Movies that gave you Nightmares as a kid?

Mag · « **on:** 1 Sep 2025, 12:57 am »

There was a thread, I think it was on Reddit, movies that gave you Nightmares as a Kid?
It took me a few days to think about it and I came up with 3.

1. Psycho
2. War of the World (original)
3. St. Valentines Day Massacre. I use to dream that my dad got gunned down in the driveway.

AllanS · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 01:45 am »

Jaws was all I needed to quit watching scary movies.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 02:27 am »

The original Wolfman, Dracula and Invisible man. I used to watch these on Chiller theater in NYC back in the late 60's when I was 8-10 years old. Our house had creaky wood floors and the dog would get spooked when the floors would creak and I was watching these shows. It made things a lot scarier, lol.

Also the remake of the "Thing" with Kurt Russell in 1982. I was in my early 20's and this movie freaked me out.

Bodhi · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 05:23 am »

I can't say that any movies gave me nightmares as a kid as I wasn't allowed to watch horror films.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 08:59 am »

When I was a kid there was no horror movies on TV.
TV transmissions was short 16:25h to 24:00h only.

GeneS · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 01:43 pm »

Definitely the original “War of the Worlds”.
I was young, and watched it on a local tv channel that showed scary movies on Saturday afternoons. My parents went out that night and left me with a babysitter. We had a bad storm that night with thunder, lightening, heavy rain…and of course the power went out. I was positive it was the aliens coming! I was so inconsolable that the babysitter had to call her mom to come over to babysit her!!

oskar · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 02:30 pm »

Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?
Freaked me out as a kid.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 03:43 pm »

Invaders From Mars. The Martians land behind a rural home and burrow underground, all seen by a kid my age. Then everyone who comes to investigate the kids report, police, army, scientists, parents, get sucked underground by the ray gun welded by the Martians to dig their tunnels. Then they get an implant in the back of their neck making them slaves of Mars. For months every pothole in our driveway was where the Martians were digging and I kept checking the back of the neck of my parents and teachers for the telltale scar.

ArthurDent · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 04:10 pm »

Steve McQueen's debut on screen - The Blob ! Couldn't even stay in the theater, went out to the lobby and waited till my parents came to pick us up. My younger brother and the neighbor kid, a year younger, were fine and thought it was great.

To this day I love those classics, the originals as well as Carpenter's reboots, pretty much the only remakes worth watching: The Thing (James Arness's debut), Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, Village of the Damned (remake was ok with Chris Reeve), Children of the Damned, Them, all the Dracula, & Wolfman series, The Invisible Man, Phantom of the Opera. Simple times....

NIGHTFALL1970 · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 04:18 pm »

Attack of the Giant Leeches
The brain that would not die
War of the colossal beast
The thing that could not die
It conquered the world
Attack of the mushroom people
Don’t go to sleep
The exorcist
Yog, monster from space

JLM · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 04:26 pm »

Wizard of Oz, those flying monkeys got to me as a 5 year old.

Much later on my wife got scared during "The Shining" while in the movie theater.

Tyson · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 05:57 pm »

I saw The Shining when I was 10. That left a mark!

Steidl Guitars · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 06:44 pm »

Exorcist

Ron D · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 06:52 pm »

The Spiral Staircase as a little kid in the 60's

WGH · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 07:53 pm »

The Fly - 1958. There is one scene where The Fly is very slowly crossing the room dragging one foot. Step, scrape, step, scrape, step, scrape, etc. The scene really scared my brother.

I was 10 years old, my brother was 9. After we got back from the theater and getting ready for bed, everyone thought I was in the bathroom. The bathroom door was closed and the light was on. Actually I was patiently waiting behind our bedroom door with the lights off. I jumped out and grabbed my brother from behind just as he entered. Needless to say his reaction was more than I expected.

I got in trouble for that jump scare but it was worth it.

KTS · « **Reply #15 on:** 1 Sep 2025, 11:28 pm »

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1978 10 years old, did not sleep voluntarily for 3 months! My poor parents!

vrao81 · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Sep 2025, 01:11 am »

Jaws and Jaws 2. Didn't want to go in the water when we went to the beach.
Also Superman 3, the woman turning into a freaky android near the end. Scared my friends but not me.

Mike B. · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Sep 2025, 02:23 am »

"The Thing" back in the 1950's

S Clark · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Sep 2025, 03:55 am »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 1 Sep 2025, 03:43 pm

Invaders From Mars. The Martians land behind a rural home and burrow underground, all seen by a kid my age. Then everyone who comes to investigate the kids report, police, army, scientists, parents, get sucked underground by the ray gun welded by the Martians to dig their tunnels. Then they get an implant in the back of their neck making them slaves of Mars. For months every pothole in our driveway was where the Martians were digging and I kept checking the back of the neck of my parents and teachers for the telltale scar.

I didn't know the name of that movie but it scared the devil out of me. I looked for those neck scars in adults for months thereafter!!!!!

mick wolfe · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Sep 2025, 04:30 pm »

The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Oops, I guess I'm showing my age here. A close second is "Invaders from Mars".