Top 10 All Time Greatest Horror Movie Scenes

#10: Linda Possessed

“The Evil Dead” (1981)

When it hit theaters in 1981, there hadn’t been a low-budget horror flick quite like “The Evil Dead.” The movie was unapologetically gruesome, but also had a dark sense of humor that reveled in its goofiness. As a result, people rarely knew whether to scream or laugh. This scene is a key example of what makes “The Evil Dead” such a unique addition to the horror library. Just when it looks like Ash’s night can’t possibly get any worse, he discovers that his girlfriend Linda is turning into a deadite. The makeup effects give Linda the appearance of a possessed doll and her shrieking laughter matches that sentiment, sending the audience into a hysterical state.

#9: The Bathtub

“The Shining” (1980)

Interestingly enough, Jack Torrance isn’t the scariest character in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of “The Shining.” That distinction goes to the woman in the bathtub. Beginning from Jack’s point of view, this scene escorts us into room 237’s bathroom where a bathing beauty awaits. The dull look on Jack’s face becomes aroused as the naked woman climbs out of the tub and puts her hands on him. Matters take a total 180 when Jack looks in the mirror and realizes he’s kissing an old, saggy corpse. The movie doesn’t spell out who this woman is or even the purpose behind this encounter. All we need to know, though, is that it’s a masterstroke of surreal suspense.

#8: The Basement

“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)“The Blair Witch Project” is another horror film with the essence of a home movie, but to an even greater extent. Coming out when the found-footage genre and the internet were fairly young, the filmmakers tricked numerous moviegoers into believing the three protagonists were really missing. This largely contributed to the sense of dread in the film’s climax, as Heather and Mike stumble upon an abandoned house in search of their missing colleague Josh. The amateur cinematography and convincing performances fully immerse the audience as Heather finds Mike standing in a corner before an unseen force attacks her. When the screen goes black on his ambiguous ending, it’s quiet enough in the audience to hear a pin drop.

#7: Do You Like Scary Movies?

“Scream” (1996)

This opening has echoes of “When a Stranger Calls” and “Psycho” while also poking fun at other scary movies. Even at its most self-referential, the scene remains utterly original. A phone call goes from light-hearted to heart-pounding when it becomes clear that Drew Barrymore’s Casey isn’t alone. The fate of Casey and her detained boyfriend boils down on a trivia game that ends in failure. If you think this movie wouldn’t dare kill off its biggest star within the first several minutes, Ghostface asserts upfront that he doesn’t play by the rules. For anyone who assumed that horror was dead in 1996, this scene proved that there was plenty of life left in the genre.

#6: The Devil Impregnates Rosemary

“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)

Being sexually assaulted after passing out is already one of the most appalling concepts imaginable. The circumstances are made even more distressing, however, when the assaulter is Satan himself. The lines between reality and insanity are blurred when Rosemary appears to drift off into a bizarre dream. Our anxiety escalates as Rosemary finds herself strapped down in a bed surrounded by her husband and neighbors, all of whom are entirely nude. The most we ever see of the Devil is a close-up of his hellish, reptilian eyes, which his offspring will eventually inherit. With unreal visuals and an intense musical score, everyone in the theater can’t help but feel unclean while watching the vulnerable Rosemary.

#5: The Final Chase

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

While it was advertised as a “true story,” this slasher flick’s plot is more fiction than fact. Even Ed Gein, the murderer who inspired Leatherface, had a different MO. That being said, the idea of a maniac chopping up victims with a chainsaw isn’t at all far-fetched, which gave the film a sense of gritty realism. Nowhere is this more apparent than during the pulse-pounding finale as Sally literally runs for her life. Fortunately, a trucker runs over the hitchhiker while Sally narrowly evades Leatherface by hopping aboard another vehicle. The chaotic staging and low-grade production values actually work to the scene’s advantage, giving it the authenticity of a documentary with a blood-curdling final shot.

#4: Chest Chomp

“The Thing” (1982)

When it comes to body horror, CGI just can’t produce the same results as practical effects, which are simply more revolting, cringe-inducing, and inventive. Take this jaw-dropping scene from “The Thing” for example, as Norris’ ribcage sprouts a set of teeth and bites off Copper's arms. One second, you’re jumping out of your seat in shock, the next, you’re asking yourself how the hell the filmmakers pulled this stunt off. The sequence packs in even more technical wizardly as the chest vomits out a snake-like creature while Norris’ head detaches and grows spider legs. At least it’s nothing a flamethrower can’t fix. Bloody disgusting and bloody brilliant, horror doesn’t get much more creative than this.

#3: Head Spin

“The Exorcist” (1973)

Between Linda Blair’s immortal performance as the possessed Regan, Mercedes McCambridge’s menacing voice-over work as the demon Pazuzu, the revolutionary special effects, and the sickening makeup, William Friedkin’s horror masterpiece has no shortage of terror-inducing scenes. If we had to single out one moment that encompasses the film in all of its ghastly glory, it would have to be Regan’s iconic head spin. Turning 360 degrees while Father Merrin tries to purge the evil presence from her body, Regan’s flexible neck still has us squirming over 50 years later. The crackling sound design only adds to this chilling scene.

#2: The Chestburster “Alien” (1979)

“Alien” is not only regarded as one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, but also one of the best horror movies ever made. The Nostromo is essentially a haunted house and this scene delivers the film’s first major scare. A celebratory dinner is spoiled as Kane convulses and an alien creature bursts out of his chest. Although the cast members knew that the chestburster was coming, they weren’t prepared for the amount of blood splattering everywhere. The petrified looks on the actors’ faces are completely genuine, which in turn left audiences wearing similar expressions. In space, no one can hear you scream. At the movies, however, you can hear an entire auditorium erupt in fright.

#1: The Shower“Psycho” (1960)

Few cinematic moments have been parodied more times than the shower scene from “Psycho.” There’s even a feature-length documentary that breaks down its genius and impact. No matter how much we talk about the scene, though, it always somehow catches us off-guard. We feel a knot in the pit of our stomachs every time a dark figure moves closer to the bathing Marion. Once the shower curtain is pulled back, Bernard Herrmann’s piercing musical score kicks in. The cinematography makes us feel as if we’re in this confined space alongside Marion as the life is stabbed out of her. This sequence left actress Janet Leigh forever skeptical of showers and she wasn’t the only one.

What is your favorite horror movie moment of all time? Let us know in the comments!