Top 5 Scariest Movies Ever: Films Perfect for Celebrating Halloween

It's that time of year, Halloween. In fact, you can't turn the television on without being reminded of Freddy, Jason, and evil clowns that wish to do you harm. The subject has made me think of the movies that I have seen over the year and which I feel have been the scariest. I have narrowed my list down and these are what I believe to be the top 5 scariest movies of all time.

Not only will I share the movie title with you, but I will also tell you why I believe that these are the top 5 scariest movies of all time and try to convey my point without spoiling the movie for those who may have yet to see them. So here they are:

The Shining

Stephen King is the master of horror and when it comes to scary movies, The Shining is terrifying. The images throughout the movie are horrifying and with stellar performances given by Shelly Duvall and Jack Nicholson you are instantly caught up in the nightmarish realm with the characters. Due to intense acting, pure fear, and one deranged psychopath, The Shining is the number one scariest movie of all time.

The Exorcist

Coming in at number two is The Exorcist. Beginning with a little girl who plays with ouija boards for fun, we are instantly translated into a world of demonic possession that matches wits with even the most devout priests. Who could have ever fathomed that one little girl could roar, levitate, and cause so much terror and fear in adults. If you've yet to see the Exorcist, trust me, it will leave your head spinning.

Jaws

They say that when Jaws was released, beach attendance dropped significantly. Though you won't find psychopaths wearing sports masks in this horror flick, you will find that one underwater fish on a mission can be just as deadly and terrifying. Jaws consisted of some excellent acting talent, Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfus, and the element of fear and terror stays elevated throughout the movie. Due to the level of fear that Jaws instigated in moviegoers after they left the theater, Jaws weighs in at number 3 of the top 5 scariest movies of all time.

Psycho

And you thought your mother was hard to deal with! Coming in at number 4 is Alfred Hitchcock's thriller, Psycho. Psycho has been studied by those in the movie industry and basically ripped apart to try to dissect what makes it so terrifying, specifically the shower scene. In fact, Janet Leigh reported that after filming the infamous scene, she never took a shower again, only baths. There is no doubt that Hitchcock truly was the master of suspense.

Silence of the Lambs

Last but not least in the top 5 scariest movies of all time, is Silence of the Lambs. Outstanding acting performances by Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins give the movie the psychological drama and plot twists and turns to leave you in suspense. The raving mad cannibal, Hannibal Lecter , will terrify you one minute then dazzle you with his brilliant mind the next. Agent Starling, played magnificently by Jodie Foster, is left to decipher the clues and break the Buffalo Bill case. Silence of the Lambs will keep you on the edge of suspense, as the only one who can help break the case is one terrifying psychopath and everyone always wants something in return- Quid pro quo, yes or no, Clarice!