10 Scariest Movies Of All Time

Imagine you are watching a horror movie late at night when suddenly lights go out. When you have almost adjusted yourself with the darkness all around, you suddenly feel that you are not the only one in the room. You feel someone’s presence. You look for your cell phone or the torch, reassuring yourself that it’s just a delusion. You see a shadow at the end of the room.You were almost scared out of your wits when suddenly the room lights up again and you feel much relieved only to find out that what you believed to be a shadow was actually piled up clothes on the chair.

This is the impact of horror movies on us. It haunts you even after the credits roll. Actually, the real game begins only after the movie ends.The real monsters, vampires, zombies, spirits and all sorts of creepy things our brain can imagine, come into play.

If you fall into the category of people who enjoy skating on the thin ice, then you’ve come to the right place. Here is a list of 10 scariest cinematic frightmares that will surely give you heebie-jeebies.

1.The Exorcist (1973)

This movie surely deserves to top the list of the scariest movie of all time. Wonder why? Watch the movie and you will understand why this movie was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including “Best Picture”. This masterpiece of William Friedkin is a frightening and realistic tale of an innocent girl (Oscar-nominated Linda Blair). Based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, it depicts the true story of the exorcism of Regan, who one day occupies herself in the basement playing with an Ouija board. Using the Ouija board as the gateway an unwelcome evil guest takes root in the little girl. To this day, The Exorcist makes its viewers afraid of their own shadows.

2.Jaws (1975)

‘Jaws’ is a 1975 American thriller and horror movie. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie is based on Peter Brenchley’s 1974 novel by the same name. This movie is scary enough to spoil your next beach trip. The story is of Amity Island where a giant, man-eating shark attacks the beachgoers. The police Chief Martin Brody desperately tries to keep the swimmers out of the water and hunt the shark with the help of a professional shark hunter. Jaws was nominated for the Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Editing and Best Original Score in the 48^th Academy Awards. By winning the latter three categories, it proves that Jaws is one of the greatest shark movies ever made.

3.28 Days Later (2002)

28 Days Later is a zombie-apocalyptic horror movie directed by Danny Boyle. The plot depicts Jim (Cillian Murphy) waking up in a hospital bed only to find out that a mysterious virus has created havoc in London. The infected are truly horrifying and the survivors are on their quest to safely reach Scotland. 28 Days Later can make your blood run cold by its excellent cinematography and heart- pounding soundtrack.

4.The Witch (2015)

The Witch, Robert Egger’s directorial debut, is an exquisitely made and terrifying horror movie with the age-old concepts of witchcraft, black magic, and possession. The film’s near-perfect sound, design work, and costume simply add flavor to the script. The story is about a Puritan family which upon banishment by the church relocates to a remote land on the edge of an ominous forest. It is this forest within which the evil lurks. Strange things begin to happen- animals acting weirdly, crops failed and a child disappears and gets possessed by evil. The film’s ending is unanticipated which clearly marks a spot for The Witch in the list of best horror movies.

5.The Conjuring (2013)

Now expanded into a franchise, The Conjuring is a terrifying piece of work by James Wan. Starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren as real-life paranormal investigators, the film portrays the attempts of the Warrens to save the Perron family from what haunts them. The supernatural occurrences started from the time the Perron family moved to their new home Harrisville, Rhode Island. The disembodied claps in the “hide and clap” game, the possession by the spirit and the exorcism at the end could scare the living daylights out of anyone. The cinematography and the outstanding performance of the actors are commendable.

6.Scream (1996)

Scream is a 1996 American horror movie directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. It depicts the story of Sidney Prescot (Campbell), a high-school student in the town of Woodsboro, California. After the murder of Sidney’s mom, more murders start to occur. It is then she begins to suspect if there is some sort of connection in these murders and tries to find the killer. Scream is a great horror movie which is funny at the same time.

7.The Shining (1980)

Based on the novel by Stephen King, The Shining is a bone-chilling movie directed by Stanley Kubrick. Jack Nicholson’s maniacally uninhibited Jack Torrance character, dream-stealing twins, never-ending hallways, blood-spewing elevators, Room 237, a garden maze- this movie has it all. Kubrick has succeeded in bringing perfection to the film that makes The Shining a nerve-jangling movie.

8.Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby" is a brooding, macabre film, filled with a sense of unthinkable danger. Strangely enough, it also has an eerie sense of humor almost until the end. At the same time, it’s grounded in the concrete, in reality, playing upon the inherent fears and dread of parenthood. Rosemary’s Babyis particularly violent, but what it does is ratchet up the tension and pressure until you’re on the verge of bursting.

9.A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Directed by Wes Craven, A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 American supernatural slasher film.The plot depicts four teenagers living on one street in Springwood, Ohio. The horrifying part begins when a burnt killer with a bladed leather glove invades them and kills them in their dream, thus killing them in reality. The perfect blend of movie’s cinematography, cast and music make A Nightmare on Elm Street an all-time fan favourite horror movie.

10.Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Psycho is a 1960 psychological horror film starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins in the lead role. The story depicts the tale of a secretary, Marion Crane (Leigh) who disappears after stealing money from her employer.Her lover and sister try to find her and end up reaching the infamous Bates Motel, where they meet Norman Bates. The rest of the movie is an aftermath of this encounter. This movie portrays a brew of excellent filming, precisely orchestrated suspense and outstanding performance of the cast.

So, this was the list of 10 movies that can surely make you skip a heartbeat. Horror is still a very popular genre as several films release every year in this genre. No wonder, we as the audience always wait for fresh underground releases and innovative directors to make movies to add up to this list.