Our childhood is full of horror movies that left a mark on our lives. Even though some of them seemed harmless, they caused such deep wounds that we could not go to the bathroom at night or look under the bed.
We were not a little crazy when we were kids. In the horror movie craze, we watched whatever we could find without knowing that it was causing our current fears. But the horror movies of the 80s (the best horror movies of the 80s) were so exaggerated that they managed to scare us without us saying “boo” and left a mark on our lives. In this article, we will discuss the horror movies we watched in our childhood. horror movies that left their mark and we look at their scariest scenes.
But let’s also bring a warning right away. The article consists entirely of spoilers. If you don’t want to be exposed to them, you have the chance to not continue. But let’s say in advance, if you are a horror movie enthusiast, you have already watched most of them.
Horror Movies That Left a Mark on Us When We Were Children
The Exorcist – Dizziness
The dizzy scene in the movie The Exorcist left deep marks on our childhood and caused us to be introduced to the concept of fear at an early age. This scene had traumatic effects on our minds, which could not fully distinguish between reality and fiction at that time. At the same time, this intense fear experience in childhood left permanent marks on our subconscious in the following years, perhaps causing us to develop a permanent anxiety towards dark or supernatural events.
Alien – Creature Coming Out of Chest
The scene in the Alien movie where the creature first emerges from the crew’s chest created an unforgettable moment of terror in those who watched it, leaving a deep impact on body horror. This scene brutally exposed the vulnerability of the human body and the destructibility of inner security, creating intense fear and anxiety in our minds and causing us to acquire the fear of death at an early age.
Jaws – The First Death
The first death scene in the film left a deep fear not only in children but also in all viewers, creating a permanent feeling of uneasiness towards the sea and water. This scene particularly triggers fears about uncontrollable natural dangers and unexpected attacks, overshadowing the joy of swimming and sea activities. Natural environments such as the sea, which children see as a safe space, began to be perceived as threatening and dangerous after this scene, which led to a permanent anxiety and fear about water.
Final Destination – Eye Surgery
The eye surgery in Final Destination is one of the scenes that creates deep discomfort, triggering fears related to the eyes and sensitive body parts in particular. This scene has shaken trust in medical interventions and has implanted in the subconscious the idea that even routine procedures such as eye surgery can be dangerous and frightening.
Day of the Dead – Death of Captain Rhodes
The scene in Day of the Dead where Captain Rhodes is torn apart by zombies is a shocking moment for those who watched it as children, almost making them think, “this is too much.” Such a detailed presentation of violence has created a mixed horror in young minds, with the thought, “Is this how bad guys end up?” Afterwards, while protecting the bed from zombies on one hand, a decision may have been made, “I will never walk like a hero again.” This scene perhaps imprinted in our minds that death is not only inevitable, but also a completely unaesthetic process.
Mirrors 2 – Bathroom
When it comes to horror movies, there is always a bathroom scene. The bathroom scene in this movie is a source of fear that made us wait on guard, wondering “will something come out?” even while brushing our teeth in front of the mirror. From that moment on, taking a bath became not only a matter of cleaning, but also a struggle for survival. Looking in the mirror, washing our face or taking a shower filled us with the fear that something might appear behind us at any moment, turning the simple morning routine of the bathroom into a tension-filled mini horror movie scene. Who knows, maybe this is why the time we spend in the bathroom has shortened.
Saw 2 – Michael Marks
Although every scene in the Saw movies contains a separate element of fear, it may have been more traumatic for viewers after the eye surgery in Final Destination. Michael Marks’ eye gouging scene was a source of terror that made us say, “I’ll never have to deal with itchy eyes again.” What we saw triggered our instinct to protect our eyes so much that we looked around as if a trap was being set at all times. Even the words “dust got in your eye” suddenly became a nightmare scenario, and eye drops began to be perceived as holy water. For this reason, perhaps going to the eye doctor became more frightening than watching an action-packed thriller.
Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds – Crows Chase Children
The scene where crows chase children in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, known as the master of horror films, has engraved the thought “these birds are definitely planning something” in our minds. From that moment on, even the pigeons walking innocently in the park began to be seen as potential threats. Throwing bread to the birds? No thanks! We learned to continue our way quietly and quickly in the face of birds, fearing that they could attack from the sky at any moment.
Tremors – First Death
The first death scene in the movie took the phrase ‘staying on your feet’ to a whole new level for those who watched it as children. From that moment on, checking every step to see if there was a monster underneath became part of our daily routine. Walking on a grassy field? Never! We had to go to the highest place to feel safe. Thus, the question of ‘what’s under the ground’ in childhood turned from an innocent curiosity into a mystery we had to avoid. Who knows, maybe that’s why we even started to be suspicious of the folds under the carpet!
Step Brothers – The Gulyabani
The Boogeyman scene in the movie Stepbrothers, for those who watched it as children, not only caused fear of ghosts lurking in dark corners, but also brought about the difficulty of going to the bathroom at night. From that moment on, every shadow in the house started to look like a hidden version of the Boogeyman. Especially seeing someone walking around with a sheet on that night? It instantly made us feel a chill inside, saying, ‘Is it the Boogeyman?’ That’s why, instead of going somewhere in the dark, we preferred to turn on the light and hide under the sheet instead of bravely confronting the ghost. Thanks to the Boogeyman, we had the imagination to create a whole world even under a sheet!