Top 50 Scariest Horror Movie Deaths

#50: The Barn Victims

“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” (2026)

The demonic Jimmy and his followers rove the countryside with a bloodlust. When they take over a farm, the cult leader orders his underlings to spend some extra time with the survivors. “28 Years Later” proves yet again that humans might be the most dangerous part of any post-apocalypse. Without focusing on the infected, these characters show just how cruel people can be under a leader with unchecked power. It’s a supremely disturbing sequence that makes you want to close your eyes and cover your ears. You spend the rest of the movie waiting for the man’s comeuppance before he meets his fate in a ceremonial way.

#49: Ashley & Ashlyn

“Final Destination 3” (2006)

The victims in every “Final Destination” film test the limits of fate. In this scary sequence, Ashley and Ashlyn tempt death with their journey to a tanning salon. Little do they know that the surrounding environment is setting them up for their last appointment. As the temperature rises, both characters realize that they’re in a dire situation. Anybody who hates a hot day will be shaking in their boots watching this scene. The two don’t realize that the beds will soon become coffins, sending flames and unbearable conditions their way. It’s certainly a concept that makes us reconsider this kind of hobby altogether.

#48: Dan

“Frozen” (2010)

In what should’ve been a fun weekend on the slopes, three skiers realize they’re trapped on a lift. What seems like an easy fix turns into a deadly set of circumstances. Joe, Parker, and Dan run through every possible escape plan. Their failed schemes force them to take drastic measures that’ll have you biting your nails. In this key scene, Dan’s dramatic exit begins with a serious fall. It’s not enough to injure his legs either. Once the wolves smell him, this poor character becomes food for wild animals. “Frozen” lets you sit in the horror of this survival plot twist to make things even worse.

#47: The Mandrakis Kids

“When a Stranger Calls” (1979)

It’s not always what you see that terrifies you the most. In this classic setup, a babysitter starts to answer prank phone calls that turn sinister. Jill Johnson keeps answering in the hopes that it’ll stop or that the police will come to help her. She’s completely unaware of what’s happened to the children she’s supposed to watch. After learning that she has an unexpected visitor, Johnson tries to save herself. We come to realize later that the kids were long gone by that point. With such a horrifying premise, “When a Stranger Calls” starts things off with a bang that likely inspired a whole subgenre of horror movies.

#46: Darry

“Jeepers Creepers” (2001)

While he might’ve made some dumb decisions, he didn’t deserve to go out like that. Darry and Trish Jenner end up on a road trip from hell in this scary film. Once they encounter the Creeper, they become entangled in a game they never signed up for. The third act builds to a climax where Justin Long’s character hangs in the balance. In a kinder movie, the male lead would survive after a thrilling escape or some last-minute action. “Jeepers Creepers” chooses to punish the loyal brother by sending him off with the winged demon. In this cruel finale, the antagonist shows that nobody is safe.

#45: Big Bob“The Hills Have Eyes” (1977)

There’s nothing more ominous in a horror movie than getting stuck in the middle of nowhere. When the Carter family end up in the desert, they struggle with more than food, supplies, and exposure. A group of killers begins to stalk the heroes and kidnap Bob. After some brutal work by the villains, the older man ends up crucified before being engulfed in flames. We can’t imagine a worse way to spend your vacation. When his fellow travelers find him, he’s much too weak to recover. It’s such an awful death and aftermath that you almost can’t fathom it.

#44: Everybody

“The Menu” (2022)

Julian Slowik goes all out with his fancy meals, picking off his dinner guests until the smoldering finale. Ralph Fiennes’ chef chooses to incorporate the foodies into his final dish. As the victims accept their fate, they become part of a s’mores experiment with a fiery end. It’s even more unsettling to watch everything slowly burn up around them. Dressed in marshmallows and chocolate, the customers become ingredients in a dessert for the ages. Their involuntary costumes only add insult to injury. While parts of this film might’ve been darkly funny, this conclusion takes our breath away.

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#43: The Marauder

“Evil Dead Rise” (2023)

Beth and Kassie face off against the Marauder in the climax of “Evil Dead Rise,” forcing the heroes to confront their worst fears. Bridget, Ellie, and Danny combine into a monster that looks to be a formidable villain. In a parking garage, the heroes fail to escape before their enemy foils their plans. Beth must save one of her family members from the clutches of pure evil. With the help of a chainsaw, she forces the three-headed creature into a woodchipper. There’s more than enough blood for several horror movies in this scene alone. When one head remains, the main character decides to perform a finishing move worthy of this gory series.

#42: Paul

“The Blob” (1988)

For the remake of a 1950s B-movie classic, this version of the titular ooze doesn’t skimp on the brutality. The alien substance spreads around a California town with disastrous effects. Paul becomes one of the early victims, coming into contact with the blob at the hospital. Consuming an entire body, the villainous entity does a number on the helpless character. It absorbs the guy with some detrimental changes to his body chemistry. The plot might make viewers expect killer Jell-O from outer space, but it’s much more gross than that. This scene shows you that a campy horror movie can also give you nightmares.

#41: Remmick

“Sinners” (2025)

After wreaking havoc on a party, this vampire set his sights on the last survivors. He and his army have lured out, attacked, and bitten plenty of the cast by that point. Smoke and Sammie fend off Remmick long enough for the sun to come up. With the dawn creeping over the horizon, the villain gets flash-fried with his followers. The spectacular effects make it look like an excruciatingly painful way to go. With all of the awful schemes he’s gotten up to, the antagonist still generates a shred of sympathy with this death. It’s such an impactful moment to cap off such a hectic night.

#40: Rhodes

“Day of the Dead” (1985)

In this entertaining sequel, Rhodes is the military commander who pushes people around and encourages his men to be terrible. The few remaining heroes have to endure his rants, speeches, and grim outlook on life. It’s only fitting that he meets his death in a surprising and violent way. Chased down by undead captive Bub, the antagonist survives a few gunshots before he’s truly cornered. He then meets his match as a swarm of the undead take him down, with the results being particularly gruesome. You might even be scarred for life after watching the man lose his guts.

#39: Laura

“Smile” (2022)

Not wasting any time, this horror movie starts with a chilling opening. Laura Weaver tries to describe her growing distress to therapist Rose Cotter. During the meeting, the patient is inconsolable and starts writhing on the ground. You’re practically stunned at this point, wondering how it’ll all turn out. Weaver appears with a creepy smile on her face, creating the unsettling visual that haunts the rest of the film. Her last act shows that she’s been completely taken over by an elusive and villainous force. The “Smile” filmmakers create such a strong image here, forcing viewers to consider what other horrible things can happen next.

#38: Doctor in the Elevator

“Damien - Omen II” (1978)

This series about a demonic child likes to send people off in dramatic style. For the second film, Damien goes to a hospital after a class field trip gone wrong. One of the doctors in charge realizes that the child might be more different than the others. With some vital information to leak, the medical professional boards a hellish elevator. The character can’t do much to save himself after the machine breaks down. That’s where the work of the devil comes in to shake things up. After a sudden drop, the victim survives only to face the strength of a falling cable. It’s among the more outrageous and gratuitous shots in horror history.

#37: Deaths on the Hill

“The Long Walk” (2025)

While this intriguing premise starts like a contest, it quickly devolves into a deadly game of endurance. The teenagers walk into the night as they reach a steep incline. Not only do they have to deal with the hill, but the contestants also have to maintain a constant speed. This feels like one of the most dire scenes in the entire journey considering the difficulty. With everyone’s life on the line, one misstep could be their last. The soldiers don’t waste time dishing out warnings and taking out the walkers. As the numbers dwindle, each gunshot rings out with a terrifying flash, and you can practically feel the survivors’ heartbeats.

#36: Jill Tuck

“Saw 3D” (2010)

Like every death in this series, this one comes with the promise of some disgusting results. The bear trap kill in “Saw 3D” is no different. Mark Hoffman finds himself in a position to exact revenge on Jill Tuck, with the latter trying to ruin his life. Hoffman sets the device before a countdown helps to ramp up the suspense. Once it goes off, the trap gives new meaning to the idea of a jawbreaker. The vicious death still makes us squeamish as we consider the same fate. After so many sequels and spinoffs, this franchise doesn’t disappoint with its signature moments and ruthless finishing moves.

#35: Allie“Terrifier 2” (2022)

Built around some infamous kill scenes, the “Terrifier” series relishes the opportunity to push audiences to the limit. The sequel decides to give this character one of the more epic deaths of the franchise. Following a failed attempt to get candy, Art breaks into Allie’s house to continue his chaotic murder streak. This leads to some sharp and cutting moments, to say the least. After conducting some amateur surgery, the clown brings back some bleach and salt to make everything more diabolical. Many of the more unsightly details will likely leave a bad taste in your mouth. If you really love these kinds of films, this particular sequence captures your imagination in a terrible way.

#34: Nick

“Bone Tomahawk” (2015)

Combining the look of a Western with some horror elements, “Bone Tomahawk” gives viewers a jolt of extreme violence. Sheriff Hunt and his rescue party head into dangerous territory as they search for a group of cannibals. Once he and other heroes become prisoners, they witness Deputy Nick’s extended death without being able to stop it. The director forces viewers to see the long and painful process. Nick’s screams are one thing, but the body horror certainly makes you want to look away. It’s a ghastly series of visuals that makes any other cowboy movie look tame.

#33: Father Damien Karras

“The Exorcist” (1973)

While trying to exorcise a demon, Father Lankester Merrin and Father Damien Karras must dive deep to save Regan MacNeil. The older priest suffers a heart attack and leaves his younger partner alone with the possessed girl. Karras then grapples with the villain, pleading with the antagonist in one final confrontation. The weight of the entire plot hinges on this compelling and vicious fight. As the religious man gets taken over, he makes his last sentient choice to launch out of a window. It’s a harrowing drop that shows how far he’s prepared to go to save MacNeil. For this classic horror movie’s climax, audiences discover the brutal reality of an exorcism.

#32: The Elevator Massacre

“The Cabin in the Woods” (2011)

Discovering that they’re being watched, the heroes of “The Cabin in the Woods” enter the facility where a secret organization conducts their tests. Marty and Dana find themselves with no other option than to hit a shiny red button. With that simple act, the two let out a wide array of monsters, creatures, and other horror movie villains. The shocking climax features more blood than you might’ve imagined possible. As the antagonists explore the facility, they find more staff members to feast on with reckless abandon. This entire sequence could be considered the film’s most over-the-top moment if not for the very end.

#31: Gladys

“Weapons” (2025)

With her wig and clown makeup, Aunt Gladys became something of a sensation after her debut in “Weapons.” Her menacing plans unravel as amateur investigators discover her hiding place. After turning the tables on the villain, a group of kids turns Gladys into a target. The ensuing chase blends terror, dark humor, and extreme violence. Once the children knock down the antagonist, they don’t waste time tearing the evil woman apart. There are a few quick shots that push the limits of good taste. Finally receiving her comeuppance, the witch turns into a complete mess that’ll ruin your appetite.

#30: Tina

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)

In this scene, Tina makes one of the more common mistakes in horror films. She investigates something in her dream despite the possible dangers ahead. As the viewer, you’re probably thinking that she should go back inside and lock the door. The tension is palpable as you fear the worst. In a haunting image, Freddy appears with his signature blades. It’s even more frightening knowing that she can’t run away. In the real world, the character writhes around in bed before being slashed and bloodied. The shot of her going up the wall is even more horrifying. Once again, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” makes you worry about ever going to sleep again.

#29: Everyone in the Car

“The Mist” (2007)

Defying expectations, “The Mist” is a Stephen King adaptation that doesn’t mind giving you a bummer ending. While the survivors contemplate their future, they realize that their chances seem slim. They decide to make a bold choice to avoid the enemy creatures. It’s one thing for these characters to die this way, but the eventual reveal makes it all the more heartbreaking. A tense moment leads David to realize that he should’ve waited longer. Not only does the hero have to deal with his actions, he has to live on knowing that he made an irreversible mistake. Leaving the protagonist shattered, the conclusion asks deep questions before scaring the audience with real-world implications.

#28: Brandon“M3GAN” (2022)

Some bullies think they can get away with anything. In this case, Brandon doesn’t know what M3GAN’s reaction will be. The frightening doll grabs the kid’s ear before making him run. Stalking him through the trees, the robot causes Brandon to freak out and fall down a hill. He then ends up in the way of an oncoming car. It’s a sudden and disturbing scene that reminds you of the enemy’s true power. Even with everything he’d done to Cady, his death still feels a bit cruel. It also comes with the perpetual fears of large vehicles and homicidal machines.

#27: Seth Brundle

“The Fly” (1986)

In this remake, filmmaker David Cronenberg goes the extra mile to show you what a human fly could be. The hero Seth Brundle becomes crossed with an insect and suffers the consequences. His deformed self crumbles until it’s hard to watch. Not only is he creepy on his own, he also receives a brutal send-off. The only person who understands him ends up putting him down. Armed with a gun, she does so knowing that things won’t get any better for the scientist. It’s a multi-layered and grisly scene that makes you wonder what you’d do in the same situation. With unbelievable makeup, this movie goes to extreme lengths to show you scary images.

#26: The Elders

“Midsommar” (2019)

Even in the daylight, Ari Aster proves that he can make a scary movie. The main crew visits a Swedish commune where odd rituals take a violent turn. Jumping from a cliff, the village elders put their bodies on the line for tradition. It’s a shocking moment that foreshadows the rest of the trip. Not only do they fall from great heights, they can be finished off by other means too. It’s a distressing and harrowing surprise that makes you anxious for the rest of the film. If you don’t like heights, this scene will be even worse for you.

#25: Neil Howie

“The Wicker Man” (1973)

Through many twists and turns, Sergeant Neil Howie finds himself the victim of a pagan cult. They end up trapping him and putting him inside the titular structure. Having been rendered helpless, the hero can only suffer as he’s burned alive. It’s a distressing scene that depicts a cruel punishment. Not only that, the slow-burning fire takes its time before consuming the structure. We can’t imagine that there are many worse ways to go out. It’s even worse knowing that the locals think highly of the ceremony. With the witnesses celebrating, this decidedly evil death comes with some powerful imagery.

#24: Keith“Barbarian” (2022)

Underneath an Airbnb, Keith disappears into the maze-like basement. He then re-emerges after Tess finds him in a tunnel. While he might be safe for a moment, the main villain has other plans. Only a small amount of light picks up the horror behind the two characters. Ready to take charge, The Mother grabs the man’s head and slams it in gruesome fashion. This only makes the audience more unsettled in a cramped and darkened space. With so many mysteries left unsolved, this twist might be too much for some people to watch. This all leads to a cliffhanger, leaving you into a state of abject terror.

#23: The Guards

“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)

Waiting for the perfect moment, Hannibal Lecter outsmarts his prison guards. He subdues both of them in a particularly violent way. One gets handcuffed while the villain bites the other’s face. Lecter relishes in the kill, throwing a baton around like he’s conducting an orchestra. The result brings about one of the film’s better twists. Outsmarting the authorities, the evil doctor escapes their clutches by taking a new face as a disguise. Both disfigured bodies are left behind while the wanted man rides away in an ambulance. Not only is his breakout full of gross surprises, the murderer rides off to terrify more people.

#22: Passengers

“Ghost Ship” (2002)

At the start of this horror film, ship passengers enjoy music and dancing. This all changes when someone decides to adjust a metal cable. When the equipment breaks, it slices through the dance floor. It’s a disgusting and bizarre image, leaving viewers stunned as they see the carnage. You might have to look away once you realize the movie doesn’t hold back. It’s such an awful way to die, but it also happens so quickly. Without much time to react, the victims suffer a terrible death at the hands of a razor-sharp obstacle. You might think twice about ever dancing on an ocean liner after this one.

#21: Dick Hallorrann

“The Shining” (1980)

When things go wrong at the Overlook Hotel, Dick Hallorann returns to investigate. The audience likely wants him to turn around and avoid the chaos. With Jack Torrance loose in the building, you worry for Hallorann as he walks into a trap. The character walks down a hallway before an intense jump scare. Torrance throws out his axe, taking care of the innocent man with a swift blow. The slow-burn movie builds to a scary moment before taking care of another victim. Frightening in every sense, this eerie scene from “The Shining” lingers long after it’s over.

#20: Jupe & the Spectators

“Nope” (2022)

Jordan Peele’s third horror film contains his scariest death sequence yet, and that’s saying something. Jupe runs a theme park called Jupiter’s Claim, and he hopes to exploit the alien for profit and fame. He puts on a show for dozens of visitors, who all hope to catch a glimpse of the predator. Well, they get a far more personal glimpse than they were expecting. The alien swoops down and devours everyone, and they are slowly digested alive. The sequence is horrendous, utilizing realistic screams of panic and claustrophobic cinematography to its advantage. Their remains are then poured over the Haywood house. It’s an unforgettable visual ripped straight from a nightmare.

#19: The Nurse

“The Exorcist III” (1990)

Coming nearly twenty years after the original, “The Exorcist III” is a worthy follow-up with one doozy of a jump scare. In the movie’s most famous sequence, viewers watch a nurse do her rounds in a hospital. It’s a very domestic scene, and it lulls audiences into a false sense of peace and security. About the time we ask ourselves, “Why are we watching this?” a cloaked figure appears from a locked door and chases the nurse off-screen. It’s a brilliantly staged scene, featuring a static camera and nearly a minute of silence before it suddenly zooms in with an awful screech. The contrast is pulled off amazingly well and is sure to give viewers a chilling jolt of adrenaline.

#18: Glen Lantz

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)

Johnny Depp made one heck of a movie debut, and he went out in a geyser of blood. Depp plays Glen Lantz, the boyfriend of protagonist Nancy Thompson. Glen falls asleep watching TV and becomes another victim of Freddy Krueger, who warps reality itself and pulls Glen into his own bed. What happens next we can’t show here, but it sure leaves one heck of a mess. The image of the blood geyser is unforgettable and one of the most iconic in horror movie history. But what makes this death scene work so well is that it leaves a lot to the imagination. Where was Glen taken? What did Freddy do to generate that obscene amount of blood? Maybe it’s best that we don’t know.

#17: Tim Young

“Saw III” (2006)

It’s really saying something that, in the dozens of gruesome deaths that this series is known for, this is the one that has us turning our heads in disgust. Timothy Young hit and killed Dylan while driving drunk and was targeted by Jigsaw in response. He’s placed in the Rack, a malicious device that slowly twists his limbs. Actor Mpho Koaho does a fantastic job conveying the unimaginable pain that Timothy is going through, and those snapping sounds are enough to make anyone wince. Fantastic acting mixes with vulgar sound design and a depraved imagination to create one of the scariest horror movie deaths of all time.

#16: Beth O’Brien

“The Descent” (2005)

This claustrophobic horror movie from Neil Marshall concerns Sarah Carter, a woman mourning the loss of her husband and daughter. To help get her mind off the tragedy, Sarah goes spelunking with her friends, including Beth O’Brien. The group is accosted by a band of bloodthirsty creatures inside the cave, and when Beth accidentally scares Juno, she’s struck in the neck with a pickaxe. Juno flees in a panic, but the grievously injured Beth is later found by Sarah, who euthanizes her with a rock. It’s an extremely difficult scene to watch, with Beth bloody and weakened and begging Sarah to end her life. Both the performances and the makeup are top notch, conveying a palpable sense of panic.

#15: Jack Goodman“An American Werewolf in London” (1981)

Who knew that John Landis of “Animal House” could direct one of the scariest movies of the ‘80s? “An American Werewolf in London” starts with Jack and David being hunted on the Yorkshire moors. After a false jump scare gets the audience on edge, Jack is attacked and brutally mauled by the werewolf. What makes this scene so horrifying is its realism. Jack’s blood-curdling screams are full of convincing pain and fear, and his body is completely torn to shreds, leaving his corpse a bloody mess. The scene plays on our primal fears of large and dangerous creatures, and it is arguably one of the scariest animal attack scenes, supernatural or otherwise, in movie history.

#14: The Highway Pileup

“Final Destination 2” (2003)

An entire generation of people grew up fearing logging trucks, and it’s all thanks to this movie. Each “Final Destination” begins with a scene of carnage, and this one involves a highway pileup. A large log falls off the truck and slams into a police car, killing state trooper Thomas Burke instantly. All hell then breaks loose, with people getting crushed by motorcycles, run over by transport trucks, and blown up in cinematic explosions. What makes this scene work so well are not the gruesome visuals (although those certainly help), but the relative realism. This scene is just exaggerating a very real fear into cinematic language.

#13: Frank Cotton

“Hellraiser” (1987)

With a title like “Hellraiser,” you know you’re getting into some pretty gnarly territory. We just didn’t initially know how gnarly. Frank Cotton is a hedonist who meets his end at the hands of the Cenobites. They attack him with chains, all of which pierce themselves into his skin and… well, it’s not pretty, let’s just say that. Props have to be given to the makeup department here. The visuals of Frank’s demise are absolutely grotesque, and they’re not ones to leave the mind any time soon. In fact, this death scene is an all-time horror classic, known far and wide for its terrible brutality.

#12: Katie Embry

“The Ring” (2002)

Crafting a memorable opening scene is an art form, and “The Ring” has one of the all time best. It follows Katie and Becca, two teenage girls who gossip about a spooky urban legend. Turns out, it’s not such a legend after all. Katie’s already watched the tape and is subsequently killed by an unseen force. The entire scene is a masterful bit of tension-building. We, along with the characters, slowly begin to realize that the legend is real and that these girls are in incredible danger. And by keeping the death off-screen, it allows our wicked imaginations to flourish. That is, until we see the aftermath in a jump scare edit for the ages.

#11: Keith Jennings

“The Omen” (1976)

It doesn’t get any better than ‘70s horror. Not only were these films constantly breaking new ground, but they also still hold up incredibly well to this day. While attempting to retrieve a pair of discarded daggers, Keith is decapitated by a pane of glass, and his head spirals in the air before landing by his feet. The suddenness of the death, the gore, and the eerie music combine to make this one of the most memorable death scenes in cinema. At the time, this was one of the most violent things ever seen in a mainstream Hollywood film, and it helped pave the way for a wider acceptance of violence and gore.

#10: Casey Becker

“Scream” (1996)

“Scream” helped revitalize the slasher, and this scene in particular was a major reason for the renewed interest. The opening of the movie famously sees Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker taunted by a mysterious and creepy caller. The calls begin rather playfully before spiraling into depravity and horror as Casey’s boyfriend is murdered and Casey becomes the subject of malicious taunts. She is then stabbed to death and hung from a tree for her parents to see. The progression of the phone calls, the sense of isolation and hopelessness that the scene conveys, and the violence of the murder all combine to create one of the most memorable opening sequences in horror movie history.

#9: Kirk

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

Casey’s death might have reinvigorated the slasher genre, but Kirk’s death arguably started it. After entering a creepy house, Kirk is suddenly taken out by Leatherface in one of the most surprising and scariest deaths in horror. Leatherface scares both Kirk and the audience by coming out of nowhere, and the sheer brutality of the hit and Kirk’s twitching body leaves you reeling. The scene ends with Leatherface slamming the door, serving as an ominous exclamation point to the horror we just witnessed. It’s both shocking and shockingly realistic, and it helped set the grim and violent tone for one of the most controversial movies ever made.

#8: Dr. Copper

“The Thing” (1982)

While underappreciated in its day, “The Thing” is now rightfully regarded as a classic. And it’s all thanks to astonishingly creative scenes like this. Copper is the resident doctor, and it’s up to him to treat the dying Norris. Unfortunately for him, Norris has recently been assimilated by the Thing. During the medical procedure, Norris’s stomach suddenly opens up, becomes a giant mouth with sharp teeth, and chomps down on Copper’s arms. Copper quickly dies of blood loss, and the other characters, not to mention the viewers, are left in a completely flabbergasted state of mind. When it comes to the greatest scenes in horror cinema, it’s hard not to think about the man-eating stomach.

#7: Charlie Graham

“Hereditary” (2018)

Ari Aster’s film gets a lot of love within the horror community, both for its frightening bits of horror and its heavy themes regarding depression and grief. Both are encapsulated in the death of Charlie Graham. Charlie goes into anaphylactic shock and leans her head out the car window to get some air, only to slam into a telephone pole. The shocking death is completely unexpected, and the reactionary performance from Alex Wolff is nothing short of superb. As if watching him in denial isn’t painful enough, viewers are then treated to the unspeakable aftermath and the pained shrieks of Charlie’s grieving mother. It’s one of the most memorable death scenes of the modern era thanks to some stellar acting and creative editing.

#6: Judith Meyers

“Halloween” (1978)

In this scene, we watch from the perspective of an unknown assailant as he stalks two teenagers from outside the house. We are then forced to witness the brutal murder of the woman through the eyes of her killer, making us feel complicit in her death, almost as if we are the ones carrying out this horrible display of violence. The movie then goes in a completely unexpected direction when the killer is revealed to be the six-year-old brother of the victim. The shot of the emotionless Michael standing amidst his shocked and horrified parents is now an iconic piece of horror imagery. It showed us that psychopaths can be anywhere and be anyone.

#5: Georgie Denbrough

“It” (2017)

Now THIS is how you open a horror movie. While this scene was one of the miniseries’ most famous, the 2017 film turned the horror up to eleven. Pennywise is made much more animalistic, as he gleefully toys with Georgie, staring at him with violent hunger in his eyes and drool on his chin. It’s immediately clear that something isn’t right (you know, aside from there being a clown in the sewer). And then... he proceeds to bite Georgie’s arm off and drag him into the sewer as the young boy attempts to crawl away, crying for help, sans arm. It’s a terrific (and terrifying) establishment of the brutality of Pennywise.

#4: Heather

“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that this film has one stunner of an ending. Heather and Mike are separated while investigating a creepy-as-all-hell house in the middle of the woods. Heather eventually finds Mike facing a wall before she is attacked from behind by an unseen force. The events leading up to the death are scary enough, like the abandoned house and Josh’s far-off cries, but it’s the images of Mike in the corner and Heather dropping the camera that really stick in the mind. It’s a bleak ending, and its refusal to answer questions makes it all the more unsettling. It leaves you and your imagination to fill in the blanks.

#3: Chrissie Watkins

“Jaws” (1975)

Chrissie’s death is arguably the best opening scene in horror movie history. Susan Backlinie’s acting is simply superb, as she successfully sells every last scream, gasp, and plead. Spielberg also made a fantastic decision in never showing us the shark – we watch in sheer horror as this woman is dragged around by an unseen entity, again, allowing our imaginations to run wild. The scene also ends on a spectacular note, as the horrifying music abruptly ends as Chrissie is dragged under mid-scream, leaving us with the seemingly peaceful and calming sounds of the ocean. We knew better though, and it made us never want to go swimming again.

#2: Marion Crane

“Psycho” (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock certainly knew how to craft a scene. Marion’s death is perhaps the most famous death scene in movie history, and it helped to usher in a new era of violence in cinema. The violence was unlike anything seen in film at the time, and the piercing music and frantic editing maximize the effectiveness of the horror. It bombards the viewer from every sense and angle, and it makes us feel as if we are being attacked ourselves. While “Halloween” put us in the mind of a killer, “Psycho” puts us in the mind of the killed. And it’s one of the most horrifying things you could possibly imagine.

#1: Kane

“Alien” (1979)

And with this one scene, sci-fi horror was changed forever. In it, Kane “gives birth” to an alien, and it’s one of cinema’s most disgusting and scariest moments. The way the scene progresses from jovial dinner to unimaginable nightmare is genius, and the effects of the alien bursting out of John Hurt’s chest are still effectively revolting today. The fast-paced editing and genuine shock of the actors help place us in the surreal moment while the practical effects make it feel oh so very real. It is now rightfully regarded as one of the most memorable movie scenes of all time, and arguably the scariest.

Did we forget one of your favorite demises in horror history? Let us know in the comments below.