Top 20 Scariest Movie Deaths You Don't See

#20: Bill Hudley

House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Off-screen deaths are not necessarily about shying away from violence. Youll see what we mean in our first entry, which appears in Rob Zombies gory homage to grindhouse cinema, House of 1000 Corpses. Before Rainn Wilson was known for his comedic brilliance thanks to The Office, he was flexing his horror-movie-victim muscles as a casualty of the insane Firefly family and their sadistic plans. As we watch the demented Otis explain to his latest victim what happened to poor Bill, were shown some unsettling images of torture. However, the final kill is withheld from us, in favor of the frightening reveal of what Otis did to Bills corpse. Ladies and gentlemen: Fishboy!

#19: Darry Jenner

Jeepers Creepers (2001)

When Darry and Trish got a cryptic warning about Darrys imminent fate, they probably never thought itd actually happen. But by the movies end, Darry becomes the Creepers desired prey. Fans of the flick know how the story goes-Trish and Darrys trip home turns terrifying when they spot a cloaked driver dumping what looks like bodies. Soon, they realize whats chasing them isnt human, but a strange creature who hunts by sensing fear. Even the police cant stop it. The creature later breaks into the station and flies off with Darry. We dont see him die, but we hear his piercing screams - and see whats left of him. Alone in that abandoned factory, its clear there was never any hope for Darry.

#18: Barbara

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

When Barbara and her brother Johnny drove to visit their fathers grave, they had no idea how badly things would go. But as fate (or the director) would have it, theyre attacked by a pale man and Johnnys killed. Barbara manages to escape to an abandoned house, unaware that an even worse fate awaits her. Towards the end, when it seems like shed survive the ghoulish attacks, things take a grim turn. Her reanimated brother emerges and drags her right into a horde of zombies like its personal. You cant help but feel sorry for Barbara as she screams in horror, knowing that not only is her brother undead, but shes about to join him. Poor, poor Barbara.

#17: Marcy

Cabin Fever (2002)

Every lover of horror knows nothing good ever comes from a stay at a cabin in the woods. As always, a group of friends head out for a relaxing getaway, only to find themselves trapped in a waking nightmare. A mysterious flesh-eating virus is spreading through their camp, and Marcy becomes one of its first victims. With fear closing in, she tries to cling to normalcy - until a chilling moment reveals shes infected. As she shaves her legs, the infected skin peels away like wet tissue. Panicked, Marcy runs out, only to become an infected dogs target. We dont see her being torn apart, but her heart-wrenching screams and mauled remains say it all. Its a double horror.

#16: Bernadette

Candyman (1992)

Bernadettes only crime was being friends with Helen and showing up at her apartment at the worst possible time. Okay, maybe not her only crime. Summoning a murderous urban legend with your bestie? Not the smartest move either. Eventually, Candyman comes for Helen to keep his legend alive. Right in the middle of this, Bernie rings the door, completely unaware of the danger inside. Helen tries to warn her, but its too late. Bernie walks in, and Candyman doesnt go running because someone might call the cops. A new prey has arrived willingly. The look on Bernies face says enough about whats coming. With only the sounds of grunting and ripping, the director captures the incomprehensible agony of her end, without showing it.

#15: Annie

It Follows (2014)

Its pretty gutsy to hide violence from bloodthirsty horror fans, but in some cases, the results are even more terrifying. After all, out of sight doesnt mean out of mind. It Follows introduces horror fans to a sexually transmitted curse which makes those afflicted the targets of an invisible entity that chases or rather follows its prey. Although initially unidentifiable and unseen, this killer briefly takes on the appearance of random people and is only visible to its targets, but we are never shown its true form. The films opening shows young Annie, who is clearly being terrorized by an off-camera presence. And suddenly, a jump cut brings up to the traumatizing outcome: Annies mangled body, alone on a beach.

#14: Katie Embry

The Ring (2002)

A film about a killer videotape is going to be shrouded in mystery and riddled with questions. Although a supernatural story does not require much logical thinking, the characters and audience alike will be asking, how does one end up dead after viewing this terrifying video? We get a glimpse of the ghoulish Samara and her freakish tricks when she attacks Noah later in the film, but the first shocking death is what gets us jumping out of our seats. Although we know whats coming, we are hoping somehow that Katie makes it out alive. Her twisted face proves otherwise.

#13: Lambert

Alien (1979)

When the Nostromo crew picks up some unwanted cargo, they fall prey to a fierce alien creature that is hungry as hell. As we watch the Xenomorph pick off the crew one by one, we realize that theres nowhere to run on this spaceship. A brilliant mix of horror and science fiction, Alien has its fair share of terrifying moments and slasher-style deaths. In one such scene, poor Lambert becomes paralyzed with fear in front of the alien, as Parker swoops in for the rescue. But its all for naught, as Parker ends up dead. In a brilliant moment of cinematic suspense, we hear Lamberts screams, followed by a slow reveal as Ripley discovers her friends bodies.

#12: Micah

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Theres no denying it, Micah's a downright obnoxious character in Paranormal Activity. From the start, he dismisses Katies fear about a demon thats haunted her since childhood. Instead of taking her seriously, he sets up cameras and treats the whole thing like its a game. But pride usually comes before a fall, and his reckless attitude ultimately seals his fate. In the films final moments, Micah rushes to help his girlfriend after hearing her screams. We hear some struggles off-screen, then silence. Suddenly, Micahs body is hurled at the camera. To make it even more chilling, it looks like a possessed Katie did it. Micahs dead, and not knowing how makes it scarier. However, another Paranormal Activity film confirms she stabbed him.

#11: Rosie Betzler

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

This 2019 satire starts off playful and warm, even though its set during a dark time. It keeps that tone for a while until Rosies death changes everything. Up until that point, Jojos mother is the heart of the story: loving, vibrant, secretly working against the Nazis. We already know the fate of those who resist the regime, but nothing prepares us for Rosies death. Jojo follows a butterfly into the town square and stops dead. We see Rosies red shoes hanging midair. Shes been executed. The camera never shows her face, and that restraint makes it hit even harder. Its a devastating moment for us, just as it is for Jojo. Who knew a comedy could leave us in tears?

#10: Dennis Nedry

Jurassic Park (1993)

Steven Spielberg was knocking it out of the park with thrills for the whole family by the early 90s, and Jurassic Park had the makings of a classic monster movie thrill-ride. In order to make sure that this mega-budget blockbuster did not receive a rough rating, much of the violence was hidden off-screen. Although Mr. Arnolds death is completely unseen, and all were left with is a severed arm, the scheming Dennis Nedry takes the prize for most chilling off-screen death. As he tries to run away with the stolen DNA samples, he is attacked by a dilophosaurus, and we bear witness to the look of pure terror on his face before the camera pans away from his demise.

#9: Rachel Dawes

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Joker is not the kind of villain you mess with - because with him, there are no rules, no morals - just pure chaos. In The Dark Knight, he pulls off one of the most heartbreaking twists in the film. To sow despair, he sets a cruel trap: two locations, two bombs. One holds Harvey, and the other holds Rachel. But heres the kicker - the Joker lies about whos where. Gordon and the others head for Harvey while Bruce races to save Rachel, only to find Harvey instead. Rachel dies mid-sentence in an explosion that shatters everything - Batmans hope, Harveys sanity, and the illusion that good always wins. The poor girl had to die for the Jokers sick game.

#8: Paul Allen

American Psycho (2000)

Paul Allens only crime? Having a better business card and maybe landing a reservation at Dorsia. In Mary Harrons satire, thats more than enough to get him killed. Patrick Bateman, the polished psycho in a suit, invites Paul over, gets him drunk and then hacks him to death. What makes the scene so disturbing is what we see and what we dont. As Paul is murdered, the camera focuses on Batemans blood-splattered face, grinning like hes having a blast. We dont see the gore, but the lack of it only intensifies the horror. Because the real terror lies in Patricks complete emotional detachment, and the chilling possibility that maybe none of it happened. Or worse, it did and no one cares.

#7: Georgie Denbrough

It (2017)

A paper boat and a stormy day, thats all it took to send little Georgie to his tragic end. Chasing his paper boat down the street, he never expects it to slip into the sewer - or to find Pennywise, the nightmare in a clown form. At first, Pennywise seems harmless, lurking in the shadows and making Georgie laugh. But that friendly mask fades fast. In a split second, fangs emerge, Georgies arm is ripped off, and as he tries to crawl away, hes dragged into the darkness. We dont see what happens next, but his faint cry for Bill makes it unforgettably sad. Knowing he died alone down there with Pennywise? Thats what truly haunts us.

#6: Nurse Keating

The Exorcist III (1990)

Amy Keatings death is easily one of the most brilliantly executed jump scares in horror history. Its all about patience and precision. Director William Peter Blatty draws the scene out with agonizing stillness, a quiet hospital, routine movements, and a wide shot that never blinks. We watch Keating go about her business, yet the nothingness feels loaded, like somethings coming. Keating shuts a door - and to our absolute shock, a white-robed figure glides in behind her. Its so fast, so illogical, it fries your nerves. The scene cuts hard to a headless Jesus statue with eerie music that seals the dread. Its left to the viewers to fill in the horrifying gap - and somehow, thats more effective than showing the actual violence.

#5: Glen Lantz

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

The world has come to know supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger as a bit of an over-the-top showman because his kills are gruesome and often theatrical. The deaths in A Nightmare on Elm Street are all equally violent and grisly, and director Wes Craven does not shy away from gore. Its interesting that this off-screen death seems to be the most brutal and extreme in the film. As a dreaming young Johnny Depp is sucked into his bed, his poor mother, and we - the poor viewers - have to watch as blood shoots into the air like a geyser up to the ceiling, sealing his fate.

#4: Heather Donahue

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

While our screens were littered with more and more violent horror films in the 80s and 90s, The Blair Witch Project perfected the effect of off-screen horror. This low-budget indie darling shocked the world with its found-footage motif, while leaving almost all the violence to the viewers imagination. As the audience tags along with this film-crew threesome, trudging along the deep Maryland woods making a documentary about the legend of the Blair Witch, things get real eerie, real quick, but always out of view. The final chase and sudden demise of Heather as they investigate a creepy house is the most effective gut punch because we see everything through her eyes: she holds the camera until she no longer can, and it feels as if we ourselves are being attacked.

#3: Ben Gardner

Jaws (1975)

This local fisherman set sail to hunt the beast terrorising Amity Island, hoping to bag a reward. What Ben didnt know? He was about to become one of the oceans most gruesome warning signs. Later, when Matt Hopper dives to examine the wreckage, the scene goes from tense to horrifying in seconds because of what he finds. Deep beneath the ocean, Bens severed head pops into view, one eye missing and the other frozen in horror. Its a scream-out-loud moment that still rattles viewers even today. Just thinking about what Ben mustve gone through during his last moments? Thats what truly chills your bones.

#2: Newt & Hicks

Alien 3 (1992)

At the end of Aliens, Ripley, Hicks, Newt and the android Bishop are the only survivors. Honestly, its a bittersweet ending as Ripley cradles Newt like her child while Hicks is injured but alive. Thats until Alien 3 rips all of that away. Were told the ship crashed and both Newt and Hicks died in horrific ways. No epic battle - no heroic moment - just gone, even before the opening scene. All for what? Just to reset the tone and send Ripley into round three with the xenomorphs. But heres the thing; Hicks and Newt were like the heart of Aliens and killing them off that way felt like a gut-punch. To this day, some fans still see it as one of sci-fis coldest betrayals.

#1: Tracy Mills

Seven (1995)

According to John Does twisted ideology, each of his victims deserved their brutal ends. Gluttony, greed, pride, sloth, and lust are all punished in grotesque fashion. But then theres Tracy. She didnt fit the pattern, and thats what makes her death the cruelest of them all. She became a victim not because of her actions, but because of Johns envy. So, in his final act, he delivers a box to her husband, Detective Mills, with her severed head inside. Unlike other victims, we do not see the crime scene or her body - just Johns chilling confession that he took her pretty head. That forces us to imagine the unimaginable. Tracy wasnt just another casualty. She was the soul he destroyed to break Mills.

Which of these unseen deaths terrified you the most? Let us know in the comments section.