10 Normal Things That Movies Have Made Terrifying

When thinking about the things people are most afraid of, there’s really a set Top 5 which most will admit to. There’s heights, claustrophobia, spiders, dying, and clowns. Ok, maybe clowns isn’t in the top five, but we can all admit more people are afraid of clowns than there should be. Either way though, with fears like these, it’s easy for horror movies to play off said phobias and take advantage of the most popular fears to cash in on horror that will undeniably scare the hell out of viewers.

Then there’s the creative side of horror – the one that strives to take obscure and more mundane themes and make them horrifying. Sure, it’s easy for a film like Buried to strike a chord with the most claustrophobic of people, but what about making someone afraid of an innocent childhood toy? A movie like Child’s Play did that, taking something not typically associated with horror and shining said normal object in a fearsome new light.

This brings us to the article you are now reading – movies that make us fear things found in everyday life. Be it an appliance, auto part, edible delicacy, or type of person, a good horror movie will have the balls to make us fear something by creative filmmaking instead of banking on something viewers already find scary.

With my vast knowledge of oddities, I brought in fellow writer Alex Lowe to help ground some of the picks on this list. I’ll be responsible for the first five picks, and the last five can be tied to Al. Trust me, if I had free reign I’d lose most readers by pick #5, if you can even make it that far. Believe me when I say there are a TON of movies which have made me fear the silliest of objects…

onslaught94

I had always thought clowns to be happy and jolly and that they existed to bring children joy. Then I saw Stephen King’s “IT” and that changed everything. Sure, I had read the book before seeing the movie but reading the book didn’t have the effect on me that the movie did. Seeing that pasty-white face and those ruby-red lips that peel back to reveal those filthy, razor-sharp teeth….oh man, I was done with clowns forever. Now, every time I see a clown, I can’t help but to think about what sinister things lay behind those painted smiles and what horrifying things would happen to little children if they were caught in the dark with a clown. Needless to say, you’ll never see me at the circus, and if I ever have kids, during their birthday parties there will be NO CLOWNS ALLOWED!!!!
- Nomad
  
  This. IT ruined clowns for me. Now, every time I pass by some kids’ fair or a circus themed birthday party or even just a clown handing out balloons at the mall, I have to clamp down the urge to run shrieking and screaming in the other direction
Paul

I disagree with the book, the tricycle and especially the paranormal dissing only because I don’t believe in ghosts. Others you could have included:
Videos-The Ring
Dolls-Child’s Play
Condoms-Killer Condom
Looking into mirrors- most horrors
jerry k

Uhm…. swimming in large bodies of water. Jaws scared everyone out of the water when in reality very very few sharks attack humans. Hell after seeing jaws for the first time I wouldn’t even swim in lake Michigan anymore
- Patrick Gilmore
  
  I peed out
LoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoLoL

this is kinda dumb he wont read books? hes scared of trycicles? wtf…
- Alex Lowe
  
  Laughing at the horrors of the world is a dangerous game my friend. Don’t you come crying to us when you get run down by a tricycle on your next late night walk.
derek r

Little girls the reaping god help me if I ever have w daughter
bobthebuilder

On the Number 23 part- Stephen King once said in an interview that he doesn’t remember writing Cujo at all. So yes, you can actually write a book and not remember it (plus that book is old now-lots of used copies out there).
- Alex Lowe
  
  What if he didn’t actually write it… It was written by some once crazed man whose now living a normal life, potentially as a film journalist… gah!
Owls and Aliens

You know what is really scary…going to sleep at night. After the Fourth Kind came out I was terrified that I would unwrap some mysterious memory of being continuously abducted and experimented on by aliens. And then not remember the next day, until I meet a doctor who puts me in her sleep study because for some unexplained reason I cannot sleep any more, and I remember why I can’t sleep. Oh and forget ever looking at an owl the same way again! The reference of an owl looking at the peoplein their dreams…AHHHHH!
Madie

A missed call is always worried me, I’m not terrified but I always think a killer spirit is on the loose. One missed Call is to blame.
Anonymous

This article is trash. I expected way better.
Taezya

How about missing messages on your cell phone? lol
- Taezya
  
  missing calls on your cell phone I meant…
aya

reality tv shows, halloween resurrection
Eric

Anything not PG-13.
- Eric
  
  People that could not handle the new “Evil Dead” are wimps.
terry

i know its not a movie but not going to sleep after jeff the killer got scared shitless
Nomad

The Orphan has made me very wary when I hear people around me say, “what about adoption?” I mean, the kid you adopted could very well turn out to be this creepy, creepy, old lady that doesn’t age and wants to move in on your husband and your family!
Anonymous

Yes in the morning I feel safe but at night I’m so scared in the shower and I sleep under the covers! What scares me the most are spirits and ghosts!