Horror films can certainly leave an impression, and in this Academy Originals video, a number of directors and other crew members share the first movies that scared them:
While you might not think of it as horror in the traditional sense, and I'm sure it's a random choice, but Arachnophobia was the first movie that I remember scaring me, and has no doubt contributed to my irrational fear of spiders (I'm pretty sure I was traumatized for weeks). I'll have to give a close second to literally anything with a terrifying puppet coming to life.
Fear is certainly a powerful emotion, and it's one of the reasons horror movies are still such a successful genre. Even if you don't like horror movies, they definitely get your heart racing.
What was the first movie (or movies) that scared you?
Your Comment
9 Comments
The Exorcist. One of the very few movies capable of scaring me. The one that scared me the most. Still does!
October 28, 2015 at 8:49AM
I hid behind the barcalounger when the flying monkey's would appear in the 'Wizard of Oz'. Then there was the fierce Abdominal Snowman in Rankin Bass' stop motion classic: 'Rudolf'. Both terrifying (when you're 3).
October 28, 2015 at 9:57AM, Edited October 28, 9:58AM
Tales from The Crypt, used to watch that a lot as a kid. But the film that convinced me to become a filmmaker was the Original Evil Dead.
October 28, 2015 at 11:41AM, Edited October 28, 11:41AM
The original Haunting. Saw it at home alone, suffering from food poisoning, with some puking & hallucinating. Fascinating!
October 28, 2015 at 12:14PM
The Shining. Stanley Kubrick can create an atmosphere of horror and suspense like no other. Everything about that film is terrifyingly excellent.
October 28, 2015 at 1:27PM
When I was probably 7 I was next door at my older cousin's house and Night of the Living Dead was on tv. The scene where they drive a spade through a zombie's head is a very vivid childhood memory. Even though there was only like 30 feet between our houses I ran home as fast as I could.
October 29, 2015 at 1:02AM, Edited October 29, 1:02AM
The Frighteners, second half of the movie when Michael J. Fox is seeing the flashbacks in the hospital - scared the crap out of me when I was around 5
October 29, 2015 at 2:11AM
Without a doubt, The Exorcist. Scariest movie of all time. I'm in my 40's and even now I wouldn't sit in the dark and watch it by myself. There's something primordially frightening about it.
October 29, 2015 at 8:18PM, Edited October 29, 8:18PM
Not my first but most memorable was Jurassic Park. I had dreams of being chased by raptors for a few nights after seeing it.
November 1, 2015 at 8:07PM, Edited November 1, 8:10PM