Top 10 Horror Movies that Tried to Make you Afraid of Stupid Things

Okay, we can see how this might be scary if pitched with a slightly different angle: an item is stolen from a disturbed mythical creature of the old world, who pursues the thief back home to America to cause havoc and exact revenge. Actually, sounds a little like the plot to “The Exorcist.” However, in the case of Fathers Merrin and Karras, they were battling a possessing demon. Most people associate leprechauns with lucky charms and wishes; even traditionally in Irish folklore, they’re more fun-loving trickster fairies. The bearded, buckle-shoed image is just too hard to let go of. And there’s just something so un-scary about a murderous fairy.

It’s a snow day classic: get bundled up and build a snowman. You can deck them out just about any way you like, and these delightful backyard sculptures have inspired more than one song and book out there. They’re round and merry – so of course someone tried to make one scary. Not to be confused with the family film of the same name, which hit theatres just a year later, the makers of the 1997 “Jack Frost” didn’t even go with an intimidating character design. With his carrot nose and tartan scarf, he could be on anyone’s lawn. Maybe that’s supposed to be the kicker? Who knows? The weather outside may be frightful, but Frosty over there … not so much.

While this film and the international remakes it’s inspired are genuinely frightening movies, providing filmgoers everywhere with an original setup and twist, perhaps its greatest success was making people everywhere leery of screens and certain technologies. The premise would be replicated in future films, with everything from killer websites to phone calls claiming unsuspecting victims. But after seeing this movie, who out there would be willing to just pop an old unlabeled tape into the VCR without the teensiest bit of apprehension? Be honest, it’s just us Mojoholics here. That’s what we thought: No one, that’s who.

It’s been noted that beds are the places in a home where life is most likely to both begin and end. And, you know, they also provide great source material for pillow forts and staying cozy on cold winter days. But that first awfully poetic sentiment must have occurred to the makers of the efficiently named “Death Bed: The Bed That Eats.” In this movie, the evil bed eats a series of young people who keep showing up and sprawling out on the old musty covers, as youth are so wont to do. So, when you tuck in tonight, maybe bring a bucket of chicken and bottle of wine and keep your eye on your mattress. You know, just in case.

Granted, the program itself is not the antagonist or assailant in this film, and the video chat system is more or less the medium for the film. However, it’s clear from the delivery that the filmmakers wanted the experience to feel familiar, perhaps enough so that next time you log onto Skype you’ll wonder about who is also there. On the whole, “Unfriended” is supposed to be a message about the evils of bullying, but it’s the sort of film that leaves you frustrated. You see, the problem with internet-based horror is its easy fix: just log off and run out the front door! Problem solved, right?

Drawing from the folk tale of vagina dentata, this film works the old lore into a modern story of rape and revenge. Basically, here’s the plot: abstinent teenage girl Dawn gets raped by the boy she likes, so her vagina bites off his penis. You with us so far? Honestly, the idea of rapists getting their just desserts isn’t so bad. The problem here is that this movie will likely freak out anyone, rapist or not. So, uh, let’s just be very clear about one thing: even if it’s a bit of a mystery, there is nothing to be afraid of down there.

They’re small, slow, legless, invertebrates. Need we really say anymore? Sure, earthworms can be a little slimy if you tug one out of the ground, or pick one up in the rain, but can something that can be easily dispatched by a songbird ever truly be considered an avatar of terror? What are they going to do, squirm at you? Well, apparently, these massive big screen ones have developed a taste for human flesh. How?! They don’t have teeth! Should you find yourself the unlikely victim of a worm attack, just take a look around for a large fishing tackle, or head for a big bird sanctuary. Honestly, the remedy for this one just sounds like a pretty relaxing day.

Okay, at least this one isn’t taking itself seriously. In the beginning, the audience is reminded that when Alfred Hitchcock first pitched “The Birds,” people laughed, but that people weren’t laughing anymore after the movie. And with that, the filmmakers continue to drive home the idea that the next tomato you see might kill you and all you hold dear. That’s not blood – it’s tomato juice! With its B-horror setup, this story of evil produce will likely produce a lot of laughter… and perhaps a whole lotta ketchup? Ahem, we’ll just show ourselves out.

Most of us have probably had to hop-run across a hot beach or two in our lives, but the worst thing we had to worry about was if some jerk broke a bottle at our favorite beach-bumming spot. However this film challenges you to go one step further: What if the sand itself were the danger? To be fair to the filmmakers, they give this one their all, making it so that instead of the horror at the beach lurking in the water, it’s all around the hapless partygoers in the form of a sand creature. Doesn’t make it any less ridiculous, however.

Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Gingerbread Men
“The Gingerdead Man” (2005)

- White Noise
“White Noise” (2005)

- Extensions
“Exte” (2007)

Oh, M. Night, what happened? This movie seems to start off with a pretty creepy premise: all over the world, people are spontaneously losing their minds and killing themselves soon after. What could be causing such a thing?! Is it a terrorist attack? Is all that poison being spewed into the air by nuclear power plants finally coming back to haunt us? Or is it something even more sinister that we can’t even imagine??? Well, actually, it’s the plants. Like, trees and stuff. They’re giving off toxins that compel people to kill themselves. So, next time you see a group of trees gently swaying in the breeze, um… boo?