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11 Scariest Horror Movies of All Time
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Just in time for Halloween and exclusively for The Daily Beast, the man who brought you Taxi Driver and The Departed shares his favorite horror movies of all time. Plus, watch clips of the scariest scenes.
1. THE HAUNTING
“You may not believe in ghosts but you cannot deny terror!” was the tagline for this absolutely terrifying 1963 Robert Wise picture about the investigation of a house plagued by violently assaultive spirits.
2. ISLE OF THE DEAD
There’s a moment in this Val Lewton picture, about plague victims trapped on an island during the Greek civil war, that never fails to scare me. let’s just say that it involves premature burial.
3. THE UNINVITED
Another, more benign haunted house picture, set in England, no less atmospheric than The Haunting—the tone is very delicate, and the sense of fear is woven into the setting, the gentility of the characters.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
NHBill
Hopefully "Shutter island" will make everybody's list next year!
John Carpenter's original "Halloween" should be on there.
See the re-make of "The Hunting" and watch a list of everything that's wrong with Hollywood.
Gkenyon
Actually, I hate to disappoint you -- but "Shutter Island" isn't a horror film. It's a mystery by Denis Lehane -- the same guy who wrote "Mystic River." However, it definitely has horror elements, and has a sense of creeping dread throughout. I'm really hoping they get it right, because it's a really awesome book. In fact, I'm currently reading it again for the third time -- and it never gets boring. Check it out.
NerdyMcNerdstein
Martin is showing his age. He has too many British films listed. The Brit's give all Horror films an X-Rating so they always tone down their flicks. The first modern Horror film is Night of the Living Dead. The 70's was the great era for Horror so Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, Dawn of the Dead or Alien should definitely be included. If you want to really be disgusted and disturbed to the point where you can't sleep you will want to examine recent Japanese Horror like Audition or the grand-daddy of disgust I Spit On Your Grave.
SimonSaize
No he's showing his taste in film- the article isn't about age....filmmakers view film according to style and often aesthetic. Probably as opposed to stating the obvious and typical standard run of the mill general submissions, Mr.Scorsese decided to add a bit of diverse culture. I could add "Eyes Without A Face" here to add to "his" list although black and white isn't my preference, I also didn't direct "Taxi Driver". Your age and culture obviously shows, "I Spit On Your Grave" was pathetically cheap and trashy, Korean horror films are the winner as opposed to Japanese- for some reason people can't read subtitles or understand which group of Asians dominate a genre.
sucram
Hmm. I think it was a list of the *scariest* movies not horror. Anyway, I think 13 would have been a nice number and I would nominate Blue Velvet and second others' nomination of Aliens to round out the list - two films that are scary in very different ways. I'm glad Scorcese picked The Uninvited - but when will it be available on DVD?
Kathie4158
Kathie
He forgot FUNNY GAMES, the European version. When my husband and I talk about it we get repulsed all over again. I forgot the director's name. The same director recently made a version for American audiences. We would never see it again it was so scary.
curtismayfield
You forgot the director's name?
Hmmm I wonder if there is some device or interconnected network that you could look up something like that on? Wouldn't that be great?
my3sons
Thank you!!!! I have seen what I remember as THE scariest movie ever when I was a teenager. Since I saw it in Europe the title has been translated and changed and I have not been able to find it. I have been thinking about this movie for over 25 years thinking that I will never be able to share it with anyone. Well, Mr. Scorsese you just named it in this article. It is The Changeling, I do not think that it was big in the USA but I cannot recommend it any higher. Thank you, I feel like I recovered a bit of my youth. I could not sleep for a week after watching this movie.
wilbur
Scariest movie this year: "Capitalism, a love story." It's not so much what you see....but what what you were never the hell aware of until seeing the movie, that scares the pants off you.
picopallasi
that's true, Michael Moore in love with his own voice and his own bullsh*t is pretty scary. Especially when people still believe his shlock.
whipmawhopma
I'd go with Jeepers Creepers and Alien.
choptop13
Jeepers Creepers? Seriously?
jjaytn
Yeah, Jeepers Creeper is awful...so many glaring mistakes in the editind that it REFUSED the opportunity to be scary. Alien, on the other hand, still scares the jeepers creepers out of me!!
whipmawhopma
The monster in it was spooky. Kind of like that creepy inbred family in one of the episodes of the X-Files.
PUPITO
ALIEN, MOST DEFINATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jjaytn
WHIPMA: that is a great point...now THAT was scary...those creepy inbred X-files folks were the Partridge Family.
curtismayfield
Yes!!~ Jeepers Creepers is one of my favorite scary movies!
It's good because it's so out of place in the current slew of gore-porn.
It reminds me of a 60's B movie crossed with Twilight Zone episode.
Sort of like Drag Me to Hell without the wink wink nudge nudge factor.
@ jjaytn: you missed the point.
johnstafford
I'd like to add two candidates of my own to Scorcese's "scariest" list:
1--Howard Hawks' "The Thing (from another world)" - 1951.
The first movie I remember that really scared me (@ age 8). When the title monster (James Arness) smashed through the barricade at the arctic research station and headed toward its terrified occupants, I ran to the back of the RKO Marble Hill and hid behind the low wall that separated the last row of seats from the lobby;
2--Mark Pellington's "The Mothman Prophecies" - 2002.
Here's, I think, an underrated, scary movie. It was the last film I saw that really scared me, and I was a lot older than 8!
One suggestion: try not to watch it when you're home alone at night, especially if there's a storm outside.
SFGiants
We must be of a same age. I remember having the shit scared out of me when I saw "The Thing" at age 8. I checked my closet and under my bed for the monster before going to bed for a couple of days after!
Saggia
I agree absolutely with The Mothman Prophecies. It was underrated, but a movie that still gives me the "creepies" every time I watch it..."Wake up, number 37." I get chills! Honorable mention to the music score as well on this one.
curtismayfield
Mothman Prophecies was boring as hell!
writerforhire
When Martin speaks . . .the world listens.
Well, I wish I could be more eloquent, possibly even impress Mr. Scorsese, and yet when I am anywhere near him, hear about him, think of him, I'm lost in an unusual state of celebrity awe.
Veronicaxy
"Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer"
Sometimes there really *are* monsters among us.
piktor
I watched it in a downtown NYC near-empty theater. It made me fear the people watching it along with me there. Never happened before or after.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer makes you fear your fellow man like no other movie.
Aquamagik
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer-was SO freaky-and scary, that just seeing the DVD cover makes me physically ill..... I do tend to lean toward the "old" spooky movies-from the '40's-70's....Two on a Gulliotine, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte, The Changeling, Picture Mommy Dead, Carnival of Souls---anyone remember these??
OffenbachStutz
Scorsese is a Radical Leftist! Where's the Conservative list?
jjaytn
LOL...
DAVIDSROOT
well then omen, ya know. Rich political family raises a son who going to wield all the power in the world; only to find out his best interests isn't the family money. scary...
sandormatyo
You're kidding! Right?
RonMwangaguhunga
What about The Omen (the scene in the abandoned Italian cementary with the jackals bones in the grave)?
whipmawhopma
Yeah, I jumped about three feet into the air when I saw that scene in the theater when the killer dogs show up.
Hedda-Harlowe
While "The Changeling" has always been on my top 10 list, it was secondary to another incredibly creepy film: "The Haunting of Julia" starring Mia Farrow (aka "Full Circle"). It too deals with the loss of a child and a vengeful ghost. Is the house haunted? Is Julia possessed? Has the death of her daughter unhinged her mind? Or is it all of the above? I have never seen a film that better expressed the horror of loss while conveying a pervasive mood of supernatural dread. This eerie and heart-wrenching film will stay with you long after you see it.
CatLit10
Thank goodness someone put the original 'The Haunting' on here. I think most scary movies are pretty funny (especially recent ones, meaning last...two/three decades or so), even when they aren't trying to be.
The Haunting from 1963 terrifies me. Blair Witch Project? Take a hike. Paranormal Activity? Eat your heart out. The Haunting = too freaked out to go to sleep after.
etheob
I totally agree with you on "The Haunting." Saw it when I was a kid and it still scares the heck out or me today. But don't be to hard on some of our modern horror/scary flicks; I think some of them are pretty good. You're right about "Blair Witch..." That's 2 hours of my life I'd like to have back. But I think "The Descent" and "Silence of the Lambs" are two pretty damn scary flicks.
One more thing: Mr. Scorsese put "The Shining" on his list and says he hasn't read it. I know a lot of folks who haven't; I didn't before I saw it. But after reading it (twice), I'm torn on how I feel about the movie version. It's by far the scariest book I've ever read. And VERY different.
curtismayfield
Yeah "Descent" was surprisingly good!
BBS420
The Haunting of Hill House scares me to this day. It was a classic subtle movie, no blood, no saws.
I agree, who could sleep after seeing this movie?
readerinamherst
Count me in...both the movie and Shirley Jackson's novella are terrifying. I am so pleased Scorsese rated this film the scariest. Very, very frightening.
Dolmance
I recommend the very last scene in "The Tingler," where the super scared guy says, "They're coming for me now," and then he grimaces for a full three minutes.
Pricelessly scary.
hithere3
Isn't that the name of a sex toy?
Sixztmom
Thank you Mr. Scorsese for listing the Univited. It has been a favorite of mine for many years. Maybe you could use your powers to get it on DVD.
Dolmance
My scariest movie ever was "All That Jazz," a dramatic musical about heart disease and sclerotic arteries, and a guy whose lifetime of living it up with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes has brought him to death's door.
Heart disease and sclerotic arteries as a subject are about people BECOMING DEAD, which is way more scary than people who actually are dead.
Thank you.
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