Thursday Thirteen: Favorite Scary Movies

I scare very easily.

Ask anybody in my family and they'll tell you I'm the biggest chicken they know. But, despite my inability to not cover my face while watching a horror film, I'm headed out to the video store to get some scary movies for tomorrow night's Halloween festivities. I want to get "Something Wicked This Way Comes" but I have a feeling that might be too scary for my boys.

Anyway, since it's time for a little Thursday Thirteen action, here's some of my favorite scary movies, in no particular order:

Thirteen Favorite Scary Movies

1) Fright Night - Chris Sarandon made an incredible vampire in 1985's Fright Night. I grew up in a neighborhood with old houses and I was convinced most of them were haunted. Plus, there were always some weirdos living in the house on our right, so the premise of a vampire living next door was not all that far fetched. I even think I bit my brother's arm in the theater because I was so scared. Fright Night gets extra cool points because it has Roddy McDowell as a local scary movie host. He totally reminded me of Chicagoland's Son of Svengoolie.2) The Others: This 2001 film starring Nicole Kidman scared me/stressed me out so much that it gave me a headache. Nicole plays this woman who lives on the Isle of Jersey with her two children at the end of World War II. And then spooky things start to happen... which caused me to run out of the room a couple of times. It's got an eerie twist that you'll definitely love.3) Shadow of the Vampire: This year 2000 take on the making of the vampire film Nosferatu stars one of my favorite actors, John Malkovich, as well as esteemed actor Willem Dafoe. The whole premise is that the actor playing Nosferatu is not really an actor. Who is he? You'll have to watch to find out. I bought the DVD because it's such a good film, but I have never watched it. Parts of it scare me too much.

4) Horror of Dracula: I watched a lot of Hammer Productions horror films growing up. The very first Dracula film, 1958's Horror of Dracula, starring Peter Cushing and Christoper Lee really scared me as a child. No, I wasn't alive in 1958 but scary movies were on WFLD every Saturday night during the aforementioned Son of Svengoolie show. I'm not sure if this film would scare me now, but it definitely did back then.

5) Sleepy Hollow: I've probably seen this Tim Burton directed take on Washington Irving's classic story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" a dozen times since it's 1999 release. Christopher Walken is the Headless Horseman and the delicious Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane.

6) House of Usher: I've heard that when I was a little girl I met Vincent Price. I don't remember it but I love him in this 1960 film. In this version of the classic Poe story, "The Fall of the House of Usher", Price is absolutely frightening as Roderick Usher. Some of it is a little cheesy, but it's still scary.7) Poltergeist: After seeing this 1982 film, I was totally afraid to turn on the TV. I remember thinking something was going to snatch me through it. I know I'm not the only one who thought this because my husband just told me he always thought the same thing. Is that why we're married?8) The Evil Dead: My mom rented this 1981 cult horror classic back when I was in high school. I remember how in the first five minutes some college kids happen upon a cabin in the woods, and while they're standing outside knocking on the door, the porch swing moves and slams itself up against the side of the house. With that, even though nothing else had happened, I was done. I was so scared that I went upstairs to my room to read Jane Eyre. Yep, I left my mom all by herself. I heard her screaming though and that was enough for me.

8.1) The Grudge: Maybe I shouldn't count "Evil Dead" since I haven't really seen it. So, I'll put "The Grudge" in as number eight instead. My sister made me watch this 2004 film and I was scared for about three months afterwards. I'd jump at shadows, constantly convinced that something was going to emerge from them. Actually, I still get scared when I think about this movie. I won't be watching the Japanese original anytime soon.

9) The Exorcist: Who wasn't scared by this 1973 horror film? Seriously, seeing Linda Blair's head spin around was just the tip of the iceberg with this one. I'll bet this movie single-handedly made projectile vomiting and ouija boards go out of style.
10) Curse of the Demon: This 1957 British horror flick is one of my mom's favorites and it's quickly become one of my favorites too. Imagine if someone gives you a piece of paper with some writing on it. No problem, right? Well, except that it means you're going to be killed within three days by a demon, unless you can reverse the hex by giving the paper back to the person who gave it to you first. No blood or gore but it's really good!
11) From Hell: This 2001 take on the Jack the Ripper story is another film where I spent a lot of time covering my eyes. Even though it's got some delicious eye candy in the form of my favorite, Johnny Depp, it definitely has super scary and suspenseful moments! It's also a bit bloody at times, but what do you expect from a Jack the Ripper story?
12) Salem's Lot: Ok, technically it's not a "film" because it's a TV mini-series. BUT, this version of the classic Stephen King book of the same name scared the pants off me. I was terrified by the scene of the vampire boy scratching at the second-story window of his friend. Not that I thought somebody would be scratching at my window, but, again, when you grow up in an old, spooky house, you never know.

13) The Ninth Gate: I don't quite understand the ending, but this movie still really scared me. Johnny Depp (yes, I know...I'm a fan) stars as a rare book dealer hired by Frank Langella to determine the authenticity of a book called the Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows. But before you know it, my favorite scary film hottie gets in over his head with some devil worshipers and, quite possibly, goes over to the dark side himself.

So that's my 13 Favorite Scary Movies. I need to head to the video store now. What about you? What's your favorite scary movie?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants