29 Of The Scariest Horror Movies That Were Recommended To Me, A Person Too Afraid To Watch Horror Movies

Could someone please explain to me why we punish ourselves like this?

It's October, and that means it's the one month of the year when I, a person who does not do well with horror movies, am willing to watch at least one. To prepare for the 2023 session, I asked my friends and also the internet to share some of the scariest horror films they've seen. Here's the list; please enjoy.

1. Event Horizon (1997)

Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

My friend Eileen recommended this as the most terrifying she's seen, and she is a big horror fan. She also said that if you're not a horror film person, this may not be the best one to start with. It's that intense, she said. Something about a spaceship that ends up in hell.

2. Lights Out (2016)

Warner Bros. Entertainment / Via youtube.com

This feature-length film is a remake of the original three-minute horror short from 2013 by the same director, David F. Sandberg. The short is legitimately one of the most terrifying things I have seen (Eileen made me watch it), and I may have popped a tendon in my neck during the final second of it. You can watch the short here at your own risk!!!

3. Paranormal Activity (2007)

Paramount Pictures / Via youtu.be

Okay, so some people say this is a bit silly, others agree that it's silly but also say it's genre-defying, and others claim it's legitimately terrifying and one of the scariest films ever made. Either way, it sounds like something I don't want to watch but will if forced to, because it's October.

4. Hereditary (2018)

A24

This came up a couple of times in recommendations, and I've actually seen it. Fucking brilliant, if you ask me, and not just because I'm Australian and a big fan of Toni Collette and most movies that A24 releases. 

5. It Lives Inside (2023)

Neon / Via youtube.com

This film is from the producers of Jordan Peele's Get Out and stars Never Have I Ever's Megan Suri. It's about an Indian American high schooler and a pishach: a flesh-eating demon from Hindu mythology.

6. The Exorcist (1973)

Warner Bros. / Via youtu.be

Ah, yes. The first horror film I ever watched. Sixth grade; Michelle E.'s house; a sleepover. That was the day I decided that I did not have the constitution for horror movies. To be honest, I'm just putting this on the list because it's said to be the scariest horror film of all time.

7. The Thing (1982)

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

Starring Kurt Russell and Keith David, this grim movie is iconic for its special effects makeup. It's about a group of scientists in Antarctica who come across a terrifying "thing" that can take the shape of its victims and really wants to kill.

8. Ringu (1998)

Arrow Pictures / Via youtube.com

I've seen the 2002 remake starring Naomi Watts, but apparently, the Japanese original — from legendary horror filmmaker Hideo Nakata — is even scarier. 

9. The Babadook (2014)

Entertainment One

For years, people have been asking me as an Australian about this movie, and I've managed to make it to 2023 without seeing it, but that may all change soon. It's about a little boy and his preoccupation with a storybook character called Mister Babadook, who may or may not be haunting him and his mother.

10. It Follows (2014)

RADiUS-TWC

All I know of this one is that it was low budget but brilliant, and is about a woman being stalked by a ghost. May or may not watch.

11. The Shining (1980)

Warner Bros. / Via youtu.be

A classic Stanley Kubrick film based on the novel by horror royalty Stephen King. It's about a recovering alcoholic and writer, played by Jack Nicholson, who takes a job as a caretaker at a hotel during the offseason. It was supposedly based on King's experiences at an actual hotel in Colorado. 

12. Goodnight Mommy (2014)

Zero Media / Via youtube.com

This is another film in which Naomi Watts starred in the American remake, but I've heard the original Austrian film is brilliant. It's a psychological horror film about a mother of twin boys who returns from cosmetic facial surgery, fully masked and potentially not the same mother she was before she left.

13. Shawn of the Dead (2004)

StudioCanal / Via youtube.com

This is a horror comedy, which is more my speed. It's a light parody of classic zombie films, and a cult favorite, so I'm including it. Please direct all complaints to the comments box, and my editor will take them under consideration.

14. The Witch (2015)

A24

Apparently, we'll never look at goats the same way after watching this. Am I ready for goats to be ruined forever? Not sure. Let me know if you've seen it.

15. Apostle (2018)

Netflix

This one was recommended by someone in the BuzzFeed community:

"The film is brutal and scary in ways I’ve never experienced — one scene in particular made me audibly gag. I love horror movies, but I will never be able to watch this one again."

—paitay21

16. Scream (1996)

Dimenson Films

Seen it, but how could I not include the original Scream on this list? Terrifying stuff. I often think about Drew Barrymore when I'm making popcorn.

17. The Conjuring (2013)

Warner Bros. / Via youtube.com

Set in the late '60s and early '70s and supposedly based on true events, it follows the story of the Warrens, a married pair of "demonologists" who are investigating the presence of a supernatural being.

18. Annabelle (2014)

Warner Bros.

A spinoff of, and prequel to, The Conjuring (2013) that focuses on the demonic doll. Yikes. Why are dolls so scary? Could someone please explain this to me?

19. Mother! (2017)

Paramount Pictures / Everett Collection

Just going to leave this review here, as found on Rotten Tomatoes:

"The anxiety-prone should beware: this might be a rough watch. For everyone else: 'enjoy' the ride!"

—Trace Thurman, Horror Queers Podcast

20. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)

Madman Films / Via youtube.com

Before there was the Hollywood remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, there was the original Japanese horror classic. It's based on a legend about a cursed house, and the trailer is enough to make me never want to go into a house again.

21. Us (2019)

Universal Pictures

A psychological horror film about murderous doppelgängers, it's from Jordan Peele and followed his directorial debut, Get Out (2017), and preceded his sci-fi horror film, Nope (2022). All three I have seen, and all three I have loved. I guess sometimes I do love a horror film — what can I say?

22. México Bárbaro, aka Barbarous Mexico (2014)

MPI/Dark Sky Films

I have not seen this one, but it's an anthology horror film of eight shorts, each by a different Mexican horror film director, and is supposedly very, very good.

23. Terrifier (2016)

Dread Central Presents

As reviewed by a BuzzFeed reader:

"No exaggeration — it took me at least five tries to finish the whole movie."

—Lind3400

24. Insidious (2010)

FilmDistrict / Via youtube.com

The film that kicked off the horror franchise, it's about a couple whose young son falls comatose and who subsequently becomes a vessel for a variety of demons. I mean...no thanks. Not big on movies about kids being possessed by demons, as we've discussed.

25. Sinister (2012)

Lionsgate / Via youtube.com

Intense and disturbing, apparently. Ethan Hawke stars as a true crime writer who moves his family into a house where some awful things have happened, and then more awful things happen. Interestingly, Christopher Robert Cargill was inspired to write this film by a nightmare he had after watching The Ring.

26. Halloween (1978–2022)

Dimension Films / Via youtube.com

It started with the independent horror slasher film in 1978, and it's still going — they made a remake of the original last year. I haven't seen any of them, and the mask is somehow the most frightening thing I've ever seen, especially when kids wear it at Halloween.

27. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Vortex Inc. / Via youtube.com

One of those films whose title is so familiar, but whose details I haven't looked up because it sounds too terrifying. It's about murders and cannibals, and I guess it's set in Texas and involves power tools, and that's as far as I'm willing to go. I guess you could google it if you're interested. 

28. Alien (1979)

20th Century-Fox / Via youtube.com

Okay, I have seen this classic sci-fi horror film, and it was terrifying and disgusting, but I liked it a lot. The highlights were Sigourney Weaver and Jonesey, her spaceship cat. Fun fact: Jonesy was played by four different cat actors; he also has his own book adaptation, titled Jonesy: Nine Lives on the Nostromo.

29. And finally: Dear David (2023)

BuzzFeed Studios

It's a BuzzFeed Studios and Lionsgate film based on the absolutely terrifying saga of Adam Ellis and the child who haunted his apartment in Brooklyn. Now, whether it's all true or an invention of Ellis's genius imagination, we'll never know. But it was a riveting story that I couldn't unglue myself from, so I'll be putting aside all of my horror film disinclinations to watch it, finally.

Dear David is out now in theaters and on digital. Check out the trailer here:

BuzzFeed Studios / Via youtube.com

I know there must be some great horror films missing from this list, but there's only so much a weak and very afraid person can handle writing about. So, please, step inside the comments area and tell us your recommendations.

You want a few more? Here:

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