30 best horror movie scenes of the 21st century – cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio Its not just about freaking someone out, making them feel ill or causing them to hide under the bed. Theres an art to putting together a great horror movie scene that goes behind revving up a chainsaw or torturing a helpless victim.

The 2000s has seen its fair share of great scares. Some have come in the found footage genre. Others are driven by jump scares. But what they all have in common is that they stay with you.

This list features the best of the bunch. Their scare factor is high. But theyre also some of the most well put together moments in horror movie history. Theyll haunt your nightmares in the best way imaginable (If youre into that sort of thing).

[SPOILER alert: Many of these video clips and descriptions are obvious spoilers for films if you havent seen them. And most if not all of the films are R-rated. So while theyre YouTube approved, they still may not be easy to watch]

30. The Purge

Scene: Please just let us purge

The Purge is one of the more unique critiques on Americas social and political issues. But its still a horror movie. The main antagonist isnt what youd expect. Its a group of rich kids, who call themselves fine, young, every educated guys and gals. The leader looks like Zack Morris, embodying the bloodthirsty evil in this world. The way he says Please just let us purge while threatening to enter the home of a family and inflict harm will give you chills.

29. Drag Me To Hell

Scene: You shamed me

Never underestimate an old lady. Especially when shes hiding in the back of your car inside a garage ready to attack. Even if you manage to knock all of her teeth out, shell still try to disgustingly gnaw off your face.

28. Halloween (2018)

Scene: Bathroom massacre

If you havent seen the 2018 Halloween film, which is a direct sequel to the 1978 original film that thankfully retcons everything that came after, its worth your time. Whats most terrifying about the bathroom murder scene is how it makes you feel. Michael Myers goes after two true crime journalists that all but taunted him during a visit at a mental institution. Are they getting what they deserve? Does anyone deserve that?

27. Evil Dead (2014)

Scene: Face carving

The characters in the Evil Dead soft reboot from 2013 do a lot of horrible things to themselves when possessed. But no one gets it quite as bad as Olivia, who is discovered in the shower using a piece of glass to rearrange her face.

26. Train to Busan

Scene: Train station

Much of the South Korean blockbuster Train to Busan takes place in the tight quarters of a train. But, perhaps, nothing is scarier than when you think youve found sanctuary during the zombie apocalypse only to run into a group of soldiers turned zombies that want to eat you and your entire family.

25. Midsommar

Scene: Attestupa

If youre familiar with Ari Asters films (Midsommar and Hereditary), you know youre going to get a few moments that will floor you, Perhaps, none are more jarring than the Attestupa scene in Midsommar." While mysterious, the film is rather calm up until the point where we find out two elder members of this Swedish commune are going to sacrifice themselves by jumping off a cliff. The first woman leaps, hitting a boulder face first (It looks as gruesome as you might imagine). And thats the sacrifice that goes smoothly. The second guy dives feet first, destroying his leg. Hes still alive. So the members of the commune crush his skull with an extremely large mallet. The only thing left is for you to pick your jaw up off the floor.

24. Annihilation

Scene: Mutant bear

Annihilation is a film whose violence always seems imminent. Much of the time its cloaked in mystery. But when a mutant bear (We think thats what it is) shows up, theres no hiding just how much danger this group of women is in. What gives the creature an even scarier presence is the noise it makes, which appears to come from the screams of its victims.

23. Us

Scene: The Tethered

The best thing about Jordan Peeles Us" is Lupita Nyongos performance. Whether its the way she moves as the character Red or the way tears roll down her wide-open eyes, you cant take your eyes off her. When she first speaks that the true horror sets in. Us has humorous moments and is widely entertaining. But every time you hear Reds voice, youre brought back to the films creepy vibes.

22. Green Room

Scene: Keep the gun

Green Room is a movie that gets off to a slow start. But once the horror gets rolling, its thrilling. Much of that occurs in one room, where a punk band has found themselves in a situation they cant get out of with a group of neo-Nazi skinheads. The band has a gun but is debating it trading it for their freedom. Thats when all hell breaks loose. Struggles take place, bones are broken, wrists are slit with a box cutter and things reach the point of no return.

21. The Mist

Scene: The final decision

The gut-punch of an ending to The Mist has nothing to do with the mysterious monsters hidden in the fog. Its about one mans decision to protect his family and the consequences that come with it. We wont spoil it here other to say that its heartbreaking.

20. Paranormal Activity

Scene: Night #21

Paranormal Activity could have ended with nothing happening and the film would have still worked. The magic is in the tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The brilliance of the ending is that it keeps that tension going. Everything important happens off-screen and the final sequence that proves to be worth the wait.

19. The Conjuring

Scene: Wardrobe closet

If you werent already hooked by The Conjuring, the wardrobe closet scene certainly takes care of that for you. The random noise, followed by the threat that something is going to happen is a trademark of director James Wan. But when it pays off, it usually pays off in a big way. Here, Wan pulls a fake-out, making us think its yet another case of two young girls worrying for no reason. But, oh, did they have a reason.

18. Insidious

Scene: Lipstick-Face Demon

The first two Insidious films are the ultimate showcases for James Wan, aka the master of the jump scare. His defining moment in that first film comes when the story of a mysterious demon is being told only to have it briefly appear behind Josh. The legend of the Lipstick-Face Demon is born.

17. The Strangers

Scene: The kitchen

The Strangers has some brutal scenes (the violent climax is almost unwatchable). But the beauty of the kitchen scene is just how subtle it is. Kristen (Liv Tyler) smokes a cigarette as a silent, masked figure stares at her from the shadows of another room. One thud later and the movie is off and running. The image of Tyler staring off-camera with the figure behind her was so spooky, it ultimately became one of the movies promotional poster.

16. Let the Right One In

Scene: You have to invite me in

The power of Tomas Alfredsons Let the Right One In is that it contrasts the innocence of childhood with the folklore of vampires and the undead. So when Oskar asks Eli what would happen if he doesnt invite her, a vampire, into his apartment and she still enters, were hit with this brutal scene of her bleeding from the inside out. Its an intense moment involving tremendous acting.

15. It Follows

Scene: The tall man

Theres something wrong with me. Those are the words from Jay, the main character in It Follows." They come right before the films best scene. Her anxiety is created by a bunch of odd figures (like an old woman in a hospital gown) constantly following her around. There arent many special effects or CGI monsters. The terror is psychological. The arrival of the tall man is captivating because its build-up pays off with a terrifying, eyeless figure that sets Jay off into a panic while her friends (who cant see him) are left scratching their heads.

14. Sinister

Scene: Lawnmower

The art of the jump scare. In Sinister, Author Ellison Oswalt (Ellison Oswalt) has moved into a home where a family was murdered as a way of researching his new book. You know its not going to end well, especially when he discovers home movies that depict the murders of different families. One such video lulls you into a sense of calm as you watch a lawnmower moving silently over grass. Then, suddenly, the lawnmower runs over one of the family members. You never see it coming.

13. The Descent

Scene: Night vision

The Descent combines several elements of classic horror films, especially in its big reveal of the monsters that have been stalking a group of women who go spelunking. Theyre in an unfamiliar, dark, confined space. Theyre surrounded by the remains of dead animals and the only way for the audience to truly see whats going on is through a cameras night vision (nice touch). You wait and wait for the big reveal. Ultimately, The Descent takes a page out of the Alien playbook, giving us a monster that looks scarier than we imagined.

12. The Witch

Scene: Peek-a-boo

The setup is simple. In 17th century New England, a young girl plays peek-a-boo with her baby brother only for him to shockingly disappear on the fourth time. The camera angles are perfect and the horror lies in the idea that an innocent baby has disappeared in a matter of seconds. Its one of the creepiest standalone scenes from a horror movie youll ever see.

11. Hereditary

Scene: The attic

There are multiple scenes in Hereditary that will knock your head off. But the ending is about as bonkers as it gets. Charlie runs the gamut of seeing naked coven members, his fathers burned corpse and his mother severing her head with a piano wire. Its an intense race to a finish and one that is ruled by Toni Collettes stunning performance as Annie.

10. Saw

Scene: Reverse bear trap

I woke up. All I could taste was blood and metal. Some of the things from the first Saw movie may seem tame by todays standards. But the reverse beartrap scene holds up because of how it is presented. A woman wakes up with a contraption wrapped around her head. A video plays with Jigsaw explaining whats about to happen: I want to play a game...When the timer in the back goes off, your mouth will be permanently ripped open. To save herself she must retrieve a key out of a dead mans stomach. And to make things even more terrifying, Jigsaw throws in an unexpected twist. Live or die. Make your choice.

9. Ju-on

Scene: The Staircase

Even if youre not familiar with Japanese horror films, you know this scene from Ju-On (aka The Grudge). Its the foundation of the genre during the early 2000s, mimicked endlessly by both Japanese and American movies. Youre hypnotized by this terrifying creature, covered in blood crawling ever so awkwardly down a flight of stairs. Running is the best option, but you cant look away. Its a huge payoff moment, not just for the film but for a franchise that consists of 13 films, including four American versions.

8. 28 Weeks Later

Scene: Every man for himself

The brilliant 28 Days Later did a fantastic job introducing us to its virus. The sequel had to take things to the next level. 28 Weeks Later does just that. The opening is heartbreaking, infuriating and frightening all at once. As the outbreak finally arrives at a safe house where a collection of families are staying, a man must choose between saving his own life and trying to help his wife and a child. He chooses the former. Yet, before we can judge him, we watch him run in a panic as zombies that could rival Usain Bolt for speed chase after him. Theres hardly time for you to catch your breath and the movie has just started.

7. Zodiac

Scene: I do the posters myself

The entire vibe of Zodiac is spooky, in large part because its based on a true story. But the basement scene is especially unsettling. Much of that is the performance of Charles Fleischer as Bob Vaughn. Hes not physically intimidating. In fact, it wouldnt be hard to imagine Jake Gyllenhaals character overpowering him with ease. But Bobs creepy factor is enough to make you feel like a small child. Just the way he says, Mr. Graysmith, I the posters myself. Thats my handwriting is enough to make your skin crawl. At that point, the audience is left wondering if this is, indeed, the killer. Then they go to the basement because the best way to make an already scary scene even scarier is to go in a basement.

6. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Scene: So it begins

If youve never seen George A. Romeros original Dawn of the Dead, heres a spoiler: It doesnt start like this. Im not sure anything does. Good morning, its the start of the zombie apocalypse and your zombified daughter is eating your husband. Oh, and theyre both going to come after you next with super strength and frantic speed. Good luck with that.

5. Mulholland Drive

Scene: Diner

Mulholland Drive is not a horror movie. And yet, it contains one of the scariest scenes in the history of film. It starts with two men at a diner. One of them has had a nightmare about that very place where he witnessed something he never wants to see again. The horror exists in his eyes and were forced to believe we dont want to see it either. The tension and buildup to the scenes conclusion are as hair-raising as it gets.

4. The Babadook

Scene: Babadook dook dook!

Odds are youve seen the main image from the scariest scene in The Babadook. Its one of the most paused horror movie moments ever. The Australian movie is a masterclass in sound effects, especially in the terrifying bedroom scene. You can only hear the Babadook coming as Amelia puts the covers over her head. The anticipation is intimidating. And when she finally removes them, were faced with a creature that seeks to invade her body and soul.

3. The Ring

Scene: Samara comes out to play

Simply iconic. The Ring is a remake of the 1998 Japanese film of the same name (or Ringu in Japanese) that was highly influential in the genre. But the American thing takes things to the next level with special effects. The concept is creepy to say the least. You watch a strange videotape and then you have seven days to live. People die one after another. Only we dont see what kills them until the very end of the film. What makes the climactic scene so incredible is that its a TV screen within a screen. Thus, as the uber-creepy Samara is walking towards the TV set, it looks as if shes coming towards you the viewer.

2. The Conjuring 2

Scene: The Valak painting

This is one of the most well put together scenes in horror movie history. It begins with us seeing the horrified eyes of a teenage girl looking at a demon nun down a hallway. The figure is close enough that we know its scary. But its far enough away that we need to see more. And thats what we get. As soon as Lorraine spots the painting in the office, we know where this is going. But the Conjuring 2 keeps us guessing as to how well get there. Kudos to the slow shadow walk around the walls. The buildup is everything and the Valak painting scene perfects it.

1. Get Out

Scene: The Sunken Place

What else were we going to pick? Entire films go to great lengths for two hours (sometimes longer) to produce the psychological effects Jordan Peele accomplishes in one scene in Get Out. The Sunken Place serves a purpose in the overall plot of the film. But at that moment, it also brings the main characters greatest fears to life. Hes paralyzed by the thought of a childhood memory hes been running away from. The subtle touches from the spoon circling the teacup to the scratching of the chair create a chilling atmosphere. Its impossible not to get caught up in this three and a half minute sequence that ranks the great movie scenes of the past decade regardless of genre.

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30 best horror movie scenes of the 21st century - cleveland.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero