11 Best Jump Scares That Got Me Good
Yes, I jumped at all of these jump scares the first time I watched them.
I love horror films/shows, and have been watching horror for 30 odd years, and I am sure many will say I am a wuss, but these jump scare attempts got me good when I first watched them.
Lets start with the very best jump scare that got me good, before moving on to some others.
The Exorcist III (1990) – The Hospital Hallway
A long, static shot lulls you into full complacency, and then out of nowhere, a nurse and a pair of shears nearly kill your soul - expertly done.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018) – Car Scene
You’re watching two sisters argue, and then trauma jumps into the car window, where Mike Flanagan weaponizes emotional vulnerability.
The Conjuring (2013) – Clap Clap
This hide-and-clap scene goes from “wholesome mom stuff” to “paranormal nightmare” in a heartbeat, and ends up becoming a true exercise in negative space and sound design.
Insidious (2010) – Darth Maul Demon Reveal
Patrick Wilson is just having a nice conversation, and out of nowhere, a face demon - it’ isn’t that subtle, but it works.
Well, it worked on me.
Jaws (1975) – Head in the Boat
You’re watching for sharks, but Spielberg decides to throw a decomposing face at you, like a thesis on misdirection in horror, but with 1970s prosthetics.
Sinister (2012) – Lawnmower
Ethan Hawke finds some cursed home videos and watches them, and one of them starts with some calm footage of lawn care…
The Descent (2005) – Night Vision
Claustrophobia is already doing 80% of the work in this film, with the last 20% being a pale humanoid nightmare shrieking in night vision.
It (2017) – Projector Scene
Pennywise hacks a slideshow like some sort of demonic TED Talk, then grows to Kaiju size and lunges out of the frame.
Absolutely no reason this needed to go that hard, right?
What Lies Beneath (2000) – Bathtub Ghost
This is a scream therapy moment that Robert Zemeckis had no business pulling off this well.
Lake Mungo (2008) – Phone Footage
An underrated gem with slow dread throughout, but when you see what’s in that still photo, it’s pure “rewind and pause and stare and regret” energy.
It Follows (2014) – Giant Man at the Door
This film plays quite slow and eerie for most of its runtime, and then suddenly throws a 7-foot man with dead eyes straight at you.
Any particular favorite jump scares you have?