Top 10 Iconic Horror Movie Moments
#10 - Transformation “An American Werewolf in London” (1981)
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Kicking off our list is the movie in which an American tourist traveling in you’ll never guess where gets bitten by a werewolf. Easily one of the greatest, if not the greatest werewolf movie ever made, it expertly balanced horror with self-reflexive comedy. That said, nothing was funny about its groundbreaking, gruesome and bone crunching werewolf transformation scene. And that is why I’m a cat person.
#9 - The Tape “The Ring” (2002)
Top 20 Most Paused Horror Movie Moments
This film centers on the vengeful ghost of an eight-year-old girl that conveniently haunts unmarked videotape. Her victims are forced to share the video of her suffering, or die horribly within week. Of course, up until the end of the movie we aren’t exactly sure what happens to the victims, but luckily that’s cleared up in this scene. I for one am glad we don’t use VHS anymore, but just to be safe we better not tell Samara about Youtube…
#8 - The Phone Booth “The Birds” (1963)
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Continuing our coverage of out of date plot devices, here a woman takes shelter inside of a phone booth when the neighborhood birds get a bit peckish. A claustrophobic scene, it’s first person perspective makes it one of the Hollywood’s scariest as it makes the audience feel like they’re really in the thick of it and about to get pecked to death.
#7 - Video Diary “The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
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A horror movie landmark, this scene is unique for featuring no violence or death. The most famous shot from the arguably most famous found footage film, its brilliance is in its simplicity. With just one extreme close up and a runny nose, The Blair Witch Project proved to be far more effective that a laundry list of blockbuster gore flicks.
#6 - Shark Attack “Jaws” (1975)
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Nobody would ever think of sharks the same way after this flick in the theatres! Often imitated, but never replicated, Jaws did the unthinkable by taking the horror thriller out of the dark and by terrifying audiences in broad daylight at the beach. The point of view shots and ominous theme cemented the film’s place in film in popular culture, and even played with a few taboos to boot. After all, those are kids in danger here.
#5 - The Prank “Carrie” (1976)
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This film focuses on a social outcast who has just encountered the horrors of puberty and latent psionic powers all at once. The butt of an awful prank involving pig’s blood, the intense scene went without any audio save for the sound of the dripping bucket, pushing home the feelings of total embarrassment and blinding rage. But of course, the real treat is Carrie’s split screen temper fuelled response.
#4 - Bad Signs “The Exorcist” (1973)
Another Top 10 Horror Movie Villain Weaknesses
If there’s one exorcism film to rule them all, it obviously the first one. Herein, the little girl who is possessed by the devil becomes more and more demonic as the film wears on. Among the most horrific indications that this wasn’t the common cold was her 180 head spin, as well as the stomach turning spider walk. Jaws may have made you scared to go to the beach, but “The Exorcist” probably got you to go back to church.
#3 - Redrum “The Shining” (1980)
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This Stanley Kubrick classic remains the go to picture for psychological terror, centering on a caretaker and his family’s experiences in the foreboding Overlook Hotel. Nearly every scene is a painstaking planned classic, but there are two that still stand out. This first is the shocking reveal of the meaning of Red Rum, and the second is the brutal rampage that meaning foretold.
#2 - Chest Burst “Alien” (1979)
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If there’s one chest burst scene to rule them all, its this one. Packing one hell of an allusion to rape and pregnancy, it mixes visceral gore with intense themes of violation and helplessness. Interesting fact, this scene is gruesomely authentic, having been shot with actual animal guts from a butcher shop. Ahhh they just don’t make ‘em like they used to…
#1 - The Shower Scene “Psycho” (1960)
Top 10 Most Paused Horror Movie Moments
Rounding out our terror filled ride into horror nostalgia is the scene from the movie everyone knows without having ever having actually seen. Norman Bates’ cross-dressing and knife work is absolutely terrifying, despite very little shown, due to its masterful camerawork and editing. The 78 cuts and terrifying score worked seamlessly together to convey the frantic confusion and drive home the feeling that it’s really you that’s getting slashed to ribbons. Agree with our list? Which horror movie moment will always be remembered for giving you the hee bee gee bees? For more frightening top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
