The rest of the top 10 list, in order, includes: “Rosemary's Baby” (1968); “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974); “The Shining” (1980); “The Exorcist” (1973); “Jaws” (1975); “Halloween” (1978); “Alien” (1979); “Don't Look Now” (1973); and “The Witch” (2015).
Although I’m not a big fan of the horror genre, I have surprisingly viewed seven of the top 10 listed here. I have not seen “The Witch,” “Don’t Look Now” or “Rosemary’s Baby,” but there’s still time. (I hope.) Two other movies that scared the bejesus out of me that are not on this list are “The Omen” and the original “Nightmare on Elm Street.”
You may remember “The Omen” as Richard Donner’s supernatural horror film from 1976 about Damien Thorn, a young child replaced at birth by his father. As the boy enters childhood, and after many strange events and violent deaths, his father realizes that Damien is the Antichrist. This movie, and its sequel “Damien: Omen 2,” scared a number of people into opening up the Bible. I recorded those movies on VHS in the 1980s and watched them with my buddies in college. Creeped us all out.
The original “Nightmare on Elm Street” was also scary. The following eight sequels? Not so much. Wes Craven’s 1984 film introduced us to Freddy Krueger, the spirit of a slain child murderer who sought revenge by entering dreams of teenagers whose parents were responsible for his death. My friend Stacey Carlson and I went to the movie as sophomores in high school — with an empty seat between us, of course — and the movie left us admittedly shaken and uncomfortable.
Most all of us can relate to nightmares of some sort, and this movie proved it. What’s the scariest movie you have seen? Shoot me a note and let me know. And remember, as Freddy Krueger says, "The only thing to fear is fear himself."
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 | 
