10 Horror movies that shaped me

Horror has always been one of those genres that sticks with you—whether you want it to or not. I didn’t grow up watching every scary movie, but the ones I did see left their fingerprints on me in one way or another. Some terrified me, some fascinated me, some made me laugh when I probably shouldn’t have been laughing, and some just showed me how creative and bold horror can be when it wants to.

These aren’t necessarily the “best” horror movies of all time, but they’re the ones that shaped me, stuck with me, or changed the way I saw the genre. So here are 10 horror movies that made an impact on me, in the order that makes sense for my experience.

1. Scream 2

This sequel kept me on the edge, and the college setting just adds another layer to it. Like damn — Sidney isn’t even safe at school. It’s sharp, suspenseful, and honestly one of the best sequels in any horror franchise.

2. Urban Legend

It was inspired by the slashers that came before it, but it still managed to stand apart. It kept me just as engaged as anything else from that era. And Rebecca Gayheart’s performance? Iconic.

3. IT (1990)

Probably the scariest entry on my list. It terrified me as a kid just like it terrified everyone else. It showed me that movie monsters don’t have to be silent and purely scary — they can charm you and frighten you at the same time, which somehow makes them even more unsettling.

4. The Blair Witch Project

I saw this as a kid with my siblings, and it creeped me out — but the ending was what truly stuck with me. Not showing the monster and letting your imagination fill in the blanks is what makes it so terrifying. That final shot? Still haunts me.

5. Rosemary’s Baby

This movie lives up to the hype. It took me years to finally watch it, and when I did, I completely understood why it’s so revered. The way it builds tension through atmosphere and paranoia is unmatched.

6. I Know What You Did Last Summer

Such a slept-on, underrated movie. It has this New England, small-town horror vibe that sets it apart. People compare it to Scream, but I think this one is more of a slow burn — once things start rolling, they don’t stop.

7. Halloween (1978)

Probably my favorite horror movie of all time. It’s the granddaddy of slashers, and nothing captures that raw, eerie feeling like Halloween. The way Michael Myers lurks… no matter how old it gets or what newer, flashier movies come out, Halloween will always hit in a way nothing else does.

8. The Exorcist

It’s so engaging from start to finish. Yes, the ending is wild, but the whole journey of what happens to Regan pulls you in. The themes are deep, the tension is thick, and once I finally watched it, I understood exactly why it’s considered one of the greatest.

9. Leprechaun 3

I think the first one I ever saw was Part 2, but Part 3 is the one that stuck with me. The Vegas setting gives it such a different vibe, and the movie is just wild fun. It’s chaotic in the best way.

10. The Others

This one terrified me in a totally different way. It’s atmospheric, haunting, and that twist at the end changed everything. It’s the kind of horror that sits with you — quiet, unsettling, and beautifully done.