40. The Human Centipede (dir. Tom Six, 2009)
Six Entertainment
It almost doesn’t matter whether The Human Centipede is a good movie or not. The very idea behind Tom Six’s grotesque mad scientist story is enough to churn just about any stomach. Three poor bastards are kidnapped by a maniac (played, maniacally, by Dieter Laser) and surgically grafted from anus to mouth until they essentially share a single digestive tract. It’s a repulsive idea, visualized more elaborately with each passing sequel, but the original film’s straightforward simplicity makes it the most palatable, and also the scariest. ~ William Bibbiani
39. Mulholland Drive (dir. David Lynch, 2001)
Universal Pictures
No hay banda. Silencio. David Lynch’s film originally started its life as a TV pilot, but was eventually transformed into a phantasmagorical dream meditation on the nature of fame, and the elusive and duplicitous character of Los Angeles. Everything is beautiful here, and it is all fake. And, yes, the film is pretty much terrifying from beginning to end. ~ Witney Seibold
38. Maniac (dir. Franck Khalfoun, 2012)
IFC Midnight
Most people believe that remakes are terrible and useless and just a chance for studios to cash in on a familiar title. That is not the case with 2012’s Maniac. Director Franck Khalfoun used the same basic structure of William Lustig’s 1980 grindhouse flick (itself not well known outside of hardcore horror circles) but gave it a unique twist: the entire film is shot from serial killer Frank’s P.O.V. This is somewhat surprising, given that Frank is portrayed by Elijah Wood. The effect is a totally different film from the original, making Maniac (2012) tense and gritty, where Maniac (1980) is sleazy and trashy. ~ Alyse Wax
37. Ju-On: The Grudge (dir. Takashi Shimizu, 2002)
Lionsgate
The surreal images and sound effects from Takashi Shimizu’s third Ju-On movie (don’t worry, you don’t have to see all the others) are terrifying all by their lonesome. Specters with faces petrified in their own terror, creaking and looming monstrosities who seem to be sneaking out of the afterlife to destroy you. But beyond these expertly nightmarish cinematic stylings, the apocalyptic nature of the haunting in Ju-On: The Grudge makes the fear seem inescapable. Here at last is a single act of violence so evil that it could actually destroy the world. ~ William Bibbiani
36. Splice (dir. Vincenzo Natali, 2009)
Warner Bros. Pictures
In the near future, our geneticists will be ultra-hip, young, rock stars, and they will be capable of concocting new creatures out of whatever genes they have laying about the lab. But when the two protagonists of Splice elect to make a creature that is mostly human, they find that they’ve entered some sticky moral – and uncomfortably sexual – territory. ~ Witney Seibold
35. Session 9 (dir. Brad Anderson, 2001)
Universal Pictures
Director Brad Anderson’s nightmare-caught-on-film shocker features little to no violence but is almost unbearably terrifying. In it, a group of contractors are commissioned to clean the asbestos out of a looming, long-dormant insane asylum. Very quickly their morale and minds begin to deteriorate. The beauty of Session 9 is that you really are never quite sure if some sort of supernatural phenomena is causing the psychological breakdown of these characters or if the oppression of the environment is the catalyst. It’s that ambiguity, along with Anderson’s masterfully measured pacing, that make Session 9 such an unshakable experience. ~ Chris Alexander
34. Freddy vs. Jason (dir. Ronny Yu, 2003)
New Line Cinema
Fan service? You betcha, but fan service never tasted so good. The match up that horror hounds had been hoping for finally came together with style, humor and thrills, courtesy of Bride of Chucky filmmaker Ronny Yu. Granted, it takes some real dramatic gymnastics to get these villains from Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street on screen together, but once they’re face to face it’s a brutal brawl that kicks all kinds of ass. Take THAT, Alien vs. Predator. ~ William Bibbiani
33. Trick ‘r Treat (dir. Michael Dougherty, 2007)
Warner Premiere
Trick ‘r Treat is the rare film that has a huge cult following and merchandising abound, but that didn’t have a theatrical run. Aside from a handful of festival screenings, the Halloween-themed anthology went straight to DVD. Four tightly-crafted stories are tied together by the adorably creepy Sam, a child in footy pajamas with a burlap sack on his head. He never speaks; he is just there to mete out punishments when the rules of Halloween are broken. ~ Alyse Wax
32. Black Swan (dir. Darren Aronofsky, 2010)
Fox Searchlight
Poor Nina. All she wants is to play the lead role in Swan Lake. She is a talented dancer, but also one of the most timid, fragile people imaginable. Threatened by an earthier rival, Nina slowly mutates into an assertive, sexualized being… who may just be going mad. Black Swan is an a tense, nail-biting psychological drama of the highest order, and it’s a masterful look at the price of psychological freedom. ~ Witney Seibold
31. The Conjuring (dir. James Wan, 2013)
Warner Bros.
James Wan strikes again with another phenomenal, scary treat. While the opening sequence with the story of the Annabelle doll was effective, it wasn’t particularly necessary (and led to that terrible Annabelle spin-off). But when we do get to the main story of the Perron family, it is a well executed haunted-house tale that is amped up by an excellent ensemble cast, including the children. Hand clapping has never been so scary. ~ Alyse Wax
Next: #30-21
