Top 10 Horror Movies that Could Actually Happen

0

#10: “Red State” (2011)

Also in:

Top 20 Horror Movies that Could Actually Happen

Kevin Smith is best known for directing comedies, but he took audiences by surprise with this shocking and terrifying look at Christian Fundamentalism. Although not devoid of its dark humor and scathing satire, this film is no laughing matter. In the days when religious extremism was unjustly focused on the Middle East, right-wing Christian groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church, a direct inspiration for the movie, were on the rise. This film was a wake-up call to Americans, a controversial one at that, and made everyone realize that terror and extremism can reside in your own backyard, and even in your church.

0

#9: “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

Also in:

Top 10 Road Trip Horror Movies of All Time

Serial killer Ed Gein might’ve inspired the story, but this film is entirely fictional. Of course that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen, and the opening crawl and crime-scene footage cement the illusion that this could be a true-crime story. Although today this Tobe Hooper joint is famous for its graphic and brutal violence, audiences were unprepared for the realistic portrayal of the senseless killings of these teens. Although we can’t prove there are any cannibalistic families living in rural Texas, we can assure you that driving around in creepy towns and walking into random houses won’t end well. At least being traumatized by Leatherface will keep some teens from road-tripping through creepy Southern towns.

The fear of man-eating sharks, a trend started by “Jaws,” is a tad exaggerated, as there’ve only been roughly a dozen confirmed attacks by great white sharks in the United States since the film was released. However this doesn’t mean that you won’t be eaten alive when swimming in the ocean. The open water has always been a terrifying place, as there are a multitude of things that can hurt or kill you. Steven Spielberg and his brilliant mechanical shark took this idea and ran with it, striking gold. Its quiet-little-town setting struck a chord with audiences, making sure they stayed outta the water forever.

0

#7: “The Strangers” (2008)

Also in:

Top 10 Most Realistic Horror Movies

A common theme we are seeing is that horror can manifest itself in unexpected, safe spaces. “The Strangers” not only covers the home-invasion aspect, which has scared everyone at some point, but the possible danger of living in a seemingly quiet rural setting. While inspired by his own experiences, and some true home-invasion stories such as the Manson Family murders, director Bryan Bertino’s original story shocked audiences with its brutal message. As we watch young couple James and Kristen slowly realize that the horror is all too real, as they are being terrorized by masked figures at their summer home, we also start to realize we could be next.

0

#6: “Scream” (1996)

Also in:

Top 10 Dumbest Decisions in The Scream Movies

While the improbable and ridiculous masked-slasher craze died out in the 80s, the 90s became obsessed with true-to-life serial killers. We were also obsessed with blaming violent movies, music, and video games as the cause of real violence. Wes Craven saw this goldmine and gave us the modern-classic “Scream.” This blood-soaked satire follows a group of teens obsessed with violent, over-the-top horror films. They end up becoming the victims of a masked killer that may be one of their own. Oh, and, if you have any hope of surviving, you’d better be good at horror trivia.

0

#5: “The Last House on the Left” (1972)

Also in:

10 Most Vicious Acts of Revenge in Horror Movies

We’ve already covered home-invasion films, but this is the granddaddy of them all. The brutal realism of “The Last House on the Left” was so intense, the original poster and trailer kept reminding audiences “It’s only a movie.” Once again, Wes Craven was ahead of his time in stoking fear in his audience, and while it may only be a movie, its real-life implications are disturbing. Who needs monsters and demons when you have a gang of perverted, demented criminals? Poor Mari and her friend learned the hard way not to talk to strangers. With the girls raped, beaten, and left for dead, Mari’s family ends up taking matters into their own hands in a bizarrely satisfying confrontation.

0

#4: “Psycho” (1960)

Also in:

Christian Bale Bio: From American Psycho to The Dark Knight Rises

While the captured Norman Bates stares at us blankly, his mother’s voice in his head lets us know he “wouldn’t even harm a fly.” Up until “Psycho,” killers in cinema always had a strong motive, or they were simply brutal monsters. Norman Bates was an early depiction of mental illness leading a psychopath to murder. Poor Norman was such a sweet, young man, so innocent and polite. Nobody would suspect that he’s a peeping tom, dresses up as his mother, and kills women while they shower. The true horror here is that none of us is safe from anyone, not even the nice boy next door.

0

#3: “When a Stranger Calls” (1979)

Also in:

Another Top 10 Opening Scenes in Horror Movies

Urban legends make you squeamish for a reason. They’re supposedly based on real events, and their job is to scare you into thinking this happened to a friend of a friend, and therefore could happen to you. “When a Stranger Calls” relies heavily on the urban legend of the babysitter being stalked by a killer inside the house, and succeeds in becoming a terrifying viewing experience for everyone. We watch as the innocent teenager is tormented by phone calls from a psychopath, children helpless in their beds, and we’re reminded of how many times we’ve been home alone, not realizing someone could’ve been waiting for us upstairs.

“Misery” offers us a more outlandish premise, a series of bad events and happenstance that leads unlucky novelist Paul Sheldon to not only crash his car, but to be rescued, nursed back to health, and held hostage by his number one fan, and deranged lunatic, Annie Wilkes. And you might say to yourself that you’re not celebrity, but then you realize that almost everyone today can be found via social media. Being famous comes with its risks and of course Stephen King was thinking of his own status as a famous author when writing this, but any one of us could have a stalker watching us somewhere…

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Frozen” (2010)

“Prom Night” (1980)

“The Guest” (2014)

0

#1: “Funny Games” (1997)

Also in:

Top 10 Funny Dances Scenes in Movies

Home invasion has been covered in so many movies, and it certainly is a chilling experience. But it’s a whole other level of horror when you invited the evil into your home. Director Michael Haneke gave us the perfect monster movie by introducing us to the calm and polite Peter and Paul. As they’re welcomed into George and Anna’s vacation home, they decide to have some mischievous fun, which includes torture, torment, mind games, and murder. The family is inevitably punished for their kindness and hospitality, and we’re taught never to answer our door for anyone ever again.