We have a winner: "Halloween" (Slasher division)

russellplaysguitar from B-Burg - October 31, 2009 at 3:13 AM

The Exorcist

Steverino from Finneytown - October 29, 2009 at 11:18 AM

"Carnival of Souls" (original 1962 version) is a black & white, low-budget, "b" movie classic. Scared me as a kid and still gives me goosebumps as an adult. Anyone out there know this flick?

Drinky_McGee from Indianapolis - October 26, 2009 at 11:36 AM

My most terrifying cinematic experience was when I was forced to see Weekend At Bernie's II. I was in the theater with a group of hipsters who thought going to see the film would be ironic. I suppose it was amusing for the first 30 seconds, but after that the joke was on us. The horror . . . the horror.

ludlow from Northside - October 20, 2009 at 5:34 PM

why would someone put the lede for this story (with an iconic image of someone in a shower with a knife) next to the ryan widmer court update? it doesn't seem right to me, but i guess no one else noticed

Andis from Plantation - October 19, 2009 at 9:15 AM

Being a scary movie fanatic I think Halloween and the Shining (out of this group) are the scariest movies. Michael Meyers is the best especially the first Halloween . The Shining with the" little girls" in the hallway saying, "Danny come play with us" is just creepy and the bathroom scene was really" edge of sea" scary. The Sixth Sense was good too especially the jaw dropping end. I usually catch those things but this got past me. It was one of those movies you wanted to see again to see what you had missed.

richare33 from Dowtown - October 16, 2009 at 3:11 PM

If we are talking "scary" and not gorey, sci-fi, or classic in that they were "scary" in the era they were released, then we are missing a number of great movies like: Prince of Darkness, The Grudge, Pet Semetary, Amityville Horror, Phantasm, and The Ring just to name a few. It's the "jump" factor..

Skeptic667 from Palomino Valley - October 14, 2009 at 1:54 PM

I can't believe "Halloween" is pitted against "Silence of the Lambs." Both are classics but "Silence" is not a true horror film so it's unfair, especially since "Silence" is the better film but "Halloween" is the better horror film. Glad to see "Let the Right One In" was part of the early voting, and loved the photos. Next time, add a horror comedy category for films like "Shaun of the Dead" and "An American Werewolf in London."

KeiannaRae from downtown - October 14, 2009 at 8:09 AM

I cannot believe I even clicked through this piece because I am such a CHICKEN! There are only two things on earth I'm afraid of and one of them is CLOWNS. Imagine my surprise and disdain when I clicked on Metromix only to see the reason behind my fear - IT! Jeezus! Are y'all tryna KILL me? The Exorcist is hands down THEE scariest movie - ever. Projectile vomiting?!?! Head rotation?!?! True story?!?! Umm, yeah, no... I've never been the same since I watched it.

FelixDG from WAY north - October 14, 2009 at 7:35 AM

Seven, followed closely by Silence of the Lambs. The reasoning? Contrary to great white sharks, burnt guys with knife-blade hands, and possessed adolescen girls, the scenarios in these two particular films are actually plausible, leading my mind to wonder when, not if, such scenarios might actually occur (sound ominous music here).

Horror101 from Koreatown - October 13, 2009 at 9:37 PM

This is such a sad pathetic list,probably made by teens who spent zero time to research Horror Films.

mala8834 from St. Louis - October 13, 2009 at 10:13 AM

One of my most favorite horror movies was done some time circa the 1950's. I remember kids yelling and screaming during parts of the movie. The movie was "Not of This Earth." I also remember after that after the movie, I was walking home through the woods with two other guys. It was very dark and we kept looking up into the trees for the monster that would give anyone the "heebie jeebies." The movie was done in black and white which made the movie even more scary.

DCJan from Tenleytown - October 12, 2009 at 10:16 PM

How about Nosterafu... silently creeping, shadows, shadows, and shadows! Still makes me cringe whnever I'm walking along dark alleys or in dimly lit garages. And what about House of Whipcord.? What differs between modern-day horror films and the creepy horror tales of way back when, is that the old films offer prolonged and intense emotional build up of creepiness and chills through the play of lighting and shadows with evil characters looking physically normal, but so mentally warped, while modern-day horror films merely tests the audience's reflex action, and their horrifying villains hugely and over made up, looking no different from the many we see dressed for Halloween, and of course, scenes of spluttered blood and an exhibit of unimaginable weapons for the kill. .

gailgannon from 32901 - October 12, 2009 at 10:10 PM

It was adapted from the Shirley Jackson novel, "The Haunting of Hill House." The remake was a cheap horror of its own.

gailgannon from 32901 - October 12, 2009 at 10:07 PM

Have you forgotten the original, all-time scariest? The original "The Haunting"!

thesource from Melbourne - October 12, 2009 at 7:26 PM

Who in the world picked these 13 to chose from? They're not even worth the effort. If you pick any of these as the "Best", it's the "Worst" poll I've ever seen!

RageofHades from Drake - October 12, 2009 at 6:35 PM

<=== I think "IT" should have been considered. How is "JAWS" not on this list(never has a movie affected peoples psyche like that movie has to this day)? One of my favorites is "28 Days Later"(Great cinematography). "Audition", "Nosferatu"... Of all the movies to pick. Final Destination makes the list? Really??

joeshearer from Noblesville - October 12, 2009 at 1:14 PM

This is hardly a definitive list. None of the Universal classics are represented, and these are all so mainstream it's not even funny. This should have been a full field of 64 films to count down from.

Horror101 from Koreatown - October 11, 2009 at 6:23 PM

Who decided to put the Final Destination on here??Such a poor use of judgment.That film is entirely not scary.I mean you have your typical movies that make the list.There are so many different ones that didn't make the list that should.It seems to be from the 60's up.Who ever made the list should have thrown these in too. 1. Night Of The Living Dead 2.Tenebre- 3.Phantom Of The Opera 4. Frankenstein

fberm from Farmington Hills - October 10, 2009 at 9:48 AM

One of my favorites that was left out is the original "Omen" directed by Richard Donner. It has one of the best film scores out there.

fberm from Farmington Hills - October 10, 2009 at 9:47 AM

Another movie left out is the original "Omen" directed by Richard Donner. It has one of the best music scores out there.

mcgtr from sofla - October 08, 2009 at 3:25 PM

night of the living dead (original) set the tone for all the others rhat followed

mandyw103 from Taylor Mill - October 07, 2009 at 8:05 AM

I have to say...I think the Exorcist is by far one of the scariest movies of all time. This list is good, but I woudl have included the Ring as one of the newer classics. It still sticks in my memory as being pretty creepy.

clews200 from ghetto - October 06, 2009 at 8:14 PM

Still the one. The Exorcist-1973.

clews200 from ghetto - October 06, 2009 at 8:13 PM

EXORCIST ALWAYS

nancee from Echo Park - October 06, 2009 at 3:52 PM

One of the creepiest movies ever: 'Throw Mama from the Train'

jhaas9690 from Cincinnati - October 06, 2009 at 3:17 PM

By far the scariest and creepiest film I ever saw was Children of the Corn. Not even an option above. What a shame.

jobbernot from forrest park - October 06, 2009 at 2:47 PM

Around 1950, "The Thing" played by James Arness( of "Gunsmoke) in his first movie role. "Jaws" ranks up near or at the top also. I'm anxious to see the other choices, as they may remind me of ones I forgot about.

hsdppres from Kenwood - October 06, 2009 at 12:21 PM

I think JAWS should be one of the choices. It would be my selection as the scariest ever. And right behind that, would be the original Last House on the Left.