‘Tis the scary season—and no, I’m not talking about Covid and our political climate (though those are downright frightening, for sure).

No, I’m talking about Halloween time.

As folks peruse streaming services for scary stuff to watch in celebration of the season, I’d like to offer a few films that forever scarred, I mean memorably scared me, on the off-chance others may wish to be similarly scarred, I mean, scared.

My Top 10 Scariest Films

(Listed in order of release … and order I viewed)

The Birds (1963) — I remember watching this in the house we lived in when I was born, so I was likely less than five years old when I first saw it. I recall it being around Christmas time, as there were homemade ornaments hanging in the pass-thru from kitchen to family room (or wherever the TV was) and without explanation, the ornaments fell during one of the more intense moments. I've been leery of huge flocks of black birds and homemade egg-carton ornaments ever since.

The Child Molester (1964) — This incredibly grisly "educational" film was shown at school during my early years and I will never, ever forget the bloody shoe floating down the stream. (And my girls wonder why I was such a paranoid mother.) I looked for the name of this movie for this post and found the whole scary thing posted HERE. Beware: You'll never again look at children's shoes the same way.

Chamber of Horrors (1966) — How could anyone, especially a youngster, not be afraid when the Fear Flasher and Horror Horn made it oh-so clear that it was the only appropriate response for what was to come?

Crowhaven Farm (1970) — Several years ago, I shared in this post that the sound of rocks being stacked scare the cuss out of me because they sound like the ones stacked by the coven of witches in Crowhaven Farm. I thought of this one often when we lived in our previous house, as we had lots of rocks on our property...and moved them about on a fairly regular basis, for reasons that now make no sense.

Picture Mommy Dead (1970) — Scenes from this film haunted me for years, especially every time I heard "the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, in through your stomach and out your mouth." I finally figured out the name of the movie a few years ago when I wrote a post similar to this one. Imagine my surprise when I realized Zsa Zsa Gabor was part of the horror. Yep, it's true. And still scary to me.

Sisters (1973) — Siamese twins and Brian de Palma were forever linked in my head after this. Oh, along with putting on panty hose, just like the crazy sister in the barn loft.

The Exorcist (1973) — I was often sick as a child. I remember being quite ill with pneumonia at the time this movie came out. Up in my room in our old farm house, I'd be falling asleep to the sound of the radio when—gah!—the commercial for The Exorcist, with its chilling music, would come on and make me want to run downstairs or scream. But I couldn't do either because I was so freakin' sick. Years later I had the nerve to watch the movie...and had my fears validated.

Audrey Rose (1977) — Anthony Hopkins, reincarnation, burning alive. Need I say more? Okay, I'll say a little more. Before our daughters left the nest, I had them and Jim watch this with me. They've made fun of me ever since for recommending as "one of the scariest movies ever" this campy Exorcist rip-off. It really was scary the first time. Honest. At least when you're young...and a big chicken.

The Entity (1982) — I was a brand-new mommy who spent a lot of time alone with my baby as Jim worked his butt off to support us and the idea that the story of a malevolent spirit beating and raping a woman was supposedly true was more horrific than my hormones could bear at the time. I used to bring Brianna, in her infant seat, into the bathroom with me while I showered just so I wasn't alone.

Blair Witch Project (1999) — I didn't watch that many scary movies between the one above and this as being mother to three daughters was frightening enough. But the year this came out, I took my teen daughters to see it one afternoon during spring break. It was more nausea inducing than scary. Until a week or so later: I was out on our deck in the middle of the night watching for shooting stars when I scared myself by thinking of the movie. I set out to run back into the dining room through the open screen door...only the screen door wasn't open and I mangled it as I dashed through anyway, determined to escape whatever may have lurked in the dark.

I haven’t (willingly) seen many scary movies since then—other than The Ring and 2014’s The Babadook which was pretty scary—because I simply no longer enjoy being scared … or sickeningly shocked, as is the case with most recent horror flicks, it seems. Plus, recent reality is scary enough.

But if streamin’ and screamin’ is your thing during Halloween time—or any time—perhaps my list will satisfy your craving for something creepy.

Today’s question(s):

Which on my list have you seen? What movies make your Top Scary Films list?