It’s not always the scares that make our favorite horror movies stand out, but scenes or sequences that bring quotable lines of dialogue, thrilling action, uplifting triumph, and breathtaking visuals that remind us why we love movies in the first place. Moments that become so iconic that they transcend genre entirely and enter the ranks of pop culture phenomena. These 75 horror movie moments have forever carved out a place in cinematic history, proving horror is and will always be the best genre.

Godzilla – The Roar

The 1954 film Godzilla spawned a massive franchise that includes 33 films and counting, video games, and endless merchandising thanks to a massive beast that came from the sea. His monstrous size meant he destroyed everything in his path, but it was his distinct roar that solidified Godzilla as an icon.

King Kong – Empire State Building

The monstrous beast from Skull Island scaling the Empire State Building is one of cinema’s most iconic scenes of all time, to be repeated in nearly every iteration of the character. What’s King Kong without a massive skyscraper to climb?

Phantasm – Flying Death Sphere

The silver orbs in the Phantasm series are as iconic as the Tall Man himself, if not more so. The first time we see the unusual weapon, it’s flying through the mausoleum in search of its victim. It’s just a silver ball, until two blades pop out to latch onto its victim’s skull. Followed by a drill that rips its victim’s brain to shreds while blood spews out from the other side. If that wasn’t distinct enough, the victim’s bladder releases when he hits the ground.

Cabin in the Woods – Monsters Released

The choose-your-own demise set up for the unwitting group of friends at the titular cabin meant they had to contend with the zombie redneck torture family as their destroyer, orchestrated by a high-tech underground facility. Cabin in the Woods transitioned from hilarious meta horror comedy to a horror lover’s dream when plucky heroes Marty and Dana open up all of the monster containment units, unleashing every possible monster you could imagine. It was so gloriously bloody.

Se7en – What’s in the Box?

David Fincher’s gritty crime thriller ventures into full blown horror territory over and over again with grisly crime scene after grisly crime scene. The startling jump scare behind the victim representing the deadly sin of Sloth is an all-timer. But it’s the concluding moments, as we learn about the killer’s final victim, that sticks out. “What’s in the box?” became instantly quotable not only because of Brad Pitt’s anguished delivery, but the horrific ramifications of the box’s contents.

Saw – Reverse Bear Trap

The film that launched a franchise and is credited with creating the “torture porn” subgenre of horror is full of many memorable lines and images. But the scene that is most often recalled from memory is that of Amanda Young’s encounter with the Jigsaw killer, and how she survived the franchise’s most notorious puzzles – the Reverse Bear Trap. A massive mechanical contraption fixed to the victim’s head, they had limited time to unlock it or it’d snap open and rip their jaws apart. This gruesome trap popped up in the series the most.

Pet Sematary – Zelda

Director Mary Lambert’s adaptation of Stephen King’s scariest novel is full of great moments that petrify. The burial ground that revives those buried there propels the Creed family from tragedy to pure terror as Louis gives in to grief and makes one bad decision after another. Yet, it’s the haunted memories of Rachel Creed’s spinal meningitis afflicted sister Zelda that induced nightmares. Lambert’s decision to have Zelda played by 20-something Andrew Hubastek transformed the character from sickly girl to intimidating monster.

It – Georgie Plays in the Rain

We’re lucky in that we have not one, but two different versions of this memorable scene, and both are great. But in this instance, it’s the 1990 made-for-tv movie that earned a spot thanks to a petrifying Tim Curry as Pennywise. His cheerful demeanor gives way to something cold and dangerous, and his proclamation “You’ll float too!” is pure nightmare fuel.

28 Days Later – Empty London

28 days after the cold open that initiates a massive outbreak, Jim awakens from his coma to find the entire hospital is empty. He finds it’s not just the hospital that’s deserted, but the entire city of London as well. The imagery and quiet is isolating and haunting. Zombie movies usually place the story at the beginning of the outbreak, not well into it. Seeing the aftermath of the devastating destruction is powerful.

The Amityville Horror – Get Out

The arrival of a priest to bless your home should ward off potential evil spirits, but the iconic house in Amityville wasn’t having it. When Father Delaney arrives to cleanse the house, he’s instead stricken seriously ill as flies swarm the room. An ominous, disembodied voice commands, “Get out!” This house has serious issues.

Jacob’s Ladder – Dance Club

Jacob Singer’s return to his normal life after fighting in the Vietnam War is a psychological battle of nightmarish proportions. Surreal hallucinations, disturbing flashbacks, and an increasing difficulty in determining what’s real or not makes this horror movie an all-timer. But his bizarre journey is best summed up in the horrific scene set in a dance club, where his girlfriend Jezzie seems to be having a lot of fun with a creature right out of Lovecraftian hell.

Zombi 2 – Splinter in the eye

You don’t even have to be familiar with Lucio Fulci’s filmography to know he has a way with destroying eyeballs. That’s due to Zombi 2, an Italian zombie film meant to serve as a sequel to George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Thanks to one drawn out sequence that sees a zombie slowly impale a woman’s eye onto a massive splinter of wood, eye trauma in horror was never the same.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari – Creeping Cesare

In this 1920 silent film, one of the spookiest moments comes as the hypnotized Cesare sneaks into Jane’s bedroom to stab her. Though the moment in which Cesare was first awoken may have elicited screams from the audience, the unpredictability of Cesare as he creeps towards his sleeping victim is much more terrifying. Will he stab her? Or worse?

Audition – What’s in the Bag?

For widower Shigeharu Aoyama, the sweet Asami seems like the ideal girl of his dreams. Director Takashi Miike keeps up that façade for a long while, lulling viewers into suspecting they’ve hit play on a sweet romantic drama instead. Until we see Asami’s apartment, that is. Mostly bare and without any personal belongings, the viewer hones in on the strange bag in the middle of the room. And then it moves. Who is Asami? More importantly, what’s in the bag? The stuff of nightmares, that’s what.

[Rec] – Angela is dragged away

What should have been a quiet night turns into a traumatic fight for survival in Paco Plaza and Jaume Balaguero’s terrifying found footage film that refreshed the zombie/outbreak subgenre. For reporter Angela Vidal and her camera man, they’re increasingly forced upward as the infected close in, building up into a discomforting scramble in the pitch dark of the penthouse apartment. We watch through the night vision lens of the camera while Angela frantically reaches out, unaware of the monstrosity lurking there. If we though Plaza and Balaguero were going to give us a moment’s relief, the final moment of Angela being dragged into the dark boldly declared otherwise.

Society – The Shunting

Thanks to the surrealism and gooey special effects magic of Screaming Mad George, the final act dubbed the “shunting” refuses to be forgotten. The rich literally feed on the poor, but it doesn’t quite look the way you’d expect. Twisty, slimy, slurpy, and bonkers. High class parties have never been so grotesque.

Cat People – Swimming Pool

Irena becomes increasingly jealous of her husband’s relationship with his assistant Alice, to the point where stalking becomes a regular habit. The scene where Alice is ominously being followed before the arrival of her bus one night is the birth of the jump scare known as the Lewton Bus, but the most memorable scene comes later. In it, Alice decides to take a swim in the basement pool of her apartment building. It’s calm and peaceful, until shadows move along the wall and a predatory animal roars out. Or is it just Irena?

Nosferatu – Orlock’s Shadow

One of the most influential silent films of all time also happens to feature one very memorable vampire. Count Orlock’s creepy appearance is distinct, and lent to an iconic sequence in which he stalks and bites his prey. But it’s only his shadow that’s seen. It’s a striking visual.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? – I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy

Former child star Baby Jane Hudson (Bette Davis) is an alcoholic and mentally ill, and spends her adulthood psychologically torturing her wheelchair bound sister Blanche (Joan Crawford). The depths of how far gone Jane is mentally is encapsulated in the scene where she shrieks out her former childhood song. It’s somewhat funny, somewhat tragic, but wholly creepy.

The Haunting – Bulging Door

Director Robert Wise’s adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House delivered on chills thanks to creative style, camera work that evoked a disoriented feeling, effective sound design, and above all, those bulging doors. The ghosts of the Crain house consistently threaten the group of paranormal investigators by trying to enter their rooms, pressing against the door so hard it bulges at the weight. So memorably spooky.

Phantom of the Opera – Unmasking the Phantom

One of the most iconic moments of horror also happens to involve one of the earliest jump scares. In the 1925 silent film based on Gason Leroux’s 1910 novel, protagonist Christine’s curiosity gets the better of her, and she slowly approaches a distracted Phantom to peel away his mask. The unmasking didn’t just deliver a shocking jolt, but an image so strong that it seared itself permanently into the pop culture collective.

Salem’s Lot – Vampire Kid at the Window

Director Tobe Hooper proved even made-for-TV movies could deliver chills and atmosphere. The slow-motion scene that sees freshly turned vamp Ralphie Glick outside his brother’s window, scratching and grinning to be let in, scarred young viewers. The horror of the scene was dialed up to eleven with the realization that his brother’s bedroom is on the second floor. Children are creepy. But floating vampire children? Even creepier. Decades later, it’s this scene above all others that still induces nightmares. It also influenced many vampire films that followed.

A Nightmare on Elm Street – Freddy’s Long Arms

Freddy Krueger was one terrifying boogeyman in Wes Craven’s franchise launching A Nightmare on Elm Street. It takes a while for Craven to give us a full look at the iconic character too, relegating him to the shadows in earlier scenes as he targets poor Tina (Amanda Wyss). It’s right before he finally catches and kills Tina on the ceiling of the bedroom in which she’s sleeping that we finally get a better look. In her nightmare, he appears silhouetted in shadow, edging closer until his arms reach out toward her and grow to inhuman lengths. All the while he’s cackling. It’s terrifying.

The Blair Witch Project – Mike stands in the corner

One of horror’s most memorable moments, and most frightening, also happens to be one that leaves a lot up to the viewer’s imagination. From the opening scenes, we already know that the trio of aspiring filmmakers have vanished with only their left behind footage as clues to what happened. The mythology behind the filmmakers’ subject, the Blair Witch, slowly unravels as they get lost in the woods, culminating in a creepy scene that has Heather attacked by an unseen presence while Mike silently stands in the corner, facing the wall.

Freaks – One of Us

Beautiful Cleopatra chose the wrong person to con when she marries the leader of sideshow artists, Hans, for his money. After falling ill from poisoning, Hans is humiliated to know he’s been duped by his bride, so he and his friends decide to get revenge. The stormy night set finale is intense and terrifying, but it’s still not as instantly memorable as the reveal of Cleopatra’s fate – the sideshow performers make her one of them and her new appearance makes her the ghastliest freak of all.

Ringu – Sadako Crawls from the Well

Sure, a cursed VHS tape that leaves its viewer plagued by hauntings for seven days until their demise doesn’t exactly sound inherently terrifying. But that’s before we bore witness to Sadaku, and her eerie, not-quite-human crawl out of the well, across the grass, and out of the television screen to kill the cursed. The ghost that launched a million nightmares and set the J-horror craze ablaze, all thanks to one petrifying slow crawl.

The Exorcist III – The Nurse’s Station

This scare is so memorable that chances are you’re aware of it even if you haven’t seen the film. Shot down a long hospital corridor of a nurse’s station, it follows a nurse who goes about her daily routine with a police officer in the background. It’s a setup that makes the viewer feel safe. Especially when the nurse locks a room that she’s just exited behind her. Seconds later, someone in a nun outfit opens the locked door behind her and chases after with giant shears. The loud accompanying music only enhances the truly scary moment.

Scanners – Head Explosion

Even if you haven’t seen this David Cronenberg film, you’ve probably seen this moment. It’s a great one. In it, Michael Ironside’s Darryl Revok proves just how ruthless and powerful he is when he demonstrates his “scanner” ability by making his stage partner’s head explode, before a live audience. It’s gruesome.

Bride of Frankenstein – The Monster Meets his Bride

Boy meets girl. Boy is smitten at first glance. Girl recoils in absolute aversion. Such is the story of poor Monster (Boris Karloff), a lonely, tragic creature longing for acceptance. The brief moment of elation that the Monster may have a mate is ruined almost instantly when the Bride screams at the mere sight of him. Her reaction is startling, but it’s tragic sympathy that presides over this moment. Elsa Lanchester’s stellar performance pushes this firmly into iconic territory.

Black Christmas – Suffocation by Plastic

This seminal slasher’s first major kill is so iconic that it’s featured on most of the film’s artwork. After the sorority sisters deal with what’s revealed to be one of many obscene phone calls, Clare heads up to her room to pack for Christmas break. It turns out that caller is in her room, hiding in her closet. When she gets close enough, the killer uses a plastic dress bag from her closet to suffocate her to death, and then displays her body in the attic window, plastic and all.

The Sixth Sense – I See Dead People

When Cole (Haley Joel Osment) tearfully tells Malcolm (Bruce Willis) his secret, it’s an emotional breakthrough. Malcolm longs to make up for his mistakes with a previous case, and this is a huge step with Cole opening up. Cole tells Malcolm that he sees dead people, all the time, and that they often don’t even know they’re dead. But this small reveal causes momentous ripples throughout the rest of the story. Just when we think everything is tidy and wrapped up, with Cole bonding with his mother, the “I See Dead People” time bomb explodes in Malcolm’s head with the realization that he may be one of the dead people Cole was referring to.

Get Out – The Sunken Place

There are many cultural touchtone moments in Jordan Peele’s feature debut, but the mesmerizing and distressing introduction to “the Sunken Place” is an absolute standout. Missy (Catherine Keener) pressures her daughter’s boyfriend Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) to subject himself to her hypnotherapy to rid his smoking habit, and what transpires is unsettling. The hypnotic scraping of her spoon against the teacup, her soothing voice, both belie the true danger as Chris sinks through his chair into the dark recesses of his repressed memories. From above she simply smiles at a panicked Chris, “Now you are in the sunken place.”

Friday the 13th – The Lake

Alice has survived a night of terror that claimed the lives of everyone around her, and the resulting trauma has her taking a canoe out onto the lake where she passes out. When she wakes, the bright sunny sky and tranquil water gives the appearance that she’s finally safe. Cue the deformed Jason Voorhees, emerging from the water to drag her under. People often forget that it’s mama Voorhees behind this film’s slaughter, and this scene is why.

When A Stranger Calls – The Calls Are Coming from Inside the House

If ‘70s horror taught us anything, it’s that obscene prank phone calls mean we should vacate the house and go far, far away. Black Christmas may have employed the same setup first, but it was When a Stranger Calls that made the urban legend “the babysitter and the man upstairs” so uncomfortably familiar. Though the rest of the film that followed wasn’t quite as strong, the opening scene that sees the babysitter get stalked by a caller only to find out that the caller is inside the house is absolutely chilling.

Sleepaway Camp – Angela’s Secret

The surprise final shot of this ‘80s slasher is the gift that keeps on giving. No killer reveal in any movie will be able to match the insanity of this final reveal shot. The growling, the pose, the facial expression, and the, well, you know.

Halloween – Michael Sits Up

John Carpenter’s classic slasher offered up numerous cinematic moments that lent to its enduring appeal. But none were quite as terrifying, or as memorable as when Laurie Strode tries to catch her breath in the doorway of the bedroom where she’s managed to fight off her attacker. Except, while the camera is focused on her, we see Michael Myers pop back up in the background. This boogeyman revealed himself to be unstoppable right then and there.

The Strangers – Because You Were Home

Often in horror, there’s a motive behind the killer’s actions. For killer’s like Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger, they slay teens out of revenge. For Norman Bates, well, he has a lot of mommy issues. But for the trio of masked killers at the center of The Strangers, their reason is far more chilling. A night of pain, torture, and horror for Kristen McKay and James Hoyt exists for one simple reason- they happened to be home. The random selection of this heinous act feels way to close to reality for our comfort.

Fright Night – You’re So Cool, Brewster

Tom Holland’s Fright Night is a great horror comedy full of enduring characters, but there’s one that really stole the show – sidekick turned vampire henchman Evil Ed. Stephen Geoffreys eccentric take, complete with cackling, on Evil Ed captures our attention early as he taunts lead protagonist Charley Brewster. “You’re So Cool, Brewster!” He laughs. But that personality isn’t diminished in the least when vampire Jerry Dandridge turns him, and watching Evil Ed take on Peter Vincent is a highlight.

Eyes Without a Face – Surgery

Released in 1960, this French horror film grossed out audiences so much that many walked out. Why? Because of the graphic heterografting surgery scene. A surgeon desperately wants to fix his daughter’s disfigured face after an accident and literally steals one from an unsuspecting victim. He chloroforms a woman and surgically removes her face, delivering one of the most shocking scenes of its time.

The Conjuring – Clap Clap

A moment so uniquely creepy it was featured in earlier teasers and promos, the disembodied hands that clap behind Carolyn Perron after she’s locked in the basement is the first massive scare in the main storyline. It also happens to be extremely effective. Who knew clapping could be so terrifying?

The Evil Dead – Playing Cards

The pivotal moment that turned an atmospheric night in the woods into an unrelenting night of demonic attack. Cheryl just survived a brutal assault in the woods, and huddled up quietly traumatized in the corner after while everyone continued on with their night of fun. Until the shocking reveal that Cheryl was no longer Cheryl, that is. It’s the moment that Sam Raimi announced this would be very different than any horror movie before.

The Fly – Help Me!

Even if you’ve never seen the original 1958 version of The Fly, chances are you’re still quite familiar with the scene that sees Vincent Price’s Francois inspecting a spider web. In it, former scientist Andres turned fly creature is trapped, pleading for help as a spider closes in. An insane moment that has been spoofed many times over in the decades since.

Dead Alive (Braindead) – Lionel’s Lawnmower

Leave it to Peter Jackson to take a regular household item like a lawnmower and turn it into a weapon of gory destruction. In the epic third act of this gory zombie comedy, reluctant hero Lionel finally steps up to the plate to save his love Paquita from the horde of zombies that have taken over his home. How? By plowing through them with a lawnmower of course. Horror has never been bloodier.

Event Horizon – Where we’re going, we won’t need eyes to see

The evil permeating throughout the ship Event Horizon lead to all sorts of meanspirited hallucinations for the crew of the Lewis and Clark. But none were as affected by it then the Event Horizon’s own designer, Dr. Weir (Sam Neill). He becomes an instrument for the ship to stop the surviving crew, with the intent to bring them back to the hellish dimension from which the Event Horizon came. He starts by gouging out his own eyes. Self-mutilation is always a very, very bad sign.

The Changeling – Red Ball

Only a great movie like The Changeling could make something as benign as a small red ball so creepy. For lead character John Russell, he finds himself plagued by strange occurrences shortly after moving into a historical mansion. One of which is a little red ball that moves on its own accord. So, he gets rid of it by driving to a nearby bridge and tossing it over. He gets home, takes off his jacket, and is about to walk into his study when the same ball bounces eerily down the stairs toward him.

Suspiria – Patricia Hingle

While ballet student Suzy Bannion is arriving at the dance academy, Patricia Hingle is fleeing it. Her arrival at her friend’s apartment should mean she’s safe, but an unseen assailant has followed her there and doles out a particularly unpleasant death. That it’s set against Goblin’s unique score and a vivid color scheme makes this death a stylish standout.

Candyman – Bee Immortal

Even knowing that the titular Candyman is a sort of Bloody Mary type urban legend, an entity that will kill those who summon him with his hook, there’s a romantic quality to his haunting of Helen. As he torments her, and destroys everyone around her, he’s also seducing her. It allows both Helen and the audience to drop the guard enough for true horror to catch us unaware. Candyman offers her immortality, and she looks ready to give in, until he reveals bees swarming beneath his exposed rib cage.

Hellraiser – Frank’s Resurrection

Sure, the hellish cenobites that are summoned from the lament configuration puzzle box may have captured our horror loving hearts, but it was the gruesome resurrection of Frank Cotton that seared itself in our minds. It also might have tested our gag reflex, too. The spilled blood on the attic floor seeps into the floorboards, and the body of Frank reforms in goopy, gooey, slimy, bloody, viscera-filled ways. It’s a standout.

Frankenstein – It’s Alive!

The labors of Frankenstein and his assistant Igor’s work comes to fruition in this crucial moment that sees electricity bring their stitched together creature to life. The way in which Colin Clive delivers the line, “It’s Alive” is indicative of just what kind of a madman Henry Frankenstein truly is. He’s absolutely maniacal, and it only took two simple words to convey that to an audience. Brilliant.

Birds – Ominous Arrival at School

Melanie (Tippi Hendren) quietly sits on a bench outside of the school, when birds begin to congregate on the playground nearby. Watching her. Just a couple at a time at first, and then a huge flock of them all at once. It’s ominous and threatening, made more so by the complete lack of music during the scene, save for the children singing from within the school. Eerie and iconic.

The Wolf Man – Transformation

A top-tier Universal classic monster movie and considered one of the best all-time horror movies, The Wolf Man made Lon Chaney Jr. a horror star. Larry Talbot is a tragic character that rendered this movie monster sympathetic. In the final moments, we finally see him transform; an impressive series of lap dissolves that was breakthrough special effects work for its time. The visuals made even more impactful by the emotional gravity of the scene.

Gremlins – The Tavern

Arguably the best Christmas horror movie ever made, Gremlins is a showcase of good versus evil. And stellar practical effects, of course. The best scene that highlights everything great about the movie is the scene that sees Kate Beringer playing barmaid to a crowd of evil gremlins. Not only does it give a good indication of just how badly behaved these little green monsters are, but the puppetry and special effects work on display is pure movie magic.

The Fly – Maggot Birth

Seth Brundle’s transformation from brilliant scientist to gruesome Brundle fly is unforgettable. Even still, it doesn’t quite measure up to the stark terror of what may be inside Ronnie’s womb when she learns she’s pregnant by Seth. How much of that baby is human, if at all? A nightmare sequence plays out where Ronnie gives birth to a massive wriggling maggot, and her desperation to be rid of it is palpable.

Aliens – Get Away from Her, You Bitch!

One xenomorph is bad news. But what about a whole colony of them? This epic sequel sees Ellen Ripley on a mission to exterminate the creatures once and for all. Of course, now there’s way more than one to battle, and not even Ripley saw monstrous egg-laying Queen coming. That Queen took serious issue with Ripley’s destruction of her eggs, and follows her back to the Sulaco. How do you battle a xenomorph of that size? By getting into an exosuit cargo loader and engaging in hand-to-hand combat of course. If you’re a badass like Ripley, that is.

Child’s Play – Batteries in the Box

Ever since Karen Barclay brought home a Good Guy Doll for her son Andy, bad things started happening. Her best friend died and the police suspect Andy, and Andy’s behavior has been a little off. He blames it on his doll. Eventually, she decides that maybe she should finally toss out Good Guy Doll Chucky’s packaging. When she picks up the box, the batteries fall out and grim comprehension takes over – Chucky has been talking and moving on his own. The goosebumps break out on your skin and tension mounts as Chucky is finally about to reveal himself.

The Howling – Eddie Quist

Every great werewolf movie should have at least one great transformation sequence, and in Joe Dante’s The Howling, it belongs to creep Eddie Quist. This isn’t just memorable for its amazing special effects, but that Eddie is transforming while closing in on his prey. It reveals that these werewolves don’t need the full moon to turn.

The Silence of the Lambs – I Ate His Liver

Hannibal Lecter doesn’t actually have much screen time in The Silence of the Lambs, but Anthony Hopkins delivers such a powerhouse performance that it feels as though Lecter is around for much longer. The scene that really turned Hopkins’ Lecter into an icon? The creepy line he gives Clarice Starling about what happens when a census taker tried to test him once, followed by that memorable hissing sound that no one but Hopkins seems to be able to make.

Poltergeist – They’re Here!

Once again director Tobe Hooper proves adept at creating some of horror’s most memorable moments, and Poltergeist has no shortage of them. The face peeling nightmare, pool corpses, and the demonic clown doll all delivered great frights. But none were as significant, at least in terms of pop culture memory, as young Carol Anne fixated on the television emitting white static and announcing, “They’re here!” in a sing-song voice post-earthquake. It wasn’t just the earworm way in which Heather O’Rourke delivered the line that made this scene significant, but that it was a warning cry for the beginning of the Freeling’s supernatural nightmare.

Misery – Hobbling

Annie Wilkes has her favorite author, Paul Sheldon, in her clutches and she refuses to let him go, no matter what it takes. The more he tries to escape, the worse it gets, building into one of cinema’s most cringe-inducing scenes of all time. Annie straps Paul down to the bed, places a block of wood between his ankles, and pulls out a sledgehammer. “Trust me. It’s for the best.” I don’t even have to describe what happens next; you already know.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers – Matthew Bennell’s Scream

One of the best horror remakes of all time, this all-star studded cast lead by Donald Sutherland brings the bleak horror. Sutherland plays Dr. Matthew Bennell, one of the earliest survivors to catch on to the alien invasion that’s slowly replacing the human race one by one. Bennell goes on the run with friends, trying to evade both sleep and the alien replacements until they eventually split up. After a hellish night, the only other survivor, Nancy (Veronica Cartright), stumbles across him on the street. She’s relieved to see a friendly face, until he lets out that iconic scream…

The Wicker Man – Blazing Pyre

Police Sergeant Howie spends most of his time on the strange island of Summerisle in search of missing girl Rowan. The more he investigates, the stranger things get as he realizes the townsfolk are Pagans prepping for their May Day celebrations. His search for Rowan gets frantic with the comprehension that this Pagan celebration may require sacrifice. But no one was prepared for what that sacrifice truly entailed.

Don’t Look Now – Girl in the Red Coat

On a trip to Venice, still grieving for his deceased daughter, John Baxter (Donald Sutherland) sees a small figure in a red coat like the one his daughter wore. He sees the figure numerous times throughout the movie, as tension between he and his wife builds, until the climax where he finds the red hooded figure once more, giving chase hoping to find his dead daughter. The one-two punch of the hooded figure’s reveal is brilliant because not only does it give Baxter’s story a shocking conclusion, but it recontextualizes the entire film that preceded.

Scream – Casey Becker Gets a Phone Call

“Do you like scary movies?” A memorable line that was delivered in one of cinema’s greatest cold opens of all time. The scene alone is a great exercise in building suspense as Casey Becket is home alone popping popcorn when a menacing prank phone caller consistently interrupts. It’s a clever introduction to this movie’s maniac modus operandi, as the Ghostface killer first toys with his prey and then brutally disembowels them. The cherry on top, and what made the entire film that followed feel dangerous, is that Casey Becket was played by the biggest star at the time, Drew Barrymore. If she can get offed so soon, who is truly safe?

Carrie – Bucket of Blood

If we’re talking strictly scares, then the movie’s final moment jump scare involving Carrie White’s grave would win hands down. But in terms of defining film moments, the instant that Carrie White’s joy at being crowned prom queen turns to horror as a bucket of pig’s blood rains down upon her delivered the most disturbing prom scene in history. That moment brought a kaleidoscope of emotions all at once; horror, shock, confusion, empathy, sadness, and above all, rage.

An American Werewolf in London – Transformation

Sure, David Naughton may have starred as the unwitting werewolf we were rooting for, but the true star may very well be special makeup effects designer and creator Rick Baker. The first full transformation sequence by Naughton’s character David, under the light of the full moon, was a dazzling display of special makeup effects that saw David’s body break, twist, and elongate in painful fashion as his inner beast burst forth. Baker set the bar extremely high for werewolf transformation sequences.

The Omen – Look at me, Damien! It’s all for you!

Signs that little Damien Thorn isn’t your average child occur pretty early on in The Omen, as well as signs that Damien has an effect on some of the people around him. The most memorable of which comes fairly early on, at Damien’s fifth birthday party. A rather large birthday gathering, complete with tents and a carousel, gets a shocking interruption courtesy of Damien’s nanny. She cheerfully calls for his attention as she stands on the top ledge of the Thorn home, smiling as she tells him, “Look at me, Damien! It’s all for you!” Then she plummets to her death, a noose around her neck.

The Shining – Here’s Johnny!

There are numerous memorable scenes and iconic imagery in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. From the beckoning Grady twins, the woman in 237, to even the tidal wave of blood erupting from the Overlook elevator; Kubrick’s vision has a way of embedding itself into your mind. But none have made quite as large of an impact on pop culture as Jack Torrance taking an axe to the bathroom door so he can get inside and murder his family. Jack Nicholson plays unhinged like no other, and his line, “Here’s Johnny!” became famous both in and outside of horror.

Night of the Living Dead – “They’re Coming to Get You Barbra”

Barbra is already on edge when she visits her father’s grave with her brother, Johnny. Like most brothers, Johnny uses her anxiety as another opportunity to taunt her. All the while, the viewer is aware of a strange man in the background, his movements not quite normal. Then, that man attacks, and Johnny steps in to save his sister only to die while Barbra flees. The film never lets up from there, growing more intense and harrowing by the minute. George A. Romero redefined both horror and the zombie subgenre from the outset.

Rosemary’s Baby – He has his father’s eyes

Poor Rosemary Woodhouse is offered up to Satan by her own husband, gaslighted by everyone around her, and left to endure a terrible pregnancy all alone while she’s manipulated by those she’s supposed to trust. After she goes into labor, she’s sedated and told the baby died when she comes to. All of the lies culminate into one shocking finale, when Rosemary discovers not only that her baby is indeed alive, but the terrible truth behind the baby’s paternity. “He has his father’s eyes,” and they look nothing like her husband’s.

The Thing – Defibrillator

This iconic scare occurs late in the game, with paranoia already high and a crew well aware that they’re dealing with a deadly foe not of this planet. The strange occurrences that have resulted in death and bizarre body horror left the crew, and viewers, shaken to the core. By comparison, Norris suffering a heart attack seemed a perfectly human reaction to the chaos around them. Until the rug is pulled out from Dr. Copper (and the viewer) when he attempts to revive him via defibrillator. The brilliant misdirect locked this scene down in the pantheon of iconic movie moments.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre – Meet Leatherface

There are a lot of iconic moments in this classic, making this one tough. From Leatherface’s crazed twirling of the chainsaw at the end or the worst dinner party ever, Hooper’s debut film an unnerving ride beginning to end. The most memorable moment, though, goes to the film’s brutal introduction to the iconic Leatherface. Poor Kirk had no idea what he was getting into when he stepped into the Sawyer residence, and neither did the unsuspecting audience. The quick succession of Leatherface emerging from the back room, bringing down his sledgehammer upon Kirk’s skull, dragging his body into the back, and then slamming the door shut left audiences shook.

The Exorcist – Head Spin

Having just celebrated its 45th anniversary of release, The Exorcist remains one of the scariest movies of all time. It’s easy to see why; the devil demonstrates how evil he really is by possessing a 12-year-old girl and having her behave in heinous fashion. One of the most scandalous scenes sees a possessed Regan masturbating sadistically with a crucifix. That alone was enough to unnerve audiences, but the moment is punctuated by Regan sitting up in bed and turning to face her mother – 180 degrees the opposite direction. Human necks do not, under any circumstances, rotate that far, making the moment utterly chilling.

Psycho – The Shower Scene

A scene so famous and mind-blowing that it even received a documentary, Alfred Hitchcock caught audiences with their pants down thanks to one of horror’s most surprising death scenes. Up until her brutal death, Marion Crane was the film’s central character and lead. No one saw that coming.

Jaws – You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

Sometimes less is more, and that was the case in Steven Spielberg’s classic that made generations afraid to go into the water. The animatronic shark used in production had a way of being uncooperative, making Spielberg get creative and use the shark’s appearances sparingly. It resulted in one hell of a reveal, in which Chief Martin Brody is haphazardly tossing chum in the water from the back of Quint’s boat. It appears without warning, and in a state of shock, Brody makes an astute, yet humorous observation about Quint’s boat in correlation to the shark’s size.

Alien – Chest Burster

The iconic scene that not even the actors purportedly saw coming; the birth of a xenomorph by way of the gruesome death of its human incubator. Kane seemed to be on the mend after a harrowing encounter with a strange face-hugging lifeform on a derelict space ship. He and his crew are having a cheerful meal post recovery, but it’s interrupted when he starts convulsing. An alien violently rips out of his body through his rib cage, splattering everyone around him with blood and beginning the battle for survival.