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Top 10 Movies You Shouldn't Watch Alone

Grab a buddy! These are the scariest movies you shouldn't watch alone.

By WatchMojoPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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WARNING: Contains mature content.

These are the flicks that make our hearts race and make us wish we had company. Join WatchMojo as we count down our picks for the "Top 10 Movies You Shouldn’t Watch Alone." For this list, we’re highlighting frightening horror movies and a few films from other genres that are simply too disturbing to watch by yourself.

There are few things more terrifying than masked intruders, because they usually arrive with some type of sharp object and they always mean business. In Bryan Bertino’s horror flick, Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler star as two lovers on the road to a romantic getaway, but things get ugly after a failed proposal… oh, and when strangers appear with masks on their faces. Creepy sounds, cryptic messages, and a trio of psychos ready to slice and dice the surprised couple are just a few of the elements that make this a terrifying rental choice. Just try watching it alone… you’ll spend more time watching the window.

You know that you probably picked the wrong home to move into when your dog mysteriously dies during your first few days and spirits begin to express a desire to, um, END you. Such was the case in The Conjuring, where Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as real-life ghost investigators attempting to stop a doll from committing bloody murder. You know the drill: Exorcisms. Horrible screams. Slow insanity. But James Wan’s film offered much more than the usual genre shenanigans; it made people paranoid and afraid of being slaughtered by a smiley yet torn-up doll named Annabelle.

This found footage flick made audiences wet their pants and blame loved ones for spilling soda in the theater. When Katie and Micah move into a new San Diego pad, a collection of odd events inspire them to set up cameras. What happens? Well, Katie stares at her sleeping husband for two hours… and later gets pulled out of the room. To make matters worse, the ghosts get all kinky and start biting poor Katie. What happens next will SHOCK you… and it does involve blood. Grown men may have acted tough during screenings, but they gently clutched their pillows before going to bed later on.

Aliens aren’t real, right? RIGHT? That was the question posed by terrified moviegoers to their loved ones in 1979. Everybody loves a swell sci-fi story, and Ridley Scott’s Alien is one of the best. While a space crew makes their way home, something odd transpires; meaning, a rather motivated alien begins killing people. You thought the laws of science might ruin the day, did ya? No, it was a 7-foot extraterrestrial monster with a thirst for human blood. Even though the human race hasn’t actually made contact with aliens—that we know of—moviegoers still checked under the bed for a beast waiting to destroy them after they finished watching this flick.

It’s all fun and games until someone starts breaking eggs… and kills the family dog. In Michael Haneke’s original 1997 film, a wealthy Austrian family goes on vacation only to be interrupted by two enthusiastic guests. And that’s when the shit hits the fan. The intruders challenge the horrified family to a game of life and death, and it doesn’t go so well for Papa George, young Georgie and Mama Anna. As you might expect, Haneke’s 2007 shot-for-shot American remake was equally dark and made people re-think their morning breakfast.

It all started when little Jennifer hurls all over her mother. This real-time Barcelona-shot horror hit theaters in 2007 and featured a most unusual night shift for a TV reporter and her cameraman. As a sickness takes hold of the community, another shocking truth is revealed and, well, it’s not a good one. The brutal realism was so terrifying that grown men chose romantic comedies in place of this Spanish nightmare. Nobody wants to be snatched up and taken to hell. At least, it’s not on our bucket list.

Based on the 2002 Japanese film Ju-on, this Sam Raimi-produced flick reminded everybody that a horrific death filled with rage or sorrow does not signify the end. With a non-linear plot, The Grudge chronicles numerous stories of turbulent deaths and the cycle of horror that ensues. Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as an American exchange student who comes face to face with the seemingly unfaithful departed. The concept of The Grudge is inherently shocking, but the visuals are simply on another level. Watch this movie alone and you will regret it… because you’ll accidentally claw up your own couch.

Four words: Samara and the television. This remake of a 1998 Japanese film left an imprint on all who watched, as the very premise highlighted the horror that comes from watching a mysterious video of REDRUM. Naomi Watts stars as a protective mother who attempts to break the cycle of death by solving a murder case and thus saving everybody from lonely VHS deaths. The Ring was the first of several Japanese adaptations in modern times and responsible for inspiring lonely moviegoers to call their best friends and whispering, “7 days,” into the phone, thus ruining their Friday night plans. Who watches The Ring alone? Don’t do that, Mojoholics… just don’t.

As one of the most successful indie films of all-time, and a defining film of the found footage genre, The Blair Witch Project was a national mystery upon release. After immediately acknowledging the disappearance of three students, the filmmakers spun a dramatic tale of a Maryland witch and a brilliant Internet marketing campaign led audiences to believe the film was a genuine documentary. The frightening ending has since become iconic and made us believe that anything is possible when it comes to the supernatural.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

  • The Shining (1980)
  • V/H/S/2 (2013)
  • Audition (1999)
  • 28 Days Later (2002)
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

It’s the ultimate horror film that has it all. Accomplished director? Yes. Legendary actor? Yes. Absolutely terrifying imagery? Um, does a spinning, demon-possessed head qualify? With a historical backstory of religion and archaeology, it wasn’t difficult to embrace the story of an aging priest out to defeat an old, supernatural enemy. The Exorcist wasn’t just unbelievably scary; it was also nominated for 10 Academy Awards, thus proving the power of efficient filmmaking. It’s truly an event to watch The Exorcist, especially with those who are easily scared.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite movie you shouldn’t watch alone? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.

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