Nobody puts baillee in the corner

It’s finally time to talk about the infamous scare scene from Exorcist III! This jump scare is one of THE best in horror history, and I whole-heartedly mean it. The anticipation is palpable. The payoff is excellent. AND the fact it’s mostly a static shot, my GOD. Nothing is thrown in your face. Every single square of the space is used, and you just can’t beat it.

In the spirit of scary scenes and jump scares, I want to share a few other of my favorites, so let’s get started!

Carrie

Iykyk. I tell this story every single time the end of Carrie comes up, but KP told me to sit really close to the screen because I would miss something if I didn’t pay attention. Needless to say, I jumped so far back, I hit the headboard of her bed.

The Blair Witch Project

Did you really think I wouldn’t include the end of The Blair Witch Project? When Heather reaches the basement, and Mike’s just standing in the corner, ugh. You can feel the dread through the screen, and any minute amount of hope you had left for these two disappears.

Friday the 13th

Kevin Bacon’s death scene is *chef’s kiss.* You absolutely know something bad’s about to happen, but you’re not sure when or how. It’s not a complicated scene, but I’ll tell ya, I always looked under my bed at camp.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

I know this movie is theoretically for teens, but the scarecrow transformation scene is absolutely horrifying, and it’s stuck with me ever since I watched it in theaters. I don’t know why it bothers me so much, but it’s one of those scenes I can’t forget.

The Strangers

I can sum this one up in two sentences.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because you were home.”

BECAUSE YOU WERE HOME.

In many of our favorite horror franchises, we eventually get answers. We know how Charles Lee Ray’s soul made it to a doll’s body. We understand why the people of Springwood turned on Freddy Krueger. We even get an explanation from Ghostface in every iteration of Scream. But, at least as of now, we have no idea why the antagonists of The Strangers stalk and kill their victims.