Horror Scenes (or moments) that Scared Me

Well.

This was NOT going to be the post I was going to be doing today. I just, you guys, I had so many other distractions last week that working ahead of time on another blog post idea that would be ambitious. Between working on a 1000 piece puzzle and reading and just enjoying my time, I had ZERO time to continue to work on it.

Instead, we’re doing THIS.

This is outside a little of what the new focus of the blog is but also a bit old school posts that I used to do on here. And after seeing quite a few 2024-2025 films, I was inspired by a random youtube theme. I didn’t watch the video but saw it in passing on my feed and I don’t think I ever did a post about this. And if I have, well, that’s okay because this can be a more current/updated view of horror moments or scenes that have scared me.

And by scared, we’re talking disgust, awe, surprise or “I haven’t seen that before” energy. So let’s talk about some horror films that really got under my skin. Good or bad. Mostly good. Oh! And these are not in any particular order and possibly spoilers?!

Hereditary (2018) still has this chokehold on me. We know what scene this is. But it is the aftermath, when we cut to the funeral for Charlie and we cut to her decapitated head. It’s both the impact with the pole and the bravery to show her head. We didn’t need that but we got it. Still sends shivers down my spine.

It Follows (2014) we are following Jay (Maika Monroe) being followed by the old woman and we’re back at her house. And the sight of that tall man (not THE tall man from Phantasm) comes through/under the doorway, I really creep out at that sight. It’s so unexpected. And hidden in the shadows, out comes danger that no one can see but you.

Salem’s Lot (1979) It’s the miniseries for television and there’s an overlaying creepy factor that I feel is only present within 70s and 80s horror. But besides that opinion, a scene that scares me (maybe two of them) is there is a vampire child floating outside of the window. The child’s name is Danny? Danny. Danny going after… Mark but he knew his horror and blocked his butt with a cross. There’s also how the vampires look with that glow in their eyes that is creepy. It kind of comes back to Sinners (2025) having those glowy eyes as well.

Pet Sematary (1989) is so tragic. It is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations (haven’t read the novel yet) and that film is full of creepy moments. Gage returns from the dead and he emerges under the bed and slices Jud’s achilles and it’s so unexpected. The Zelda scenes, Church AND Gage’s death scenes are so brutal and scary. It’s a different type of horror. Even with the supernatural elements, there’s a grounded realism there of losing a pet, losing your child, losing your wife and what is it like if they could come back but not as themselves anymore. I liked what Mick Garris said about this film in the 100 Scariest Movie Moments: I’m paraphrasing but “a body without a soul is like meat, animated meat” and that’s exactly what this movie is.

Longlegs (2024) is one of my favorite films from this modern era of horror we’re in right now. Can I pick all the scenes involving Nic Cage as Longlegs as a standout. I mean, from the constant mystery of his identity being shown to when we do see him, he’s creeping out a teenage girl in a hardware store, having a breakdown in the car, I think his presence carries the film. Every time he’s on screen, I’m terrified and the makeup/special effects on him helps.

Scream (1996) is a classic. The opening scene scares me. It’s so… normal and it can happen anywhere, at any time. I mean Casey (Drew Barrymore) is terrified on the phone and when she’s attacked and killed and it’s so brutal and over the top, like we did a little TOO MUCH… to her being found in the tree. I see it play out in my head and like Pet Semetary, there’s the realism there.

28 Days Later (2002) I have yet to see 28 Years Later and complete 28 Weeks Later (I know, I know) but the moment I am picking from this film is when Jim goes into the church after waking up and he yells out a “hello” or “hey” and when we see those distant figures shake and stop and look into his direction…and then the priest (??) comes out as well. It’s so scary that I remember being in awe of what I was looking at. Loads of dead corpses and there’s only a couple or so that respond to you, the red flags are going off!

Lake Mungo (2008) we don’t talk about enough. I saw this last year for the first time and I need to rewatch it again. I don’t know if we can call it a jumpscare, but the up close look at Alice’s bloated body from being in the water but also the possible sightings of her that aren’t produced by the brother.

Hell House LLC (2015) I remember seeing this during the early days of lockdown in the pandemic and I could not stop thinking about it. I enjoyed the first one, the second one is okay, the third one is simply wild and I know there’s another film (or two) centered around the clown(s) who is the reason why I chose this film. I don’t have a fear of clowns per se, I mean, I have a thing for Pennywise and I grew up with Bozo the Clown in the 90s but there’s something about this specific clown. I mean, it is alive, sentient. The way it just stares downstairs and we’re looking down with him only for him to turn and look at us while the camera isn’t on him. That entire scene scared me so much, in a good way.

Saint Maud (2019) Another film we don’t talk about enough. What gets under my skin, besides the pins inside of her shoes and walking on them as punishment, is the ending. And it is so quick and brief, you can miss it. It’s unexpected. And of course, everything what we think is happening is truly NOT happening in the way we think it is. I mean, our protagonist is on fire. And the quick cut of what is truly happening made me gasp.

The Substance (2024) changed my life. What hasn’t been said about this film? I do not get freaked out as much by horror, there are moments like this list that can/has gotten to me but maybe because I am so desensitized by the genre but I was not prepared for the last half hour of this movie. MONSTRO ELISASUE. And the entire rest of the movie had my jaw drop and it never went back up until the end credits. I love me some body horror but oh my God, I haven’t seen anything like THAT. All the blood splatter and bodily explosions and even the sight of the transformation in the bathroom was so much.

Terrifier 2 (2022) – I have qualms about the first Terrifier which was nothing but shock value but lacking substance so imagine my surprise when we get 2 (and 3) and there’s substance! You got a final girl that is one of the best in modern horror, more mythos about Art and it’s fun. Still brutal but fun. A scene that scared me was the mid credit scene of Victoria giving birth to Art’s head… we know Victoria would go insane but yo.

In a Violent Nature (2024) It’s a slow burner but what it makes up for are the kills and the surprises. And the big kill of the yoga girl is probably the most gnarly (HI KATSEYE) thing I have ever seen. Just the pure shock and insanity of let me hook this girl and pass her through her body and yank. I just, WHAT. Again, this was a scare of the jaw drop, I cannot believe what I am seeing.

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014) The big question I had throughout was “what the fuck?” This movie makes me sad because the idea of getting older and your body in a way, betraying you is terrifying but then you learn that your body is being used and possessed by an outside force and making you do things like kidnapping kids and then trying to eat them. That’s the scene that stands out to me the most. Her whole mouth and jaw is unhinged and she’s trying to consume the child in the cave?

Skinamarink (2022) THIS WHOLE MOVIE SHOULD COUNT. From start to finish, it’s uneasy. And yes, it is slow and for a lot of people, they don’t like that (shorter attention spanners) but I don’t mind if you give me the atmosphere of creepiness and unease. And we are following two young children which also brings in the scary factor. We are programmed to protect to kids, watch them, make sure they make it to their destination safely and back, all of those things and then this movie snatches all that away from us. I guess it can be cheating, not picking a particular moment but this whole movie. If I have done a previous review on this, I will link it here.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) is still my number one favorite horror movie of all time. It’s dang near perfect in my book. The scene I’m picking is a classic and it is the ending. A part of me also wanted to add in the scene with Tina’s death (her dream leading up to it) and her going up the wall and to the ceiling but the ending is what got me. And I was very young when I saw this movie for the first time. Ironically, I think the later sequels are the first introduction to Freddy, like maybe it was 4 (The Dream Master) or 5 (The Dream Child) that I saw on HBO back in the day but back to the original. We think that the situation is over, Nancy lived and survived but her friends are back, the car’s top is red and green stripes and locks them in and then Nancy’s mom is YANKED through the door (looks goofy now) and we’re just left with this feeling of awe and uncomfortableness.

Somehow, we got 15? I picked 15 to share with you guys. What an odd number. These are the ones that immediately came to mind, I didn’t have to think too hard and we got a good number out. Like usual, here are some HM down below –

HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Ringu, The Black Cat, Jacob’s Ladder, Zombie, City of the Living Dead, The Beyond, The Haunting (1963), The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Sinners (2025), Jaws, Host.

So what do you guys think? What are some of your favorite moments or scenes that scared you? This is a non judgmental space so please don’t be shy! Leave a comment below and make sure you follow the blog, Instagram and Letterbox (both are shotsofhorror)!

Peace, love and chicken grease. We’ll see you in the last week of July!