In celebration of NBC’s brand new horror series “Fear Itself”, here’s our selections for the top 10 scariest horror movies of all time. “Fear Itself” is styled as a showcase for small films from more than a dozen genre writers, including Joe Gangemi, Steve Niles and Dan Knauf, and genre directors including Brad Anderson (“The Machinist”), Darren Bousman (“Saw II, III and IV) and Ronny Yu (“Bride of Chucky”).
“Fear Itself” premiers June 5 at 10 p.m. EDT.
1) The Omen (Directed by Richard Donner)
Definitely the scariest movie of all time. A U.S. diplomat played by Gregory Peck and his wife adopt the infant Damien in Rome, then find out he’s the Antichrist. Evil child, brutal hangings, what more could you want out of a spine-chilling classic horror film?
2) The Shining (Directed by Stanley Kubrick)
Classic horror by a master of film making. The Shining is based on the Stephen King novel about a writer played by Jack Nicholson and his family who find themselves stuck in a hotel during blizzard conditions. The family finds themselves haunted by the hotels ghosts.
3) Alien (Directed by Ridley Scott)
A spine tingling classic. A mining ship, investigating a suspected SOS, lands on a distant planet. The crew discovers some strange creatures and investigates.
4) Jacob’s Ladder (Directed by Adrian Lyne)
I watched this one as a kid on Halloween. A traumatized Vietnam war veteran finds out that his post-war life isn’t what he believes it to be when he’s attacked by horned creatures in the subway and his dead son comes to visit him.
5) The Exorcist (Directed by William Friedkin)
Best watched with the lights on. Something beyond comprehension is happening to a little girl on this street, in this house. A man has been called for as a last resort to try and save her. That man is The Exorcist.
6) The Changeling (Directed by Peter Medak)
George C. Scott plays a man staying at a secluded historical mansion, finds his life being haunted by the presence of a spectre.
7) Jaws (Directed by Steven Spielberg)
Steven Spielberg should have stuck with horror. When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.
8) Puppet Master (Directed by David Schmoeller)
Scary as hell when your ten years old. Neil Gallagher found the secret to Toulon’s puppets who come to life and then killed himself. Alex and his psychic friends come to investigate and are stalked by Toulon’s puppets who have a variety of strange traits including a drill for a head and the ability to spit up leeches.
9) Rosemary’s Baby (Directed by Roman Polanski)
Fantastic film from a great director. A young couple move into a new apartment, only to be surrounded by peculiar neighbors and occurrences. When the wife becomes mysteriously pregnant, paranoia over the safety of her unborn child begins controlling her life.
10) The Amityville Horror (Directed by Stuart Rosenberg)
Another horror classic. Newlyweds move into a house where a murder was committed, and experience strange manifestations which drive them away.
Click Here to learn more about NBC’s Fear Itself.
