Scary movies stay with you long after you watch them — and the effects are exponentially worse if you were under the age of 15 on first viewing. We asked around the office which movie scared the bejeezus out of them, and here’s what they had to say.
The Ring
It took me like 45 minutes to work up to the courage to leave the mall and walk to the car after the show. Oh, how I miss Toonie Tuesdays at Circle Centre Mall on 8th!
-Caitlin
The Ring
I second The Ring. SO SCARY. Could not pick up the phone for weeks or look at the blank tv screen. Also, The Grudge. The elevator scene when you see the grudge in the window I’m still scared to go in elevators by myself
I haven’t seen yet, (because I’m a baby) but I heard Conjuring is really scary.
-Ruth
The Shining
Mine is The Shining. It was on TV the day we moved into what was basically a haunted mansion. When I closed my eyes to go to bed Jack Nicholson and my dad morphed into the same person, and he was OUT TO GET ME! A close second is When a Stranger Calls. The thought of someone calling my babysitter and saying “Have you checked the children” — especially in what I now deem a deeply paranoid ’80s — really threw me for a loop.
-Ricky
The Exorcist
I was probably around 8 years old — my dad left me at home alone and I thought it was a good idea to watch. I waited up for my dad only imagining his head would spin around and head projectile green slime.
-Elysia
The Lost Boys
The Lost Boys! Everything Keifer Sutherland! He’s seriously the most terrifying vampire to date IMO.
-Heather
The Amityville Horror
The Amityville Horror really got to me because I always had a sneaking suspicion that the house I grew up in could be haunted ( the house was over 100 years old in New Brunswick). Also, The Sixth Sense because I was terrified that I would somehow start seeing dead people. The scene where he gets locked in the closet still freaks me out.
-Danielle
The Ring and Silence of the Lambs
Mine was also The Ring. By far the scariest movie I saw as a kid. Second to that, I would say Silence of the Lambs. My brother put me off it for the longest time because he would corner me and repeat “Clarice” in that creepy way Hannibal Lector does in the movie.
Other potentials for the list: The original Saw was also very well done! The twist at the end was one of the best ever. Also, the first Hostel movie was so scary. I woke up that night to my best friend sleepwalking, rummaging in the dark trying to get out of the bedroom because she thought we were being taken.
-Caitie
Child’s Play
Chuckie … because killer stuffed babies are frightening as hell!
-Sarah
Darkness Falls
[Editor’s note: Darkness Falls didn’t have a GIF]Darkness Falls. Embarrassed to say that now because I just googled it and it got 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, butttttt I saw it when I was younger and don’t think I slept well for months after that.
-Callandre
Are the trick-or-treaters knocking at the door and you’re totally unprepared? Check out our Procrastinator’s Guide to Halloween and get some terrifying tips.
