Scariest horror film or book.

deco nate · 20-10-2013 05:53PM

The ring freaked me out for days,
and I grew up watching banned
horror movies.

(not the remake)

Heisenberg1 · 20-10-2013 05:53PM

For me it's the exorcist movie and book. But the start of The Omen 2 always scares the crap out of me. And of course the rocking chair screen in Salems Lot.

hidinginthebush · 20-10-2013 05:56PM

Duff wrote: »

Fantastic read. Can't be real though!:eek:

I know. I think I got linked to it through Reddit, it reads as a blog, and you really get into it, so genuinely believe it is real. For the record, the discovering of the hole and crawling through it is true, but all the ghoulish stuff happening is pure fabricvation on the authors behalf (surprisingly), brilliant read though!

If you liked it, I'd highly recommend the book I linked. It's a shortish story, nothing overly ghoulish happens, but there's a sense of impending dread through the whole thing. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!

Green Hornet · 20-10-2013 05:57PM

Can't decide whether it's the rocking chair, the tapping at the window or the waking up in coffin that scared me most on Salem's Lot....actually all three...

Cuttlefish · 20-10-2013 05:57PM

dixiedan wrote: »

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057129/

The Haunting (1963 version)

Agree with this, it based on a book by Shirley Jackson called "The Haunting of Hill House"

There is a scene were the two women are in their room when the entity approaches their room and is pre-ceeded by a loud booming sound down the wood panelled corridor, it then stops outside their room and tries to open the door and you can see the door bulge inwards. Scary enough even now.

Now blood or guts just atmosphere and tension.

B0jangles · 20-10-2013 05:57PM

spankysue wrote: »

I watched an Australian horror last week called Lake Mungo and it was the first film to properly freak me out since the Ju-On films, great spooky supernatural horror.

The only book that ever terrified me was American Psycho, couldn't sleep after reading certain parts, near the end it was like a battle between me and the book and I couldn't let it win by not finishing it.

I thought Lake Mungo was both brilliant and extremely disturbing. I've never been able to rewatch it.

Noroi is great too

Also:
The Shining
The Changeling (G.C. Scott one)
The Haunting
The Legend of Hell House (kitchy ominous music funtimes)
The Fog
The Stone Tape
Alien (duh)

Cuttlefish · 20-10-2013 05:58PM

A great book that didn't transfer into a great movie is the Amityville Horror, some of the descriptions were quite scary.

Agree that in recent times "The Conjuring" is one of the best out there and will range in the top 20 in years to come.

Nodin · 20-10-2013 06:04PM

"Audition" - works best if you've only a vague idea what its about - A Japanese man is looking for an 'old fashioned' wife.

boobar · 20-10-2013 06:10PM

wazky wrote: »

I think the older films are more scary then modern equivalents, even if by today's standard the quality was poor without CGI etc. Just something about the likes of the Omen and The Shining etc that is spooky.

I agree...the exorcist stands out for me

One film from this year that deserves a mention is The Conjuring.... A film set in the 70s so it has that older style throughout

boobar · 20-10-2013 06:12PM

Nodin wrote: »

"Audition" - works best if you've only a vague idea what its about - A Japanese man is looking for an 'old fashioned' wife.

Top class movie...first half like a romance movie, you're comfy and settled in nicely then wallop sheer terror and stress...a must see for horror fans

AlanS181824 · 20-10-2013 06:22PM

Evil Dead, I Spit On Your Grave, Conjuring... All great films. I love gory, violent films that send chills through ye :P
Any of the Hallowe'en films are always on the tele around this time too so they're always good to watch.

micar · 20-10-2013 06:32PM

gg2 wrote: »

Just read its wiki page. Feel sick

just watched the trailer. Went straight into netflix but it was not there

DoozerT6 · 20-10-2013 06:39PM

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Favourite horror book is probably Stephen King's It. Absolute masterpiece imo, the movie isn't worth a mention in comparison.

Agree. The book is utterly terrifying. King weaves a backstory that the film/miniseries just could not do justice to...although it was made in 1990, I wonder if it was remade today would it be any better? With Tim Curry reprising his role as Pennywise, of course!

Disclaimer: being a complete 'fraidy cat, I could not watch the whole thing, but the bits I did see (from behind my cushion

) seem terribly dated now and unable to do justice to the book.

Pat Mustard · 20-10-2013 06:51PM

B0jangles wrote: »

The Changeling (G.C. Scott one)

When George C. Scott is nervous, it's time to get scared.:D I liked him as the detective in the third Exorcist film as well.

Some actors have a great way of unsettling the audience.

Vera Farmiga from The Conjuring is another great actress. She just ramps up the anxiety with her facial expressions alone. Those pale blue eyes do half of the acting for her. The film was well done too.

Academic · 20-10-2013 07:10PM

dixiedan wrote: »

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057129/

The Haunting (1963 version)

Correct answer. A brilliant piece of film making, with the world's scariest door.

Yes, a door can be scary in the right context.

I also agree with those who have suggested The Exorcist, another groundbreaking film.

Since the original question was inspired by Halloween I assume the OP wants films with supernatural content, and these two are at the top of my list for that genre.

Cheers,

Ac

timthumbni · 20-10-2013 07:12PM

The Mustard wrote: »

When George C. Scott is nervous, it's time to get scared.:D I liked him as the detective in the third Exorcist film as well.

Some actors have a great way of unsettling the audience.

Vera Farmiga from The Conjuring is another great actress. She just ramps up the anxiety with her facial expressions alone. Those pale blue eyes do half of the acting for her. The film was well done too.

I quite fancy Vera actually. Lol

jdee99 · 20-10-2013 07:13PM

The Exorcist - was 14 years old when I saw it, my mum hadnt long died and I was in the house on my own. Scared myself sh^tless for weeks after that. They had nuns going round the cinema sprinkling holywater over those that wanted it. Have never watched it again. Japanese version of the Ring comes close as well.

Book would be The Shining

Alpha Dog 1 · 20-10-2013 07:13PM

Not sure if it's already mentioned but The Orphan is probably the scariest film I've seen in recent times anyway.

Starscream25 · 20-10-2013 07:14PM

Duff wrote: »

Fantastic read. Can't be real though!:eek:

Ya good read but I only got as far as when he intended to go back, the next page wouldn't load, is that it?

timthumbni · 20-10-2013 07:19PM

Alpha Dog 1 wrote: »

Not sure if it's already mentioned but The Orphan is probably the scariest film I've seen in recent times anyway.

Yeah but I thought the ending was brilliant. No spoilers but I was so relieved at the ending. Could have been a lot worse. :-)

Pat Mustard · 20-10-2013 07:22PM

Nodin wrote: »

"Audition" - works best if you've only a vague idea what its about - A Japanese man is looking for an 'old fashioned' wife.

Slow built tension, apprehension and dread. Unsettling afterwards.

I don't remember enjoying this film because there was too much

realistic type horror

for me, but it was scary.

Alpha Dog 1 · 20-10-2013 07:22PM

timthumbni wrote: »

Yeah but I thought the ending was brilliant. No spoilers but I was so relieved at the ending. Could have been a lot worse. :-)

Yeah, great film, definitely one for Halloween night, with surround sound, lights off and front door left open...

Hedgemeister · 20-10-2013 07:35PM

For me the movie 'The Innocents' (1961) with Deboragh Kerr & Peter Wyndgarde was the scariest I've ever seen.
I watched it a few years ago on tv, or at least tried to watch it, but after 15 minutes I was a quivering wreck.

Next I'd put' The Haunting' (the original version) I think it starred Claire Bloome.
Now that was scary!

GalwayGuy2 · 20-10-2013 07:38PM

Hmmm, I remember when Sweden shared a very scary webtune.

Anybody want me to link it?

Pat Mustard · 20-10-2013 07:39PM

jdee99 wrote: »

They had nuns going round the cinema sprinkling holywater over those that wanted it.

Musta been the Lil Sistas of Horror. Them nuns be crazy.

Thought I'd mention Nocturnes by John Connolly regarding horror books. It's a book of short stories. Probably not the scariest book ever, but it's entertaining enough. I like John Connolly's books anyway.

thomasm · 20-10-2013 07:49PM

Pet Cemetery the movie seemed to push the fright buttons for me a long time ago

JFlah · 20-10-2013 07:51PM

REC and REC 2 Spainish uber scary movies

Smidge · 20-10-2013 08:03PM

hidinginthebush wrote: »

This will have the hair standing on the back of your neck!

Great book also called Dark Matter that scared the bejaysus out of me, but I couldn't put it down at the same time. Highly recommended! Nice and short too, you'll probably start it one evening, read til 4 am, get too scared, and finish it the next morning in the safety of daylight

I've just read that bloody caving thing and I have to say that's 30 minutes of my life that I'm not getting back:(

The Big Smoke · 20-10-2013 08:09PM

Horror film wise, The Exorcist is the greatest of all time. Paranormal activity movies get an honourable mention.

Book wise Liseys story by Stephen King or The Dark by James herbert.

GalwayGuy2 · 20-10-2013 08:15PM

EDIT: WARNING, it really is scary. Pregnant, elderly, children, or people with heart conditions shouldn't read it. I knew what was going to happen and it made me jump from head to heel.

In case it doesn't fit after hours I've put it in the nope thread.

Scariest horror film or book.

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