21 Absolutely Perfect Horror Movie Shots That Will Never Not Take My Breath Away

    If I could make every single one of these my screensaver, I would.

    Lauren Garafano
    by Lauren Garafano

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked the BuzzFeed Community which shots from horror movies are the most perfect they've ever seen. Here's what they said:

    Note: Some images include blood and gore. 

    1. The flaming cage, Halloween (2018):

    Michael Myers stands inside a cage as the room around him goes up in flames
    Universal

    —aneggonmylegg

    2. The fall from the window, Antichrist (2009):

    A small toddler appears to be floating as he falls out of a window, holding a bear in his left hand
    Nordisk Film Distribution

    "The mixture of the beautiful black-and-white slow motion with the horrific subject matter is like nothing I've ever seen."

    —grannyshirt

    3. Sandie's rainbow glow, Last Night in Soho (2021):

    Anya Taylor Joy stares into the camera ominously as a multicolored light glows on her face
    Focus Features

    —Lauren Garafano

    4. Pam's walk, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974):

    Pam is shown with her back to the camera, and she is topless and wearing only a pair of red denim shorts as she walks toward a big house with trees in the front yard
    Bryanston Distributing Co.

    "The low angle shot of Pam walking toward the house in Texas Chainsaw Massacre is absolutely iconic!"

    —Grav3y

    5. Water aerobics, A Cure for Wellness (2016):

    A group of people stand in a pool holding multicolored beach balls as they do water aerobics led by two teachers in front
    20th Century Fox

    "A Cure for Wellness is stunning, from the colors to the set architecture to the choreographed people swimming laps and doing water aerobics with colorful balls. It’s a super-underrated movie but has absolutely terrified everyone I’ve recommended it to."

    —meghang44f1a00d1

    6. The rise from the water, The Nun (2018):

    A dimly lit creepy nun rises out of the water
    buzzfeed.com

    "The use of light in this shot makes the whole thing quite serene."

     —homersdonut

    7. The grill fire, Final Destination 2 (2003):

    A group of people all sit around a table eating at a picnic, and in the middle of the shot, there is a sudden fire explosion where the grill was
    New Line Cinema

    "It was totally unexpected!"

    —kermitvtech

    8. The fall, Get Out (2017):

    Chris falls backward and is shown floating in midair as he falls seemingly to his death
    Universal

    —scottr45c22fee7

    9. The floating Fanning, The Neon Demon (2016):

    Elle Fanning's character floats in the air in the middle of the woods
    Amazon Studios

    —laureng4a026dda5

    10. The crucifix, Mandy (2018):

    Nicolas Cage stands in a bright red room next to a cross set on a pedestal
    RLJE Films

    "It's an experience wrapped in a movie." 

    —grannyshirt

    11. Move-in day, The Conjuring (2013):

    A moving truck sits beside a house as the family moves in their stuff; two men carry in a couch
    Warner Bros.

    "It’s amazing!"

    —kenneddie

    12. The blood splatter, High Tension (2003):

    Two closet doors are shut and blood is splattered on the front of them
    Lions Gate

    —Nora Dominick

    13. The priest's silhouette, The Exorcist (1973):

    A priest stands in the dark outside a house; he's lit by a streetlight next to him and the glow coming from the bedroom window
    Warner Bros.

    —Jen Abidor

    14. The sneak-attack shot, Halloween (1978):

    Laurie is resting by the dark doorway and Michael Myers' mask slowly comes into view
    Compass International Pictures

    "When Laurie is resting by a darkened doorway and you slowly see Michael Myers' iconic mask come into view. The fear on Laurie's face contrasting with Michael's emotionless mask is quite breathtaking."

    —austinn4d0f87c37

    15. The explosion, Scanners (1981):

    Warning This image is graphic Tap to reveal Click to reveal
    A man is wearing a suit and his head explodes; there is blood and gore everywhere as it flies around
    Manson International

    —Spencer Althouse

    16. The lake, It Chapter 2 (2019):

    The cast sits in a dirty lake to clean themselves off and Richie begins to cry; then they all hug him
    Warner Bros.

    "There is barely any dialogue once they see Richie break down; the others just swim over to him and hold him."

    —nicolel49f9bfac8

    17. The fiery aftermath, Carrie (1976):

    Carrie stands onstage covered in blood as everything around her is engulfed in flames
    United Artists

    "Sissy Spacek descending the stairs, covered in blood and surrounded by flames."

    —Bari Dershowitz, Facebook

    18. The running backpacker, Wolf Creek (2005):

    A lone woman runs barefoot and covered in blood on an empty road in the middle of nowhere
    TWC

    —Taylor Owens

    19. The mutating hands, The Thing (1982):

    Bennings is sitting in the snow, and he begins to yell as his hands turn red, bloody, and very long and deformed
    Universal

    "That shot was so dreadfully beautiful."

    —melnanwil

    20. The bathroom shot, The Shining (1980):

    A hideous green bathroom with the bathtub in the center; the shower curtain begins to eerily move and shows a naked young woman sitting in the tub
    Warner Bros.

    "The setting is innocent enough — but that lingering shot, the abrasive colors, and the harsh lighting all let you know that there's nothing good behind that shower curtain."

    —cbm18

    21. And finally, the burning bear, Midsommar (2019):

    Christian sits paralyzed dressed in a bear costume as the temple around him goes up in flames; there are also other burning victims in the background
    A24

    "I could pick any given shot in this movie because the cinematography is stunning — and I know a lot of people love the final shot — but the shot of the temple with Christian inside burning is so stunning and creepy and eerily beautiful."

    —em1231

    Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

    Now tell me in the comments: What's YOUR favorite single shot from a horror movie?