What was that?! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at films that are so disturbing that you might need someone along to keep you safe. Beware: some spoilers might be ahead.
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00:00 "If he talks to me, I think he'll leave you. Do you want him to leave you?"
00:03 "Yes."
00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at films that are so disturbing,
00:10 that you might need someone along to keep you safe.
00:13 "You don't want to hurt anyone."
00:15 "But I do."
00:17 Beware, some spoilers might be ahead.
00:20 Number 30. Talk to me.
00:23 Ever get the feeling that you're not alone even when you are?
00:26 Well, Talk to Me will make that feeling stick in the worst ways.
00:30 Here, friends gathered at a party use an embalmed hand to communicate with the dead.
00:35 The catch is that breaking the allotted time will let the spirits loose.
00:39 "83 seconds, Joss, get it open!"
00:40 "I'll split you."
00:42 "All right, you had enough."
00:43 "I'll split you!"
00:44 When the main character does just that, it's time for her and her friends to suffer.
00:48 The combination of Talk to Me's layered characters and use of practical effects
00:53 make it dangerously realistic. The longer the film goes,
00:56 the more you'll feel as if this could happen to you.
00:59 It's an efficiently made horror thriller that will send shivers up your spine if you're by yourself.
01:05 "I am ending this!"
01:06 "You can't take him. He's ours."
01:13 Number 29. The Descent.
01:16 Going on a thrill-seeking trip with friends is always fun.
01:20 Except, of course, when you find yourself surrounded by humanoid creatures who want to eat you.
01:24 "Where are we? It hasn't got a name. It's a new system. I wanted us all to discover it.
01:32 No one's ever been down here before."
01:35 The Descent follows a group of women trapped in a cave system as their numbers dwindle one by one.
01:41 It's a scary take on the idea of an adventure gone wrong.
01:45 The monsters aren't the only thing that'll make you queasy.
01:48 The confined environment and near-constant darkness gives off a sense of claustrophobia.
01:54 "Becca! Becca! Becca! Becca!"
01:58 "It's Juno. The noise she's making should bring every one of those things down on her head."
02:04 "As long as it's not on mine."
02:06 To make it more uncomfortable, the character's internal drama escalates into a lack of trust
02:11 and betrayal. The Descent is a frightening reminder that fear of the unknown is very real.
02:17 You never know what lurks in the dark.
02:19 Number 28. The Sixth Sense.
02:22 While not technically a horror film, The Sixth Sense will have you feeling paranoid.
02:27 When psychologist Malcolm Crow meets a troubled child named Cole,
02:31 he starts to realize there are things beyond the human realm.
02:35 "They don't know they're dead."
02:36 "How often do you see them?"
02:45 "All the time."
02:47 Cole's ability to perceive ghosts isn't glamorized.
02:50 Instead, we learn just how terrifying it would be to see the dead walk among the living.
02:55 Malcolm's own ambiguous situation sparks interest,
02:59 and it's clear that something isn't quite right.
03:01 The Sixth Sense thrives on the uneasiness of its viewers, as nothing is what it seems.
03:06 "I see people. They don't know they're dead."
03:12 In the end, the classic M. Night Shyamalan twist will have you questioning everything around you.
03:18 Number 27. The Silence of the Lambs.
03:21 Just the name Hannibal Lecter is enough to scare people up.
03:25 The Silence of the Lambs is where the character truly left hearts thumping,
03:30 and that's despite the fact that Lecter is hardly in the film.
03:33 "You think if you save poor Catherine, you could make them stop, don't you?
03:37 You think if Catherine lives, you won't wake up in the dark ever again."
03:42 The story is about FBI trainee Clarice Starling's pursuit of a depraved individual known as Buffalo
03:48 Bill. The dark path the heroine takes to find the villain isn't pleasant to watch. The movie
03:54 shows just how fiendish a person can be, as the likes of Lecter and Bill represent the worst in
03:59 humanity. Thanks to stellar direction and a chilling soundtrack, viewers will feel like
04:04 they just might be the next target. The film lives up to its reputation by keeping tension at its
04:10 peak. "I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye."
04:19 Number 26. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
04:23 Sometimes low-budget horrors work better than mainstream features. This is particularly true
04:30 if a film is marketed as a true story. With its documentary-style direction,
04:35 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre looks and feels eerily real.
04:39 "That's weird. I wonder if that means something."
04:43 "It's the Mark Azurro. He's gonna get you."
04:45 It follows a group of friends hunted by a family of flesh-eating fiends.
04:49 While slasher tropes have become commonplace, the film holds up well. The over-the-top violence
04:55 on display is deeply unsettling, yet you just can't tear yourself away from it.
04:59 "Call the police!"
05:01 "Jerry, I don't know what happened to the others!"
05:07 "There's nobody out there now!"
05:09 The fear factor remains high all the way through, managing to scare audiences half a century since
05:15 its release. And if the sight of blood makes you queasy, then good luck watching this one.
05:20 Number 25. Terrifier 2.
05:24 This slasher has people dropping like flies, but what sets it apart is how creatively art
05:29 the clown manages to end lives each time. To say that Terrifier 2 will make you nauseous
05:35 is an understatement. It seems to be made entirely to have viewers grimace in disgust,
05:41 which you'll be doing more than once.
05:43 "I'm nothing like her. I'm not courageous, I'm not brave. I mean,
05:47 I literally had a panic attack today in school."
05:50 The film even reportedly had numerous cases of walkouts during screenings.
05:55 Considering the highly graphic content in store, it's easy to see why. To its credit,
06:00 Terrifier 2 has a capable story and quality thrills for genre enthusiasts.
06:06 But it's probably best not to have a meal before you watch it.
06:09 "I wouldn't say that before you try it. It's pretty tasty."
06:12 "No thanks."
06:14 Number 24. Misery.
06:17 It doesn't matter if it's ghosts or humans, Stephen King villains will always be scary.
06:23 Based on the 1987 novel, this film features Kathy Bates' star-making performance
06:28 in a role that won her an Oscar. Bates portrays Annie Wilkes,
06:33 a maniacal fan who holds her favorite author, Paul Sheldon, against his will.
06:37 "Annie, for God's..."
06:39 "Shh, darling. Trust me."
06:42 "For God's sake!"
06:43 With her insanity knowing no bounds, Annie terrorizes Paul to prevent his escape.
06:49 Often utilizing Paul's point of view, viewers can experience the same helplessness and desperation
06:55 he feels under Annie's merciless watch. And Annie's erratic behavior means that
07:00 Misery has a surprise waiting in every scene. It's a film that proves just how stifling it
07:06 is to be somewhere you don't want to be. "It's weird."
07:08 "Even though I know she's dead, I still think about her once in a while."
07:17 Number 23. Halloween.
07:19 Halloween helps take the slasher genre into the big leagues,
07:23 making viewers experience the horrifying prospect of having a killer on their trail.
07:28 "Hey, isn't that Devon Graham?"
07:29 "I don't think so."
07:32 The many gore-filled sequences amplify the film's high level of suspense,
07:37 amping things up as we watch Laurie Strode do her best to survive.
07:41 It also helps that an imposing figure such as Michael Myers is the face behind the terror.
07:47 Halloween may have spawned a franchise, but the first entry remains entirely original.
07:52 "Tommy, please!" "Tommy, hurry up!"
07:56 "Tommy, please!"
07:58 It doesn't matter in which year you're watching,
08:00 Myers' path of destruction has frightened generations without fail.
08:04 Number 22. Saw.
08:07 It spawned several sequels, but the first Saw is still the most daunting.
08:12 That's because the Jigsaw killer's identity remains shrouded in mystery.
08:17 Without the behind-the-scenes lens that future installments offer,
08:21 the original feels as sinister as ever.
08:24 Set primarily in a dilapidated bathroom, we follow two victims thrust together.
08:29 "He doesn't want us to cut through our chains.
08:31 He wants us to cut through our feet."
08:35 Jigsaw's crimes are told in a series of spine-chilling flashbacks,
08:39 establishing his blood-filled legacy.
08:42 These traps depict the horror a person feels in their last moments, and it's not a pretty sight.
08:48 The arbitrary reasons behind the victim's capture means that no one is safe.
08:53 By the end, the film will have you thinking that Jigsaw might be watching you, too.
08:57 "Looks like our friend Jigsaw likes to book himself front-row seats to his own sick little games."
09:02 Number 21. Alien.
09:04 Among the most influential films of all time, Alien blends sci-fi with horror.
09:09 Set in the future, a parasitic creature wreaks havoc on a space crew.
09:13 The film takes its time building up to its chaotic climax,
09:17 setting viewers up with subtle scares along the way.
09:19 Still, there are a whole lot of bodies the antagonist leaves in its wake,
09:29 with each demise played out in brutal fashion.
09:32 The titular character also has one of the most nightmare-inducing appearances in film history.
09:38 Unlike most scary films, Alien empowers viewers with its strong protagonist.
09:43 "With a little luck, the network will pick me up. This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo,
09:51 signing off."
09:54 But fans have to brave through nearly two hours of xenomorph slayings before Ripley fights back.
10:00 Number 20. The Shining.
10:03 "I'm not gonna hurt you. You didn't let me finish my sentence."
10:06 There may be no horror greater than the one that originates in your own family.
10:10 Jack Torrance arrives at the Overlook Hotel with his wife and son,
10:13 to begin his job as the hotel's caretaker.
10:16 But soon, strange happenings begin to take place within the halls of the inn,
10:20 and within Jack's mind too.
10:22 Originally welcoming the solitude as a way to break his writer's block,
10:26 Jack is slowly driven mad by the hotel's curse,
10:29 and attempts to take the lives of his own family.
10:31 This classic Stanley Kubrick adaptation of Stephen King's landmark
10:38 is filled with moments that have become part of pop culture.
10:41 Number 19. Green Room.
10:43 Talk about a bad gig.
10:45 This A24 survival horror flick starts out as an easygoing movie about a punk band
10:50 trying to land a show, but quickly goes south when they're booked to play at a skinhead bar.
10:55 When the band witnesses a murder in the Green Room,
10:57 they suddenly must fight for their lives against psychopathic bar staff
11:01 that are intent on concealing any evidence.
11:04 After several escape attempts, the band is quickly dwindling in members and ammunition,
11:08 while facing an increasingly grim fate.
11:11 Watch it!
11:12 With terrifying and brutal fight scenes,
11:15 and villains that would make anyone shiver,
11:18 no one should be alone in the Green Room.
11:20 Let him bleed.
11:21 Later is better for time of death.
11:25 Number 18. Raw.
11:27 Some horror films require group viewings to mediate the jump scares and terrifying scenery.
11:32 Others, like the French film Raw,
11:34 gross you out so much that the experience of watching it must be shared.
11:39 When the young vegetarian Justine begins her first semester at veterinary school,
11:44 she's forced to eat rabbit kidneys,
11:46 which jump starts an insatiable craving for human flesh.
11:50 The urge appears to run in the family,
11:52 with Justine and her sister Alexia soon feasting on strangers,
11:55 fellow students, and eventually, each other.
11:58 The film's stark contrast between sexual curiosity,
12:02 arousal and straight-up cannibalism,
12:04 make for quite a bit of a thrill.
12:06 Any takers?
12:07 Number 17. It Follows.
12:14 This film may have you rethinking your last one-night stand.
12:16 When her date doesn't go as planned,
12:18 the protagonist Jay is told she has inherited a curse by a sexual intercourse,
12:22 and will be followed by an entity that only she can see,
12:25 until she's able to pass on the curse.
12:28 Not scary enough for you yet?
12:29 While the entity can also shapeshift into Jay's friend,
12:32 and make surprise attacks whenever it pleases.
12:35 It follows brought-in audiences with its unique premise,
12:42 and blew them away with tooth-rattling scares,
12:44 grotesque deformed villains, and a stunning score.
12:48 Watch this one alone, and your next date will never be the same.
12:51 Number 16. A Dating Game.
12:59 This film may have you thinking you're in love,
13:02 but it's not.
13:03 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:06 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:08 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:10 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:12 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:15 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:17 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:20 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:22 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:25 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:27 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:30 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:32 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:35 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:37 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:39 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:41 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:44 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:46 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:49 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:51 It's a story about a man who's in love with a woman.
13:53 And he's not the one you think he is.
13:55 This lively horror flick is without a doubt one of the best films of the modern era,
13:59 but also one of the scariest.
14:01 The horrifying attack on poor little Georgie in the opening scene
14:05 truly sets the tone for two hours of relentless clown jump scares
14:09 and bone-chilling imagery and sound effects.
14:12 As our ragtag group of friends seek justice for Bill's little brother
14:20 in the cursed town of Derry, Maine,
14:21 it becomes clear that they weren't ready for the ancient cosmic shapeshifter
14:25 that is Pennywise the Dancing Clown.
14:27 Much like The Losers Club,
14:28 you'll want plenty of friends around to hold you close for the duration of it.
14:32 Have you ever heard the story of The Babadook?
14:45 Well, neither had this troubled single mother.
14:47 And upon reading the cursed book to her son,
14:50 she unleashed its hellish torment on both their lives.
14:52 The son's overactive imagination leads the mother to initially disbelieve The Babadook exists.
14:58 However, she believes its incessant stalking
15:00 causes the family to experience increasing psychological trauma.
15:04 One cannot escape The Babadook once a person becomes aware of his existence.
15:07 The film gets its notoriety from the lack of conventional jump scares
15:20 and the masterful employment of raw horror elements.
15:23 Exactly the kind of movie you should watch in a big group.
15:26 With the lights on and the basement door locked.
15:28 There are few things more terrifying than masked intruders.
15:43 Because they usually arrive with some type of sharp object and they always mean business.
15:48 In this horror flick, Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler stars two lovers on the road
15:51 to a romantic getaway in Brian Bertino's film.
15:54 But things get ugly after a failed proposal.
15:57 Oh, and when strangers appear with masks on their heads.
16:00 Creepy sounds, cryptic messages, and a trio of psychos ready to slice and dice the surprised couple
16:06 are just a few of the elements that make this a terrifying watch.
16:09 Just try watching it alone.
16:11 You'll spend more time watching the window.
16:15 Found footage films are never something you should be venturing into all alone.
16:19 And this one is no different.
16:21 An anthology film built from several VHS tapes found in the first movie,
16:25 VHS2 chronicles the search for a missing college student
16:29 told through five different and equally morbid vignettes.
16:32 While many films on this list hold back the scares and horror for a big ending,
16:36 this film is balls to the wall in its approach.
16:38 If extreme violence, graphic gore, and some of the most terrifying aliens ever put to screen
16:43 don't phase you, you might just be able to survive this one.
16:46 But please, for your own sanity, don't go it alone.
16:49 This movie reminds us to always be mindful of the ones we do wrong.
17:06 Christine's picture-perfect life is disrupted by a desperate elderly lady
17:10 who needs an extension on her home loan.
17:12 When Christine denies her in hopes of impressing her boss,
17:15 the old woman hexes her with a curse that will torment her mercilessly
17:18 before damning her to an eternity in hell.
17:20 Spending the next three days of her life dealing with evil spirits
17:29 and trying to ward off the curse for good,
17:31 she faces such terrifying demonic depictions in the mortal world,
17:35 we shudder to think what awaits her on the other side.
17:37 [laughing]
17:40 Number 10. Funny Games.
17:42 It's all fun and games until someone starts breaking eggs and kills the family dog.
17:47 In Mikhail Hanukkah's original 1997 film,
17:50 a wealthy Austrian family goes on vacation,
17:52 only to be interrupted by two enthusiastic guests.
17:55 And that's when shit hits the fan.
17:57 The intruders challenge the horrified family to a game of life and death,
18:01 and it doesn't go so well for Papa George, young Georgie, and Mama Anna.
18:05 As you might expect, Hanukkah's 2007 shot-for-shot American remake was equally dark,
18:10 and made people rethink their morning breakfast.
18:13 "Mrs. Thompson sent me. She's cooking and she ran out of eggs and asked if you could help her out."
18:17 "Of course. How many does she need?"
18:21 Number 9. Paranormal Activity.
18:23 This found footage flick made audiences wet their pants
18:27 and blame loved ones for spilling soda in the theater.
18:33 When Katie and Mika move into a San Diego pad,
18:35 a collection of odd events inspire them to set up cameras.
18:38 What happens?
18:39 Well, Katie stares at her sleeping husband for two hours,
18:43 and later gets hurled out of the room.
18:45 To make matters worse, the ghosts get all kinky and start biting poor Katie.
18:49 What happens next will shock you, and it does involve blood.
18:52 Number 8. Wreck.
18:55 It all started when Jennifer hurls all over her mother.
18:58 This real-time Barcelona shot horror hit theaters in 2007
19:02 and featured a most unusual night shift for a TV reporter and her cameraman.
19:06 As the sickness takes hold of the community, another shocking truth is revealed.
19:10 And, well, it's not a good one.
19:12 Nobody wants to be snatched up and taken to hell.
19:15 At least, it's not on our bucket list.
19:17 Number 7. The Conjuring.
19:26 You know that you probably picked the wrong home to move into
19:28 when your dog mysteriously dies during your first few days,
19:31 and spirits begin to express a desire to, um, end you.
19:35 Such was the case in The Conjuring, where Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga
19:42 star as real-life ghost investigators,
19:44 attempting to stop a doll from committing bloody murder.
19:47 You know the drill.
19:48 Exorcisms, horrible screams, slow insanity.
19:50 But James Wan's film offered much more than the usual genre shenanigans.
19:55 It made people paranoid and afraid of being slaughtered
19:57 by a smiley yet torn-up doll named Annabelle.
20:00 Number 6. The Grudge.
20:02 Based on the 2002 Japanese film, Ju-On,
20:11 this Sam Raimi-produced flick reminded everybody
20:13 that a horrific death filled with rage or sorrow does not signify the end.
20:17 With a non-linear plot,
20:19 The Grudge chronicles numerous stories of turbulent deaths
20:21 and the cycle of horror that ensues.
20:23 Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as an American exchange student
20:27 who comes face-to-face with the seemingly unfaithful departed.
20:30 The concept of The Grudge is inherently shocking,
20:32 but the visuals are simply on another level.
20:34 Watch this movie alone and you will regret it,
20:37 because you'll accidentally claw up your own couch.
20:39 Number 5. The Ring.
20:45 - Seven days.
20:47 - [gasps]
20:49 Four words. Samara and the television.
20:51 This remake of a 19th-century film
20:53 left an imprint on all who watched,
20:55 as the very premise highlighted the horror
20:57 that comes from watching a mysterious video of Red Rum.
21:00 Naomi Watts stars as a protective mother
21:02 who attempts to break the cycle of death by solving a murder case
21:05 and thus saving everybody from lonely VHS deaths.
21:08 [static]
21:09 - No!
21:11 - The Ring was the first of several Japanese adaptations in modern times
21:16 and responsible for inspiring lonely moviegoers
21:19 to watch the film in the same way.
21:21 And responsible for inspiring lonely moviegoers
21:24 to call their best friends and whispering seven days into the phone,
21:27 thus ruining their Friday night plans.
21:30 Who watches The Ring alone?
21:31 Don't do that, mojoholics. Just don't.
21:33 - [grunts]
21:39 - Number 4. The Witch.
21:40 Sometimes it's the things you don't see that can terrify you the most.
21:44 Set in 1630s New England,
21:46 a young family is banished from a Puritan colony
21:48 and now live on a farm near a secluded forest.
21:51 [angelic choir]
21:58 Tragedy strikes when their young baby disappears
22:01 and the blame is placed on their daughter, Thomason.
22:03 With one suspicious death after another,
22:05 the family's trust in one another is destroyed,
22:08 with mother Catherine certain her daughter is engaged in witchcraft.
22:11 - She placed a curse on me!
22:13 - They conspire against me.
22:14 - What is it, a witch?
22:15 - No. I'm not a witch.
22:18 - While the scares themselves are fewer in number here,
22:21 the specific imagery and historical setting
22:23 make for a uniquely unsettling watch,
22:26 one that is not recommended for solo viewing.
22:28 Seriously, who knew breastfeeding could be this messed up?
22:31 Number 3. Hereditary.
22:33 The horror genre has experienced an incredible resurgence in the last few years,
22:37 and this next film is maybe the best example of why.
22:40 After the death of her mother,
22:41 Annie Graham begins to unravel increasingly disturbing secrets about her family
22:45 and their connections to a demon named Paimon.
22:48 This supernatural force is unrelenting in its quest to find a host,
22:51 which comes at an enormous cost to Annie.
22:53 Unlike the majority of horror films,
22:55 director Ari Aster doesn't rely on jump scares or over-the-top gore,
22:59 and instead crafts a slow-building and deeply disturbing story
23:03 that chills the audience more than these effects ever could.
23:06 - I felt his presence in the room.
23:08 Annie, this is real.
23:11 That being said, it's best to gavage some family members around for this thrill ride.
23:15 - You scared me!
23:16 - [crying]
23:19 - What the hell?
23:20 Number 2. The Blair Witch Project.
23:22 As one of the most successful indie films of all time,
23:25 and a defining film of the found-footage genre,
23:28 The Blair Witch Project was a national mystery upon release.
23:31 After immediately acknowledging the disappearance of three students,
23:34 the filmmakers spun a dramatic tale of a Maryland witch,
23:37 and a brilliant internet marketing campaign led audiences to believe
23:40 that the film was a genuine documentary.
23:42 The frightening ending has since become iconic
23:44 and made us believe that anything is possible when it comes to the supernatural.
23:47 - I am so, so sorry for everything that has happened.
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24:09 Number 1. The Exorcist.
24:12 It's the ultimate horror film that has it all.
24:15 Accomplished director? Yes.
24:16 Legendary actor? Yes.
24:18 Absolutely terrifying imagery?
24:20 Um, does a spinning demon-possessed head qualify?
24:23 - Deviant!
24:24 - Amen.
24:26 - Pass!
24:27 With a historical backstory of religion and archaeology,
24:30 it wasn't difficult to embrace the story of an aging priest
24:33 out to defeat an old supernatural enemy.
24:36 The Exorcist wasn't just unbelievably scary,
24:38 it was also nominated for 10 Academy Awards,
24:41 thus proving the power of efficient filmmaking.
24:44 It's truly an event to watch The Exorcist,
24:46 especially with those who are easily scared.
24:48 - Did you do that?
24:56 - Uh...
25:00 Which movie had you hiding under your blanket?
25:03 Let us know in the comments.
25:04 - Game over!
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