5 Scary Movies That Will Chill You to Your Bones

All of these movies are scary because they could be real life situations. An escaped mental patient going on a vengeful killing spree, birds violently attacking people for no apparent reason, a psychotic hitchhiker looking to kill, a rabid dog turning on its owners and a young family trapped in a fancy hotel in the snow-packed mountains of Colorado - what more do you need to be totally terrified.

Halloween - You know the drill, escaped mental patient Michael Myers heads back home to finish the job he started years ago.

Michael Myers was only 6 years old when he stabbed his older sister to death on Halloween and was sent to a mental hospital for treatment. Fast forward to 15 years later, he escapes from the hospital days before Halloween to finish to killing the rest of his family.

The plain, white mask that Michael wears, make him arguably the creepiest killer in horror film history. You never see his face, and that makes his murders seem even more brutal because of the lack of expression or show of emotion.

Though the movie is quote a "slasher film" it still suggests there is a possibility it could happen in your town.

Interesting facts: This movie was produced on a $325,000 budget and made $56 million. Because of the tight budget, the mask Michael Myers wears is actually a likeness of William Shanter bought in costume shop. Based on Shatner's character from Star Trek, the mask was painted white and the eye holes were reshaped.

The Birds- I love this movie. Nature vs. man and nature wins. Anytime you can base a movie plot on animals getting revenge is the best recipe for a scare flick. Especially since the chosen animals are birds because unless someone has a pet bird, people don't usually intermix with them.

Hitchcock does an amazing job of building up the bird attacks on the innocent citizens of Bodega Bay right up to the scene in which Melanie (Tipi Hedren) is monstrously attacked in the upstairs bedroom of the house where they had been hiding out.

The scene in the phone booth is also particularly frightening as we watch the glass begin to break with each strike from a bird, leaving you certain we are going to see Melanie picked apart right then and there.

I'm still uneasy when I see flocks of birds today. This movie is a reminder that nature has a mind of its own and can become violent without recourse at any given time, even in a picturesque coastal town.

Interesting facts: There is no real ending to the film and that was done on purpose.

The movie is loosely based on short story by Daphne du Maurier called The Birds but the real inspiration for the movie came from an article in the August 18^th issue of the Santa Barbara, California Sentinel newspaper about birds exhibiting strange and violent behavior.

The Hitcher, 1986 - The scene is set, a lonely desert highway, a lonely traveler and a hitchhiker.

Jim, (C. Thomas Howell) is transporting a car from Chicago to San Diego when he spots a hitchhiker and decides to give him a ride. As they continue to travel down the road it becomes increasingly apparent that Jim's passenger has deadly intentions.

This movie is scary because we have been taught to never talk to strangers, let alone pick them up on deserted highways. When the kindness of this stranger puts him in the direct line of danger you are forced to face the fact that you just don't know what anyone is really capable of.

Interesting facts: The film was remade in 2007 and the differences are instead of a single traveler there are two kids going on spring break. In the remake, the male character dies living the female character to kill the hitcher which is what ultimately sunk the film.

Cujo- The story starts out so innocently. The family pet, a lovable St. Bernard affectionately called Cujo chases a rabbit into the fields only to be bitten by a rabid bat. The rabies infection turns Cujo into a murderous dog and he begins to attack and kill people, eventually trying to kill his owners.

Cujo takes Old Yeller to that place no one wants to go - the place where our docile and domesticated four legged friends turn on us and show us once and for all that they are beasts. Many a person has walked away from this movie with a fear of dogs, especially the big ones.

Interesting fact: This is the sequel to Stephen King's The Dead Zone and Cujo is actually possessed by Frank Dodd, the main character. There are references throughout the movie.

The Shining - Based on the book by Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick brought a version to the screen that sticks with the viewer long after the movie is over.

Recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance, (Jack Nicholson) takes a job as a caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in the mountains of Colorado. Occupying him is his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and young son Danny (Danny Lloyd). It is Danny who actually has "the shining", an ability that allows him to have visions.

The trouble starts as soon as the family is left alone in the huge hotel. Jack begins to drink again and slowly lose his mind turning on his wife and young son.

Winter is a hard season on a lot of people, couple that with being trapped in the snowy mountains with no way to get out and you have the best settings for a horror movie.

Interesting facts: The Shining holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most retakes in single movie, a 127 by Shelley Duvall.

Sources: imdb.com
Wikipedia.com