The Top 5 Scariest Movies I’ve Ever Seen

As we draw closer to Halloween, I’ve noticed more scary movies are being shown on T.V., which is probably one of my favorite things about this time of the year. Sitting in the dark with my popcorn and constantly turning my head to make sure that there is no one behind me or staring at me through the window to my backyard. I know that I’ve said this before, but I’m a MAJOR movie nerd, and the fact that as a kid I would rather be watching a scary movie marathon rather than trick-or-treating only proves that point.

So, in this post, I’ve listed some of the scariest movies that I’ve ever watched, that I think you should check out if you’re looking for a good scare this Halloween. You may be familiar with a few of the titles that I’ve highlighted here, but if not, I made it a point to not give away any spoilers or key plot points. If you wish to know more about these films, feel free to click the links, which will take you to their official IMDB page.

Let’s start with one of my favorite horror classics of all time!

1. Halloween (1978)

The movie that first introduced audiences (and me) to the deranged serial killer known as Michael Myers! While there have been many sequels, prequels and re-boots in the Halloween series, the original 1978 version will always be the best and scariest of all, in my opinion. Some sequels, including Halloween II (1981), come close, but they can’t seem to capture the same amount of terror and suspense as John Carpenter’s original Halloween film. 

I first saw this movie when I was maybe 8-years-old (don’t blame my parents), and I remember being totally creeped out by the time the credits rolled. And as a young kid, I actually took it quite seriously, which is why I refused to babysit or be babysat when I reached a certain age. 

Again, my parents had no idea that I was watching this stuff. I was just a curious kid who liked movies and mysteries that made you jump. I guess that I still am to this very day. If you’re a fan of the horror genre and you haven’t seen this movie yet, I highly recommend it. And since it’s Halloween, there’s no better time than now!

2. Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Let me start by saying that the first time I saw this movie, I was 10-years-old and literally couldn’t get it out of my head (or my dreams) for quite a while. And if that wasn’t bad enough, just think about how I felt once I discovered that the story was actually based on true events (sort of)! How did I find out? By watching another creepy show that I shouldn’t have been watching at that age.

As I’ve mentioned a few times in previous posts, I used to watch Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack every day after I got home from school. Lo and behold, after I had seen Jeepers Creepers, there was an Unsolved Mysteries episode that actually aligned with the opening sequence of the movie. Yeah, imagine how I felt then.

Again, I don’t want to reveal too much and spoil anything for those of you who may not have seen the movie. But I will say that if you want proof, I suggest that you check out season 3 episode 20 of Unsolved Mysteries and skip to 28:00. I came to find out later that the director of Jeepers Creepers, Victor Salva, actually watched the show himself and used this particular story as the foundation for his movie. Pretty creepy, right?

3. Insidious (2010)

It’s a good thing that this movie came out when I was in high school because if I had watched it at a young age (which was my MO) I probably would have developed a serious paranoia that I’m not sure I could’ve ever broken. Between the story, the characters, and all of the well-timed jump scares in between, this movie had my 16-year-old mind racing and body shaking.

I only chose to watch the movie because I knew James Wan and the directing powers he had, especially when it came to horror films. He actually directed Saw as well, which was quite popular (and remains so) for fans of the genre.

Even after a decade, Insidious still stays right up there among some of the scariest movies that I’ve watched, and according to this list, it’s actually the most recent. If you’re looking for a scary movie to watch this Halloween I recommend that you give Insidious a try. Good luck getting sleep though.

4. The Thing (1982)

This is another scary movie made by my favorite master of terror, John Carpenter. Four years after he directed Halloween, Carpenter came out with an elaborate horror movie that audiences would not soon forget. The Thing was first released in 1982 and I first watched it with my dad back in 2005, when I was 11. There was a remake/prequel released in 2011, which wasn’t bad, but it didn’t give me the same feeling that the original version did. 

For those of you who don’t know, the movie is about a group of American researchers in Antarctica who are terrorized by a shape-shifting alien that can perfectly mimic/imitate the identity of its victims. So, if you enjoy a good old fashioned body snatcher type of horror movie, I think you’ll be impressed with The Thing!

5. The People Under the Stairs (1991)

Much like John Carpenter, I’ve always been a fan of Wes Craven’s work, especially in the horror genre. You may have already seen his movies, but just never knew that he was directing. Wes Craven was known for the Scream and Nightmare on Elm Street film series. While I enjoyed both of those original movies, there was one that Craven directed back in 1991 that really stuck with me since the first time I watched it in 2001. 

The People Under the Stairs tells the story of a boy who is trapped in a house that is run by a pair of evil siblings who keep kidnapped kids locked up in their basement. In fact, the house is more like a sinister prison, that’s been rigged with all kinds of deadly traps to prevent anyone from getting out! Packed with suspenseful action, kooky characters, and some pretty twisted chase sequences, this movie puts a new meaning on the word evil! I definitely recommend it.

Thanks for joining me in yet another one of these fun listicles! Now that I’ve told you my favorites, I’d love to know yours. Also, while I’ve seen more movies than I count, there are still some hidden gems out there that are just waiting to be discovered. So, if you have any recommendations or suggestions of movies I should check out this Halloween, leave them for me in the comments section below.

Until we meet again,

Vince the Prince