What’s the Scariest Horror Movie Scene? 0 7916

scariest-horror-movie-scenes-grady-twins-the-shining

I know it’s a big question to ask, given just how many great ones the genre has offered up over the years, with new ones being added to the list all the time. A head spinning around, a crazed man chopping down a door, an alien bursting through a chest… There are many that stick in the mind and chill us to the bone.

As tough of a question as it is to answer, the folks at HMV.com have given it their best shot. Using OnePoll.com, they surveyed 2,000 people to find out what the British public considers the scariest horror movie scene ever, as well as giving us some cool info about what makes a good horror movie and how people soothe themselves of the spooks once they finish watching.

Before we look in detail, I’ll just give the full top 10 list below in full. NOTE: There will be spoilers for some of the films so I’ve given the title first so you can skip past if you like:

10. The Woman In Black – the rocking chair

9. Saw – man cutting off foot

8. The Silence of the Lambs – night-vision scene

7. The Birds – children being attacked

6. The Shining – Grady Twins in the corridor

5. Alien – chest burst scene

4. The Ring (2002 remake) – girl coming out of the TV

3. Carrie – hand grabbing the arm at grave

2. Psycho – the shower scene

1. The Exorcist – the head spin

As you can see, it’s a pretty mainstream list featuring some of the best known horrors of all time. But I think that speaks to which horrors have reached the most people through pop culture, ease of access etc. than it does a purposeful lack of viewing diversity. That and the fact that they’re damn scary and therefore deserve a place in people’s chilled hearts. It’s also interested to note that the 1970s came out on top as the scariest decade, accounting for more than a quarter of all votes.

Of those listed, The Shining scene is the one that gets me the most. Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece could not differ more from Stephen King’s source material if it tried but it’s an entirely different, wholly cinematic beast. The corridor sequence is just one of the many, many terrifying moments to be found within the walls of the Overlook Hotel – the Room 237/woman emerging from the bath scene and of course the breaking down of the door scenes are a couple of notable others – as the innocent but spiritually gifted little Danny cycles his way around the corridors until he reaches the dreaded twins. No matter how many times I see it, the sound of them saying “Come play with us, Danny!” while shots of them hacked to pieces is intercut with them standing still gets under my skin.

As for the #1 spot, it’s amazing how much William Friedkin’s demonic religious horror has stood the test of time with people. I’m not old enough to remember the hoopla surrounding its initial release but the reports of people fainting and proclaiming the film was actually possessed are legendary. The “spider-walk” sequence that was reinserted for a the Extended and Directors Cut still freaks me out the most but the legendary head turn is undoubtedly deeply unsettling. It’s not hard to see how it got the most votes.

Out with the actual scariest scenes themselves, the HMV poll also looked at what people think makes a great, scary horror movie. Major things mentioned include a strong story, a well-crafted soundtrack – here’s a little experiment; watch a scene you consider scary with the sound muted and more likely than not it’ll neuter the tension – and shocks to keep you guessing and out of your comfort zone. Above all people look for a film that creates a palpable feeling of suspense.

Finally, the poll explored how people calm down after a good scary movie. I think we can all relate to many of the results: coming out on top with more than 45% was switching all the lights on, 41% said watch a comedy TV show, 18% replied going to bed right away, another 18% said reading a book helps and finally 17% said watch another, presumably wildly different film.

Ian Hunter, Professor of Film Studies at De Montfort University, offered some insight on how the genre has evolved:

“Traditionally horror films were either about supernatural and primal fears or monsters that transgress what seem to be natural boundaries (the dead who live, humans who are also animals, and so on). Today, while such films still exist, the most frightening are perhaps about the terrors of everyday life and the worst monsters are versions of ordinary people – psychopaths, serial killers – who threaten our sense of rationality.”

Richard Hand, Professor of Media Practice at the University of East Anglia, also offered his thoughts on the inner-workings of great horror cinema:

“A masterpiece like Psycho may be (in)famous for its shower scene, but the genius of the film is established long before that scene happens, in the slow tightening of its suspense, gradually unnerving the viewer with a simple but compelling narrative, a genuine ‘composition’ of excellent performances, editing, design and, perhaps most importantly of all, soundtrack. Indeed, it is often the sound of horror that can haunt us most thoroughly, worming its way deep beneath our skin and haunting our nightmares even when we turn away or cover our eyes.”

As a little bonus, HMV have provided a fun little horror movie quiz. Think you know the genre? Prove it and have a go!

Head over to the next page for my personal scariest horror scenes…

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I'm a freelance film reviewer and blogger with over 10 years of experience writing for various different reputable online and print publications. In addition to my running, editing and writing for Thoughts On Film, I am also the film critic for The National, the newspaper that supports an independent Scotland, covering the weekly film releases, film festivals and film-related features. I have a passion for all types of cinema, and have a particular love for foreign language film, especially South Korean and Japanese cinema. Favourite films include The Big Lebowski, Pulp Fiction and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

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Feature: 2019 Oscar Predictions 0 4022

I think it’s fair to say that the run up to this year’s Oscars has been a little messier than usual, from unexpected and bizarre wins at other awards shows (Vice winning Best Editing at the BAFTAs, anyone?) to ridiculous decisions by the Academy to change the show around.

The latter has proved a particular point of contention with both those in the industry to onlookers on social media, with choices such as not letting all the songs be performed to introducing a Best Popular Film category (whatever that means) to not airing four categories live; Editing and Cinematography proved a particular issue, sending the folks of Film Twitter into a Hulk-like rage.

Thankfully all of these decisions except for the one to not have a main host have taken the walk-back of shame; I look forward to Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair again. Of course there’s still the issue of plenty of thoroughly deserving films, filmmakers and performances not being up for any Oscars at all (*cough* Toni Collette! *cough*) but of course that’s not an issue unique to this year.

The show must go on, as they say, and I thought a week out from this year’s ceremony I’d throw my hat into the ring as far as predictions goes. Below I’ve listed what I think will win in each category, as well as what I personally would like to see pick up that little gold man come next Sunday evening.

Best Picture

Want to win: A Star is Born
Will win: Green Book

Lead Actor

Want to win: Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)
Will win: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)

Lead Actress

Want to win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Will win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)

Supporting Actor

Want to win: Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Will win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)

Supporting Actress

Want to win: Emma Stone (The Favourite)
Will win: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)

Director

Want to win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Will win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)

Animated Feature

Want to win: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Will win: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Adapted Screenplay

Want to win: BlacKkKlansman
Will win: BlacKkKlansman

Original Screenplay

Want to win: First Reformed
Will win: The Favourite

Cinematography

Want to win: Roma
Will win: Roma

Documentary Feature

Want to win: Free Solo
Will win: Minding the Gap

Foreign Language Film

Want to win: Roma
Will win: Roma

Film Editing

Want to win: BlacKkKlansman
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sound Editing

Want to win: A Quiet Place
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sound Mixing

Want to win: A Star is Born
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Production Design

Want to win: Roma
Will win: The Favourite

Original Score

Want to win: If Beale Street Could Talk
Will win: Black Panther

Original Song

Want to win: Shallow (A Star is Born)
Will win: Shallow (A Star is Born)

Makeup and Hair

Want to win: Mary Queen of Scots
Will win: Vice

Costume Design

Want to win: Black Panther
Will win: The Favourite

Visual Effects

Want to win: Avengers: Infinity War
Will win: Ready Player One

Animated Short

Want to win: Bao
Will win: Bao

Live Action Short

Want to win: Marguerite
Will win: Marguerite

Documentary Short Subject

Want to win: Black Sheep
Will win: Lifeboat

Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to leave your predictions/wishes for the winners below or tweet @TOF_UK or @rosstmiller.

Roll on Sunday!

Competition: Win King of Thieves on DVD *CLOSED* 0 3871

***This competition is now closed. Thanks to all who entered! The two winners will be contacted soon!

This coming Monday sees the DVD and Blu-ray release of King of Thieves, the latest film from acclaimed director James Marsh (Man on Wire, The Theory of Everything), which features a cavalcade of legendary British actors including Michael Caine, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon and Paul Whitehouse who team up to pull off a brazen heist. You may know the job from our own headlines as “The Hatton Garden Heist,” described as the biggest and most daring heist in British history.

It’s a good slice of old-fashioned heist movie fun which morphs in its latter half into something with surprising touches of the dangerous and sinister as suspicions and loyalties start to inevitably turn.

To celebrate the film’s release, we have two copies of it on DVD to give away, thanks to the lovely folk at Studio Canal.

thoughts-on-film-king-of-thieves-competition

To enter the competition simply answer the following question: in which classic British film does Michael Caine famously say the line, “you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!”?

a) Alfie
b) The Italian Job
c) The Ipcress File

Please email your answer to rosstmiller@thoughtsonfilm.co.uk with the subject heading “King of Thieves competition.” Please also include your delivery address details so we can easily send the prize out if you win.

Now for the technical part:

  • UK residents only
  • Entrants must be 18 or over
  • Winners will be chosen at random
  • The prize for each entrant is one DVD copy of King of Thieves
  • Prize is non-transferable
  • Competition ends on Sunday January 27th at 11:59pm GMT
  • Prize will be sent from PR/studio

King of Thieves is available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray from January 21st. You can already rent/buy the film digitally.

Best of luck on the competition!