Event Horizon. Nuh uh. Mmmm, nope. Nah.
I saw that as an adult and it fucked with me.
I watched that one when I was like 15 and it was the first horror movie that ever legitimately scared me lol
I came here just to say this but wasn’t expecting to see it at the top of the thread, I’d seen scary movies before but holy hell this one chilled me to my core and even as an adult I still squinted when I watched it
It’s a seriously disturbing movie. What made it worse for me is that I didn’t even know it was horror. I’m big on sci fi, and that’s what I thought it was. I was lulled in by the story but it gave nightmares…
I think that’s what got me too, I was expecting sci-fi and whilst I technically got it, I also got traumatised in the process lol. Credit where it’s due, it’s a fantastic movie because of the horrors I never imagined possible, but I watched it once more as an adult and that’s enough for me
You don’t need eyes to see!
I’m using “scare” a little loosely here, but I was waaaay to young to have seen clips of Alien when I did. It really fucked up to the point that I wasn’t able to sleep in pitch black into my adulthood. Nowadays, Alien is one of my favorite movies, specifically because it’s so scary, but I avoided horror movies like the plague at least up until high school
I can certainly watch that movie no problem now, and I wouldn’t say it scares me in the same way it did when I was little, but I wouldn’t love it as a horror movie if it wasn’t still one of the most frightening pieces of cinema
Alien might be the scariest movie of all time, IMO, so this makes perfect sense to me.
Alien was actually my first movie, although I was too young to remember. But I remember Aliens. That movie scared the shit out of me. I slept with the lights on for a long time. I still don’t like those movies.
Office Space. I could handle horror movies but that one instilled a fear of losing my life to the grind. I pretty much set up my whole career to avoid it. On the other hand, I’m in a pretty good place because of it. So I guess thanks, Mike Judge
Corporate Accounts Payable Nina speaking, just a moment! Corporate Accounts Payable Nina speaking, just a moment! Corporate Accounts Payable Nina speaking, just a moment! Corporate Accounts Payable Nina speaking, just a moment!
What career did you choose?
Animator. And I was freelance for most of that time, so didn’t have much to do with office bullshit and felt I’m control of my destiny. I switched gears to software engineering, and now I’m fully remote (since well before covid) and work mostly on things I like, and make my own schedule.
Programmer likely
Wrath of Kahn,
It was the first movie my mom dropped me off at at about 12nyears old. I’m sure she was grateful she didn’t have to go.
I was not ready for the earworms. Still gives me the heebie-jeebies.
When I read the thread title, that’s what I instantly thought of. I was about the same age and it was about the same situation, and I had the same reaction. And still do.
Ayy me too
The TOS Trek movies had some weird moments like that.
The transporter accident in the first movie is another weird tone mismatch
Gah! The worm scene is the WORST.
arachnaphobia
I instantly tensed when I saw your comment, that movie scarred me for life.
Not the entire movie, but this scene:
Oh man this scene haunted me when I was 8 or 9. A couple years ago I convinced my wife to watch this movie, and I eagerly waited to see her reaction to this scene. And when it finally happened, nothing. No reaction at all. I asked her, “wasn’t that scary?” And she replied, “That?! That was the worst costume I’ve ever seen.”
It was all the build up to that point. The fields, the dogs, the encounters where the characters never actually see them. The denial, trying to convince themselves it’s nothing. Animals, or prankster neighbors. Then in an instant, all their worst fears are true.
Your wife Shyamalaned you with that response.
What is this?
Looks like Signs to me.
Surprised nobody mentioned Jaws. My parents decided that it was ok for a four year old to watch.
I am still terrified of the sea.
Funny I had not seen the movie but went on the Jaws ride at Universal studios and freaked the fuck out as a child. It was the 80’s and I guess my parents didn’t realize it was too scary.
Same here. I was twice your age (8) when I saw it. Still don’t like being out of my depth in the sea - even the deep end of swimming pools gives me a bit of a shiver…
“The Thing” (1982)
I first saw this movie at the age of 13, in a very dark and creepy unfinished basement. It was terrifying.
Even after all these years, this movie still holds up very well to modern standards and stands out as one of the best sci-fi horror movies of all time. I just watched it again in October (my designated horror movie month) and it still never fails to make me uncomfortable and on edge while watching.
That one got under my skin. The original was creepy, but the 1982 version made me want to run screaming into the hills.
Ok so before I say the name I want to explain the story. I was 6 or 7 when my aunt and her friends brought it home and they were insistent I could not watch this movie but I snuck into the living room and eventually sat with my aunt. It took 1 scene to send me into such a panic I to this day can’t sleep for days after I willingly watch it. This movie warped my sense of horror and not a single movie has lived up to it. The movie is the exorcist from 1973 and the 1 scene was the bedroom scene where the bed starts moving and her body begins to change.
When I was 7, I caught a glimpse of this movie from the top of the stairs as my parents watched it in the living room below. It just happened to be the scene when she first twists her head around. It was the only time I’ve ever been paralyzed by fear and could only run to my room after the shock had passed.
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E.T.
I saw it when I was probably 4 or 5? I had recurring nightmares for YEARS. Like, well into my mid teens. I’m pretty sure I even had one or two as an adult. I’m recovered now and I’ve watched the movie without incident, but I don’t like it and I don’t really want to willingly watch it again.
Which part scared you? I think for me, the guys in biohazard suits and big plastic tubes creeped me out.
That’s a good question. If I’m honest I haven’t seen UT in probably 15 years.
I think it was the cornfield chasing parts? I also recall just being super creeped out by E.T. himself. The way he made sounds, the way his fingers move, etc.
The biohazard stuff you’re talking about scared me, but I think just the sounds E.T. was making, not the guys in suits specifically.
First jurassic park
My biggest fear is still being hunted by something
That god damn kitchen scene.
The librarian ghost in Ghostbusters is still pretty creepy, you guys.
I’m very tired and thought you said “libertarian ghost”. Lol. Jesus Christ on a motorbike that would be awkward…
Dooooo youuuu have a moment to talk about the ghost-andard?
“ghost-andard”?
Sounds like “gold standard,” best libertarian-ghost pun I could come up with, without too much effort.
Lol, not bad, not bad. I’m just stupid. xD
Nightmare on elm Street. That scene where he’s walking menacingly down alley, his arms stretching so long so his metal fingers scrapping along alley walls… terrifying.
Poltergeist.
It’s only been very recently that I’ve been able to watch that movie and then sleep with the lights off. It just hit at that right time when I was in middle school that it cemented in my mind for life.
I feel like the practical effects still hold up, and the acting definitely holds up from the entire family. Just seeing a mom that freaked out onscreen messed with me as a child.
Also, anyone who watches that now needs to understand the social and cultural context of the 70s and 80s. We had this new technology that could allow recording and sharing of video, but it was slow and low resolution. There was nothing like ubiquitous cell phone cameras of today. So there was this constant sense that maybe mysterious things were happening just beyond your ability to see and document them. Like having bad glasses in a foggy room.
The advent of cell phone cameras really washed away that sense, and made the world feel much more concrete and exposed. But back then, there was still a sense that something like Poltergeist might really be out there happening.
Poltergeist is a masterpiece of horror because of how well it’s filmed, acted, and how good the special effects are.
It’s one of my favorites and it still holds up as being scarier than 90% of what comes out these days.
I had a nightmare about that damn tree. Which made the Family Guy parody many years late somewhat cathartic. “You shall not pass!”
This was gonna be my answer. Watched it as a kid when my parents weren’t around. Finally got up the courage watch it as an adult. Yep, holds up really well.