read.

Way ahead of you. First thing I did after I saw the movie, I dug out my mom's old copy and read it. :)

[AnubisVonMojo]

Probably one of the other reasons I love chatting on the board, because a lot of us are moviephiles.

Not me, I'm just here for the free refreshments and to meet chicks. heh heh 

[Shadow]

Not me, I'm just here for the free refreshments and to meet chicks. heh heh 

Wait, you mean there are drinks around here somewhere...?

[zombie no.one]

Duel
Jaws
Long Weekend
Scanners

[AnubisVonMojo]

Not me, I'm just here for the free refreshments and to meet chicks. heh heh 

Wait, you mean there are drinks around here somewhere...?

Well, I certainly hope whatever it is people keep giving me to drink is meant for consumption... 

[zombie no.one]

Well, I certainly hope whatever it is people keep giving me to drink is meant for consumption... 

bad movie juice? lol...

nah..

YES, actually.

bad movie juice.

[Torgo]

I got to see a Korean flick recently called A Tale of Two Sisters that really got under my skin at numerous points. 

It's not really what I could call a flat out horror film but more of a psychological thriller with horror & mystery  underpinnings.

The version I saw was the unrated director's cut which is what I would seek out as I don't know what was cut out of the edited R rated version. 

Anyone wanting to see something different that will more than likely creep you out should watch it.

[JaseSF]

The following scared me enough to seriously creep me out, keep me awake, give me nightmares and/or leave me staring blankly I was so disturbed by what I just witnessed on the screen:

PREDATOR (1987): gave me a recurring nightmare about being hunted down.

INTRUDERS (1992): a TV Movie that gave me the worst alien aduction nightmare I've ever had.

RINGU (1998): agree with the comments made about this one so far. One of those that leave you almost slightly shell-shocked at the end.

JU-ON: THE GRUDGE (2003): another very disturbing, unsettling Japanese ghost story.

THE TERMINATOR (1984): an unstoppable machine hunting you down. Yep, freaked me out first time I saw it at a young age.

THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME (1932): the granddaddy of "someone trying to  hunt you down" movies.

THE INNOCENTS (1961): very disturbing film. The menacing Quint is unforgettable. Extremely creepy and thoroughly unsettling adaptation of THE TURN OF THE SCREW.

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972): extremely unpleasant film. Another than left me staring blankly ahead for a while after viewing.

STRAW DOGS (1971): another unpleasant viewing experience. Shows humanity at its ugliest too.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971): an ugly future that seems all too plausible.

1984 (1984): bleak and hopeless, another all too possible tomorrow.

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974): do I really need explain how this one if terrifying?

NOSFERATU (1922): stunning visuals create a surprisingly realistic vision of horror IMO.

VAMPYR (1932): another case of visuals helping create an unsettling feeling the events we see unfolding on screen are all too real.

Oh and I agree with the mentions of DUEL and JAWS too.

[DodgingGrunge]

JU-ON: THE GRUDGE (2003): another very disturbing, unsettling Japanese ghost story.

I was disappointed by this one.  The charcoal-colored ghosts were neat, even spooky some of the time, but overall it felt like the creators were unable to control the direction (and flow) of suspense.  Choppy, that's the word.  But not Chopping Mall fun.

[indianasmith]

I'm with you on THE GRUDGE - it had a few scary moments, but the plot was just too incomprehensible for me.  What did you guys think of the recent remake of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE?  It lacked the shock power of the original, but it still had some pretty spooky moments.  I also liked the SAW trilogy, although I must say the first one was FAR better than the two sequels.

[DodgingGrunge]

What did you guys think of the recent remake of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE?  It lacked the shock power of the original, but it still had some pretty spooky moments.  I also liked the SAW trilogy, although I must say the first one was FAR better than the two sequels.

I refused to see the remake of Texas Chain Saw Massacre.  It's never a good thing when Jerry Bruckheimer and the cast of 7th Heaven remake a horror classic.  I didn't want my patronage to be misinterpreted as support for this sort of thing.

The Saw movies were depraved, and slightly entertaining, but Jigsaw is one of the cheesiest and most blatantly contrived franchise villains I have ever seen.  I couldn't take him seriously.  I would have preferred if they dropped all pretense of a story and just tortured people for an hour or so.  But I did appreciate the films' wide release; it was good to see tasteless shock horror making a comeback.

Descent was probably the last unique and worthwhile horror film I saw theatrically.  It seemed to be pretty much universally hated but I enjoyed it thoroughly.  Neil Marshall has a fresh approach to horror, namely in that he doesn't really set out to make horror movies.  Dog Soldiers was particularly excellent.

Everything else recently released seems to be a remake or a sequel or just plain terrible.  28 Weeks Later was much better than I thought it was going to be, as was the remake of the sequel of Hills Have Eyes, but neither were particularly groundbreaking or amazing.  These are dark days...  Case in point, last week I was so horror-starved I actually watched the first five Howling movies back-to-back!  Werewolves to marsupials to castle freaks to vampires...

[indianasmith]

Now if it's cheesy werewolf flicks you like, you gotta check out  BIG BAD WOLF!


Not only is he ugly and bloodthirsty, he can talk and he's pretty darn sarcastic.