The cable news network CNN has chosen its top 10 most spine-tingling moments in film history.
To see full commentary for all their selections, head over to: The Screening Room’s Top 10 horrific movie moments. If you do or don’t agree, you can also make comments on the same commentary page.
Here is the list beginning with their #1 choice.
1. “Ring” (Hideo Nakata, 1998)
In the hideous Sadako — all ragged, black fingernails and terrible eyes behind curtain of hair — Nakata has created a unique horror creature.
2. “The Thing” (John Carpenter, 1982)
Horror-maestro John Carpenter ramps up the paranoia in a remote polar research station.
3. “The Orphanage” (Juan Antonio Bayona, 2007)
Sickly little Simón has made a very unsuitable imaginary friend in this chilling ghost story.
4. “Misery” (Rob Reiner, 1990)
Famous novelist Paul Sheldon has made the ultimate mistake as far as nurse Annie Wilkes is concerned
5. “Alien” (Ridley Scott, 1979)
Iconic.
6. “The Birds” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1963)
Mischievous socialite Melanie Daniels pursues a potential boyfriend Mitch to the rural Northern California port of Bodega Bay, where birds have started attacking the residents.
7. “The Fly” (David Cronenberg,1986)
Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) begins a mysterious transformation after a fly infiltrates his experimental teleportation device and their DNA is merged.
8. “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (Tobe Hooper, 1974)
This low budget shocker is the template for a million “college kids get into trouble in Hicksville” movies.
9. “Don’t Look Now” (Nicolas Roeg, 1973)
A young couple, Laura (Julie Christie) and John (Donald Sutherland) Baxter move to Venice after the drowning of their daughter.
10. “Event Horizon” (Paul W. S. Anderson, 1997)
In this high-concept sci-fi horror, the Event Horizon spaceship travels through a wormhole into another dimension — hell — and returns haunted.
Jarik says
What no “Exorcist”?! An outrage!
Sam says
I agree with you Jarik. Also, the very first Night of the Living Dead in B&W was really frightening, especially if you and your date saw it when it first came out at the drive-in 40 years ago. Scary as hell.
Mark in St. Louis says
What about the original Nightmare on Elm Street. I remember seeing that one in the theater: scared the crap out of me!
David Hill says
What? No Battlefeild Earth?
Gazerbeam says
The only thing scary about Battlefield Earth is that someone liked it enough to get it made
Tim the Rogue Scholar says
Can someone please tell me why Scary Movie did not make the cut. At least put is Scream over Event Horizon.
Necrosomniac says
Can someone tell me what was so scarry about the ring. I had trouble staying awake watching that one.