Top 10 Shocking Horror TV Moments

“The Exorcist” (2016-17)
Since its release in 1973, William Friedkin’s revered horror classic,“The Exorcist” has continued to terrify audiences. Despite fears of a spin-off tarnishing its legacy, the 2016 sequel series delivers a gritty and intricately woven tale. In the first season’s fifth episode, the show dropped a bombshell when Angela Rance was revealed as none other than Regan MacNeil, the demon-possessed girl from the 1973 film. Angela Rance is an anagram for “A Clean Regan''. Starring Alfonso Herrera and Ben Daniels as exorcists, the show follows their investigations into cases of demonic possession. Few could have seen this head-spinning twist coming. Suddenly, Angela’s deep knowledge of exorcism, and her daughters’ demonic possession make total sense.

“Hammer House of Horrors”(1980)
Though not as terrifying today, Hammer Studio’s 1980 horror series was one of the creepiest programmes ever shown in British television. Among its 13 eerie episodes, one in particular remains unforgettable - “The House That Bled to Death”. The tale follows a couple who buys an old house that was once the scene of a brutal murder. Creepy events ensue, culminating in a bloodbath at their daughter Sophia’s birthday party. This hair-raising moment surely sent 80s kids scurrying under blankets. It turns out that, unknown to poor Sophia, the events were staged to provide material for a bestselling book! After she finds out, one last shock awaits the audience!

“Supernatural”(2005-20)
Across 15 gripping seasons, this live-action fantasy series chronicles the adventures of the Winchester brothers as they battle demons and other supernatural threats. Now, these brothers have dodged death more times than we can count, but nothing could prepare fans for the Season 9 finale shocker. Dean dies, but thanks to the notorious Mark of Cain, he revives as a full-fledged demon. That spine-tingling clicking sound as his eyes popped open made his demonic transformation downright scary. While hints of Dean’s demonic storyline were dropped as early as season 3, the moment his eyes turned pitch black was still jarring.

“Buffy The Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
Talk about a gut-wrenching moment. Angel’s death at the hands of Buffy in the season 2 finale hit fans like a ton of bricks. Kissing Angel goodbye before impaling him with a sword was without doubt one of the toughest things Buffy had to do in all her vampire-slaying years. But putting humanity first, Buffy had to sacrifice Angel to save the world - a choice made even more painful by their forbidden and poignant love. Even decades later, that scene still packs an emotional punch. David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s fantastic acting elevates the scene.

“Twin Peaks”(1990-91; 2017)
Skating between madness and brilliance, “Twin Peaks” stands as one of the greatest mystery shows of all time. Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, this horror show follows the eccentric FBI agent Dale Cooper as he investigates the death of Laura Palmer in the quirky town of Twin Peaks. One of the most mind-searing scenes comes when Agent Cooper smashes his own head into a mirror. In the reflection is the evil spirit Bob. It turns out, we’re seeing Agent Cooper’s doppelganger, Bob’s creation. The scene is bizarre and unnerving, yet quintessentially “Twin Peaks”. The show’s abrupt end after this scene might explain why it haunted horror buffs until its 2017 return.

“The Walking Dead”(2010-22)
In “The Walking Dead’s” apocalyptic world, no one is safe, not even fan-favorites like Glenn and Abraham. Their soul-crushing deaths are stark reminders of the show’s brutal nature. Adapted from Robert Kirkman's comic book series, this AMC’s gem follows a group of survivors led by detective Grimes as they navigate a zombie-infested world. Glenn’s gory death at the outset of Season 7 was a huge blow to fans. Just when he was about to become a dad, BAM! His head gets bashed in with a bat. Talk about devastating! Abraham’s heroic death right before often gets overshadowed by Glenn’s tragedy. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Carl met his untimely end in season 8.

“The X-Files”(1993-2018)
Even decades after its airing, “Home” stands out as one of the most disturbing episodes of “The X-Files”. In this unsettling episode, Mulder and Scully investigate the death of a baby born with birth defects. This leads them to uncover the inbred, deformed Peacock family. Their grotesque appearance, the graphic imagery, and hardcore subject-matter scared the crap out of everyone. The episode’s conclusion, where Mrs. Peacock discusses starting a new family with her surviving son, makes the episode even more disturbing. Despite its controversial nature, “Home” received favorable reviews and quickly became a fan-favorite. Revisit at your own risk.

“The Twilight Zone”(1959-64)
Originally airing on October 11, 1963, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” has since become one of the most popular episodes of “ The Twilight Zone”. It follows Robert Wilso, who spots a gremlin on a plane’s wing. Because he had a nervous breakdown in the past, no one believes him. The pacing, the cinematography, and eerie score all escalate the episode’s sense of unease. It’s testament to the series’ knack for tapping into universal fears. Who hasn’t had a crazy thought while flying? Or imagined being trapped in a situation where no one believes you? It’s a similar premise to “Mirror Image”, where a young woman encounters a sinister doppelganger.

“American Horror Story” (2011-)
Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story” boasts numerous terrifying tales, making it tough to choose just one as the most disturbing. It was tempting to make this entry about “Freak Show’s” Twisty the Clown. But we decided to go with this infamous scene from “Murder House”. The season revolves around the Harmon family’s move to a restored mansion in Los Angeles, unaware that it’s haunted. In episode 10, Violet is brought face to face with her own decomposing body, revealing that she’s a ghost, having died when she took her own life midway through the season. It’s a moment so gross and chilling that it continues to haunt us today.

“The Haunting of Hill House” (2018)
Mike Flanagan’s loose adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel left audiences petrified. This mini-series follows the Crain family and their supernatural experiences in Hill House, switching between the past and present. As a child, Nell is haunted by the frightening Bent-Neck Lady. In the present, she hangs herself, and it’s revealed that this specter was actually her future self all along. The revelation was not only creepy, but also heart-wrenching. Poor Nell didn’t deserve such a horrific end. We have a chill running down our spine just thinking about this shocking twist!


What TV moments gave you sleepless nights? Let us know in the comment section.