Top 10 Scariest Movie Scenes of 2019
#10: Victoria Meets Pennywise
“It Chapter Two” (2019) Considering that the first “It” opened with Georgie’s introduction to Pennywise, it arguably would’ve been more fitting if “Chapter Two” kicked things off with this similar scene. Regardless, this stands out a genuinely creepy moment with exceptional timing, haunting lighting, and suspense throughout. Little Victoria Fuller encounters the dancing clown under some bleachers and her first instinct is – wisely – to get out of there. The whimpering Pennywise suckers her in, however, by promising to take the birthmark on her face away. As Pennywise pauses during a countdown, we’re given a glimmer of hope that Vicky may still have time to escape. Just as she starts to realize that something’s amiss, though, Pennywise breaks out his piercing fangs and drags her into the darkness.
#9: Chucky vs. Gabe
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“Child’s Play” (2019) Considering that Gabe was a Peeping Tom, amongst other things, he actually could’ve been an unsettling antagonist in another horror movie. However, this remake appropriately belongs to Chucky, who Gabe unwisely decides to fix… right after smelling his clothes. The repairman’s fate is sealed once Chucky rises from the table and demonstrates how baleful things come in small packages. Gabe suddenly finds himself in the middle of an impromptu death trap, holding onto a scorching hot pipe above a table saw. Finally, Gabe is given no choice but to let go as Chucky soullessly watches in amusement. Gabe surrounded himself with technology, which makes it especially ironic that he meets a creatively gruesome end at the hands of a smart doll gone haywire.
#8: Light Carousel
“Annabelle Comes Home” (2019) While not the franchise’s best offering, “Annabelle Comes Home” delivered several solid scares, with the highlight being this jump scare of the year set piece. The scene possesses serious “Poltergeist” vibes as something starts tugging on the slumbering Judy’s legs. As her blanket begins to elevate, Judy finds the Annabelle doll, along with another uninvited guest. Judy hurls Annabelle into the corner of her room, knocking over her light carousel in the process. Although night lights are supposed to make us feel comfortable and secure, this one only adds to the dread. The wicked doll’s shadow comes to life, growing more menacing with each changing color. Suddenly, sleeping in the dark sounds like a much safer alternative.
#7: Spahn Ranch
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019) If you were familiar with the Manson Family walking into this Tarantino movie, your spine definitely stiffened when Cliff Booth arrived at Spahn Ranch. Even if you had no idea who Charles Manson was, anyone would be intimidated by the farm’s rundown appearance and population of suspicious hippies. While Cliff has proven that he can handle himself, we still fear for him as he enters George Spahn’s dilapidated house. Even after George reassures him that all’s well, something is clearly off and Cliff’s survival is anything but guaranteed. Although the sequence drips with unnerving tension, it ultimately ends on a hilarious note as Cliff beats one Family member to a pulp. Leave it to Tarantino to make us afraid while also making us laugh.
#6: Seeing the Light
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“The Lighthouse” (2019) Watching this psychological horror movie is like falling into a black abyss, and we mean that in the best way possible. Is there a light at the end of the darkness, though? Yes and no. After giving Thomas Wake the axe, Ephraim Winslow – or Thomas Howard – finally makes his way to the top of the lighthouse. What he finds in there remains one of 2019’s biggest mysterious. It’s possible that Ephraim stumbled upon something otherworldly, but it’s just as likely he found an ordinary Fresnel lens. Either way, it’s more than Ephraim can handle, sending him tumbling down the spiral staircase. Ephraim winds up on the beach as seagulls peck at what remains of his body - leaving us in the dark.
#5: How About Another Joke, Murray?
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“Joker” (2019) Few characters chilled us to the core in 2019 like Arthur Fleck. Actor Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips created a Joker who could eerily exist in our world, practically channeling John Wayne Gacy. When Arthur is invited onto “Live! With Murray Franklin,” the talk show host sees an opportunity to score a few more laughs at his expense. Once Arthur starts telling some of his quote unquote jokes, however, Murray realizes that he’s unleashed a deeply unstable mind. Arthur saves his most depraved “joke” for last, whipping out a gun and getting back at Murray for humiliating him earlier. The building tension, gritty realism, and sense of panic amount to a downright disturbing sequence that could only put a smile on Arthur’s face.
#4: The Ritual
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“Midsommar” (2019) By this point in “Midsommar,” the audience may’ve felt uneasy, but this scene propelled the film into nightmare territory. As two village elders stand atop a cliff during a ritual, we’re given a sneaking suspicion of where this scene is going. That still doesn’t prepare us for when the female elder plunges from the cliff and hits the rock below. The male elder’s demise is even more horrific, as he survives his fall, forcing the cult to break out a mallet. Director Ari Aster pulls no punches, turning the elder’s head into a piñata. A word of advice: when bodies literally start dropping, you should always cut your summer vacation short. Unfortunately, Josh and his friends learn this the hard way.
#3: Park Da-song’s Ghost
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“Parasite” (2019)” “Parasite” has a pervasive sense of uncertainty that’ll leave you on edge throughout. While it doesn’t exactly fall under the horror genre, director Bong Joon-ho has described his film as a “ghost story” of sorts. The ghost in question once appeared before young Park Da-song in a doorway leading into the basement. The experience left Da-song traumatized, but the explanation behind this encounter is creepier than anything supernatural. The ghost is really the former housekeeper’s husband, Geun-sae, who’s been hiding from loan sharks in the house’s secret bunker for years. When Geun-sae emerges again, his presence causes Da-song to suffer another seizure before all hell breaks loose. To a certain extent, Geun-sae WAS a ghost, representing how the working class has become invisible to the wealthy.
#2: The Girl & The Shadow
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“Us” (2019) We all know that Lupita Nyong'o is a phenomenal actress, but she never struck us as somebody who could be legitimately terrifying. That all changed from the second Adelaide’s doppelgänger, Red, opened her mouth. As the Wilson family is confronted by their Tethered counterparts, Red shares her haunting backstory in the form of a fairytale. She’s spent most of her life living in Adelaide’s shadow, always getting the sharp end of the stick. The torment she’s endured is emphasized by the agony in her voice. Red sounds like she swallowed a cup full of glass and nails, struggling to get every word she says out. Now she’s ready to inflict that same pain upon Adelaide - although Gabe doesn’t seem to comprehend this. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: The Barn “Ready or Not” (2019) Tito’s Mother Locks Him Inside an Electrical Room “Climax” (2018) Bugs “The Perfection” (2019) Bradley’s Demise “Doctor Sleep” (2019) Alligator Attack “Crawl” (2019)
#1: The Pale Lady
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“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” (2019) This adaptation of Alvin Schwartz’s books had no shortage of menacing monsters, but the Pale Lady is destined to become a horror movie icon. If you combined the Blob, Kayako from “The Grudge,” and the Pale Man from “Pan's Labyrinth,” you’d get this bogeywoman. No matter where Chuck turns in a red-lit hospital, his worst nightmare is waiting around every corner, advancing closer and closer towards him. What makes the Pale Lady especially petrifying is that she always has a wide smile stretched across her face. When she catches Chuck, it almost looks like she’s bringing him in for a loving embrace - when in reality, she’s absorbing the teen’s body into her own. After watching this scene, you’ll be left as white as a ghost.
