Top 10 Creepiest Voices in Horror Movies

“The Babadook” (2014)
Anyone who has seen this film is undoubtedly marked by the titular creature, the Babadook, and its horrifying voice. The creature itself is a manifestation of the protagonist’s grief, and its haunting presence is something all of us have experienced in one way or another. Interestingly, the sound engineers behind the voice utilized a variety of sound effects from video games, thus perhaps making the cries of the Babadook vaguely recognizable. And terrifying. The unease created by the sounds emitting from the creature is palpable and completely unforgettable. The film is one that haunts its viewers until long after the credits.

“The Mothman Prophecies” (2002)
There’s something about mysterious voices on the phone. In “The Mothman Prophecies,” John Klein (played by Richard Gere) speaks with a man who prophesies multiple deaths. The mysterious man is identified as Indrid Cold and is said to have spoken to local man Gordon Smallwood in the form of a voice in his head, as well as a voice emanating from his sink. Though these sound like the ravings of insanity, John ends up actually speaking with Cold on the phone, and his voice is haunting. There’s a sort of semi-distortion to it, as well as static, making it all chilling. We do prefer hearing it over the phone, however, to coming from the sink drain.

“Saw” franchise (2004-)
“Do you want to play a game?” No, Jigsaw. No, we do not. The “Saw” franchise is filled with grotesque physical tortures and conundrums. Arguably, however, the most residual haunt from the films is the voice of Jigsaw or John Kramer, portrayed and voiced by actor Tobin Bell. Jigsaw is one of those villainous characters who truly believes he is doing something valuable: teaching his victims to appreciate their lives. His pragmatic approach to all the horrors he orchestrates, coupled with his straight-forward, matter-of-fact voice, make for the ultimate scare. Now transfer that voice into a puppet on a tricycle, and voila… the stuff of nightmares.

“Scream” (1996)
Hey, people who were teenagers in the 90s, remember this? “Hello, Sidney”... Though the mask and popular cast (at the time) are staples of the “Scream” franchise, the voice on the phone is what haunted us the most long after the credits. Performed by Roger L. Jackson, the iconic voice was featured throughout the film on various scary phone calls and made us all afraid to answer the phone when alone at home. The film also plays on the whole “the calls are coming from inside the house” trope, which was widely popular prior to mobile phones, kids. The voice is perhaps so iconic due to its deep tone and exaggerated rage, and taglines perpetually imitated by 90s teens everywhere.

“It” franchise (2017-19)
Though there are two notable performances of Pennywise the Dancing Clown (and we shall never forget our friend Tim Curry), Bill Skarsgård really put an anxiety-inducing spin on the creature. Not only is Skarsgård’s Pennywise extra creepy, he also sounds horrific. The actor claimed he worked extensively on pinpointing the most unsettling voice for the clown and has said that unpredictability was the key aspect of the persona that he wished to capture. Hence, Pennywise’s voice is a carnival ride of sorts: tone and pitch are up and down, there are a lot of breaks and changes mid-sentence, and we have goosebumps as a result.

“Candyman” (1992)
Say his name five times into a mirror, and he will appear and murder you with a hook. Would it be as scary if he sounded like Mickey Mouse? Perhaps, but much like the others on our list, Candyman boasts a deep, breathy voice. Actor Tony Todd has a vast filmography filled with villainous parts and voiceovers for a reason. The dark, looming figure appears, and his voice echoes and booms as he delivers his cryptic messages, and we are properly frightened. Bonus points for the mouthful of bees, which Todd actually did with real bees for the film.

Various
One of the most recognizable faces and voices in the horror genre, Vincent Price was a staple of scary movies from the moment he did “House of Wax” in 1953. Price had an incredibly rich and vast career, but was arguably best known for his voice. Lending his voice to a variety of projects, from radio shows to “Scooby-Doo,” Price also provided short narrations for the songs of Alice Cooper and Michael Jackson. We can only assume that for any horror voiceover job, Vincent Price was at the very top of the call sheet. Price’s haunting voice will remain with us for some time to come.

“The Shining” (1980)
There’s something inherently unsettling about two girls wearing the same dress, staring you down from the end of a long corridor. The image itself is creepy enough, but then they speak. In unison, of course. “Come and play with us.” The voices in themselves are not that creepy, but the harmony and straight-faced delivery are what make this an unforgettable nightmare. The Grady twins were supposedly axed off by their father in the Overlook Hotel, and their spectres haunt its corridors. When they offer up an invitation to play with them, you know it’s not kickball or checkers.

“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
What makes the 1991 film so frightening is not necessarily the story or its environment; it’s Hannibal Lecter himself. Anthony Hopkins did an amazing, award-winning job as the serial killer who cannibalizes his victims. What truly brought the character to a chilling level was his voice. The manner in which Lecter talks about his grotesque “meals” is incredibly disconcerting, as he does so with the gusto of a chef describing his culinary masterpiece. He is eloquent and well-spoken, which makes his true nature completely unworldly. Buffalo Bill’s voice is a different kind of creepy, but it also makes our skin crawl… for more reasons than one.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Crooked Man, “The Conjuring 2” (2016)
A Nursery Rhyme Character Straight Out of Hell

Billy, “Black Christmas” (1974)
The Ultimate Murderous Prank Caller

Black Phillip, “The Witch” (2015)
A Blood-Producing Goat Speaks His Mind

Curt Duncan, “When a Stranger Calls” (1979)
The OG “The Calls Are Coming from Inside the House!”

Simon, “Session 9” (2001)
The Abandoned Asylum Alumni

“The Exorcist” (1973)
What would a list of horror films be without our good friend Pazuzu? In this classic horror film, the possessed Regan displays many interesting side effects. One such effect is the voice of the demon Pazuzu. For the film, three actors were responsible for the voice of the beast. It is iconically creepy, as the film was perhaps one of the first to give voice to a demonic entity through a young girl. It paved the way for a plethora of subsequent exorcism films, yet the voice seems to remain somewhat similar in many of them. That deep, disturbing growl, coupled with its vile messages was extremely unnerving, especially for a 1970s audience that was not used to such a display.