HORROR TEN SPOT: Top 10 Clinging Horror

1. SAW franchise

“The one that had me clinging for my dear life was Saw. The puzzle feel and uncertainty killed me.”-Cindy Nosic, 24

“The Saw movies make me cringe. So, a man beside me would help to hold.”-Catalina Mejia, 27

“Watching Saw 3, I needed someone to bury my face into and clench onto because I couldn’t stand looking at all the blood.” –Betty Reid, 23

Since 2004, James Wan, Leigh Whannell, and Darren Lynn Bousman have been responsible for shocking audiences worldwide with their popular gore filled films. What they may not know is that they are also responsible for making many men extremely happy. During my surveying, I was amazed to discover how many women have had current or ex partners make the first move on them while watching one of the three films in the series. The majority of women also said they would not go see the next installment unless they have a date to hold on to.

2. Hostel

“Despite what critics and people said about it, this movie scared me with its graphic appendage slicing and crazy European butchers! Sick! Sick! Sick!”-Ashley McConaghie, 23

I remember standing in line in theatres to watch this gory flick, and it was the first time in my life that I had seen women clutching on to their dates like they were in line for the scariest roller coaster in the world. In fact, most women who said Hostel was the movie that scared them the most, also said they don’t even know happened during the last half of the film due to the fact that they were burying themselves in their dates’ chests. (Lord knows how women will react to Hostel 2.)

3. The Ring/The Grudge

“I was terrified by The Ring. When I saw that girl coming out of the well, she freaked me out. When she walked out of the screen, I jumped onto my boyfriend’s lap.” –Shelly Alexander, 19

“The cat noises and look of the ghosts in The Grudge freaked me out big time. It gave me chills just thinking about it!” Lainey Z. -14

One sure way to get a girl scared enough to jump in your lap is to get her to watch any J-horror film. (Believe me, there are plenty to choose from!) It astonishes me as to how girls are still scared by dead Japanese girls crawling around, and killing people in a non-bloody fashion. My advice is to stick to the “dime a dozen” Japanese horror remakes, instead of showing anything way too intense for a date. (i.e. anything from the great Takashi Miike.)

4. Nightmare on Elm Street

“I couldn’t fall asleep after watching A Nightmare on Elm Street. I had to do “something” with my boyfriend at the time, to take my mind off it.”-Karen Petri, 41

Out of all the infamous horror villains in slasher film history, Freddy Krueger seems to be the most popular antagonist to frighten women the most. I heard quite a few stories about women getting nightmares themselves after watching this film, If your date hasn’t watched the Wes Craven flick, pull out the “Johnny Depp is in it” card. (That always seems to work on the ladies!)

5. TCM – original/remake

“The first time I watched it, I freaked out and jumped into my friend’s lap!”-Marilyn Delbono, 38

“It made me cling to a guy because of all the gross and gory scenes in it.”-Tosha Long, 15

The original TCM film has spawned many sequels and remakes over the years, and has also terrified different generations of people. Many young girls’ reactions to the remake were almost exactly the same to the older women who had seen the original film when they were teenagers. All agreed that the sound of the chainsaw and Leatherface himself were the reasons they squirmed in their seats and held on tightly to their dates.

6. The Exorcist

“ I can pretty much guarantee that the next time I even get up the courage to glimpse this movie is going to be when I’m no longer living alone, with my husband in my arms, and having him sleep next to me in bed protecting me from Linda Blair.” –Natasha Henderson, 29

I was really surprised of how low this film made it on the list. I was so sure most of the women I surveyed would have chosen this as their number one film that they found terrified them, but I discovered a lot of women I questioned have not even seen The Exorcist. It’s not because it doesn’t interest them, but because the idea of viewing the film, scares the living sh*t out of them. (Is Linda Blair really that frightening?)

7. Candyman

“Candyman is not one of those bad horror movies they make now. It’s just incredibly scary. I can not watch Tony Todd in other movies without having nightmares or even see his picture without cringing.” –Justyna Slacka, 23

I’m glad that I’m not alone with the whole fear of anything Candyman-related. Seriously, I freak out even if the movie is on cable has been edited (a.k.a. “butchered) for television. A lot of women I surveyed had said they couldn’t get to sleep right after watching this suspenseful horror flick. (It’s great to show if you want your date to last a little longer.)

8. The Hitcher remake

“It (The Hitcher Remake) made me want to cling to my boyfriend, but instead I was there with my best girl friend. So yeah, that was a little awkward to say in the very least.” Jackie Graham-23

Although the original Hitcher is far superior to this year’s remake, the remake has something the original film does not have: an overabundance of boo scares. In spite of the fact that constant boo scares are annoying as hell, they are effective in making girls scream, jump, and cling. I would recommend the remake for your date movie, and recommend the original for your personal DVD collection.

9. Final Destination series

“I’ve watched every film with one hand over my face the entire time.”-Angela N. -19

The Final Destination films have frightened many women due to its startling and complex death scenes. However, the death scene that has most effectively had women cling to their dates’ arms was the “tanning booth” scene in the third film. Definitely a series to show if she hasn’t seen it already.

10. Halloween franchise

“After watching Halloween for the first time, my date had imprints of my nails in his arm.” Tracey W- 44

The Halloween series is a franchise that has scared many people for almost 30 years now. Many females I surveyed viewed Michael Myers as one of the creepiest villains in horror, and found themselves holding their dates every time “the Boogeyman of Haddonfield” patiently stalked his next victim. (Considering Michael Myers takes a long time taunting his prey, your date will be clung to you for a while. Enjoy!)

My Personal Pick-The Descent

This creature feature had me squirming in my seat and staring at the “Exit” signs in the theatre. It had me wishing I had less pride in myself, so I could chicken out and leave. Never have I been so terrified while watching a movie in the theatres. The loud noises, the creatures, the effective jumpers, and the fast camera movements extremely freaked me out! I guarantee your date will be holding onto you if you show this film to her with the lights off and the sound cranked up!

In conclusion, I discovered that the key elements in a horror film that scare a woman are gross out scenes and most importantly BOO scares. Although, it sounds like you can pick any horror film to show to a woman, it would be in your best interest to stay away from any films dealing with any scenes of rape and torture of animals. It will definitely kill the mood. (So if you want to avoid a cold shower, put away your copies of Last House on the Left and Cannibal Holocaust.) Also, if you happen to be dealing with a horror movie aficionada like myself, it’s best to take the obscure route. (Although after weeks of surveying, I am discovering how rare extreme female horror fans are.)

Enjoy and best to luck to you on your future romantic endeavors!