What is the Scariest Horror Movie Scene of All Time? This Poll Will Tell You

2,000 people were surveyed, and there was one scene that stood out to horror fans the most

the shining horror movie

We all have that one scene in horror movies that scares us to death, but what could be the scariest horror scene of the past six decades?

HMV.com surveyed 2,000 people and found that the head spin scene from “The Exorcist” was the most frightening scene in horror film history — 17.9 percent of surveyed people voted that scene to be the most terrifying.

The shower scene in 1960’s “Psycho” closely followed with 16.9 percent, and the moment in 1976’s “Carrie” when the hand grabs the arm took third place with 15.1 percent.

The next six places were taken by scenes in “The Ring,” “Alien,” “The Shining,” “The Birds,” “Silence of the Lambs,” “Saw” and “Woman in Black.”

The 1970s was deemed the scariest decade of them all, with horror movie scenes accounting for 27 percent of all votes. Movies from the 2000s had the second highest share of votes at 18 percent, followed by films from the 1980s. The 1960s, although those are the years in which “Psycho” and “The Birds” were released, were deemed the least scary years.

When asked what makes a good horror movie, one user suggested that the key to a great horror film is simply “Jack Nicholson’s face.”

HMV also asked how people shake that feeling of fear after watching a horror movie. Most switch on all the lights or watch something funny on television.

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