In honour of the father of modern horror, George A Romero, visiting our fine shores, we've complied a list of the top ten scariest movie moments of the past decade.
There is nothing quite like being scared out of your wits by a movie. The rapid heartbeat, panicky sweat and the elaborate attempts at shielding your eyes are part of the much loved experience for many members of the viewing audience. A good horror film gives you a couple of cheap scares with a jolt here or there. A great horror film has the potential to impact your very sense of reality by making you afraid of things you rationally know don’t exist, long after the movie has finished.
We can all agree on the scariest movie moments of all time, that’s too easy. Most lists would have to include the dining room scene from
Alien, the bedroom scene from
The Exorcist or the creepy final moments in
Nightmare on Elm Street. But what makes a modern horror classic?
We have compiled only the cream of the crop from the last ten years and most of these films are well on their way of becoming modern classics.
Readers beware - the following clips have spoilers, but will not ruin the film if you haven’t seen it. And in the words of Homer Simpson “I've been asked to tell you that the following show is very scary, with stuff that might give your kids nightmares. You see, there are some cry babies out there, religious types mostly, who might be offended. If you are one of them, I advise you to turn off your set now. Come on! I dare ya! Buwack buck buck buck buck buck buck buck Buwack buck buck buck. Chicken.”
10. Wolf Creek (2005) “Head on a stick”I’ve never been to the outback and after this I have no plans on going.
9. Cloverfield (2008) “Subway”The shaky camera, creepy night vision, blood curdling screams are by far the best and scariest moment in the film.
8. 30 Days of Night (2007) “Decapitation”Creepy mix of snow, isolation and vampires creates a scary moment in this highly underrated movie.
7. The Ring (2002) “You think it’s over but…”I still hesitate anytime I put an old video in the VCR. Is the American version scarier than the Japanese? Let the debate begin.
6. Saw (2001) “Reverse Bear Trap”A good scary scene from an overrated film.
5. The Sixth Sense (1999) “Closet Ghost”More than the unexpected ending the film triumphs in the smaller scarier moments. Also nobody likes an angry ghost.
4. 28 Days Later (2002) “The Church”You know you’re in trouble when even the priest is a zombie.
3. The Mist (2007) “Trip to the Pharmacy”This film was completely ignored in it’s initial run and has just come out on DVD. The best Stephen King adaptation in recent years and the pharmacy scene is creepy beyond words.
2. Dawn of the Dead (2004) "The birds and the bees"Two words: zombie baby. Here's the trailer for the film.
1. The Descent (2005)
If you haven’t seen this little known Scottish horror masterpiece do so now at your own peril. Scariest moment? The whole last hour, that’s how great it is. Enjoy the trailer!