Ranker HorrorList RulesVote for the horror film premises you want no part of
List of the horror movie set-ups you’d least like to be trapped in, as ranked by horror movie fans. The scariest part of most horror movies is not the jump scares or the demonic mask of the creepy serial killer.The real most terrifying aspect of any given horror movie is imagining yourself stuck in that setting and situation. A haunted house run by a maniacal butler is never scarier than when you’re visualizing yourself within those ghostly walls. Would you be able to survive a crazy serial killer with a chain saw that never seems to run out of juice? Will you be able to be smarter than the dozens of characters who get an ax to the head?
This list of horror movie premises you want no part of covers the top horror movies you would not want to be stuck in, even in your wildest nightmare. These movies have inescapable villains- from a disturbing dead girl stuck in a video tape to death himself- making it far less likely that you’d survive within that horror movie universe.
What horror movie set-ups would you least like to be stuck in? This list features scenarios like serial killer toys to walking, flesh-eating dead folks, none of which you would ever want to meet face-to-face. If your favorite horror movie premise isn't on the list, make sure to add it.
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60087The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
Ashley C. Williams, Dieter LaserReleased: 2009
Directed by: Tom Six
"Outside the more outré work of Takashi Miike and David Cronenberg, you wont have seen... more2
58092Saw
Danny Glover, Monica PotterReleased: 2004
Directed by: James Wan
Saw is a 2004 horror film written by Leigh Whannell and directed by James Wan, in Wan's... more3
44667Saw II
Emmanuelle Vaugier, Shawnee SmithReleased: 2005
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Saw II is a 2005 Canadian-American horror film, a sequel to 2004's Saw and the second... more4
36994The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Gunnar Hansen, Marilyn BurnsReleased: 1974
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
This movie is a 1974 American slasher film, directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote... more5
31777The Hills Have Eyes
Dee Wallace, Michael BerrymanReleased: 1977
Directed by: Wes Craven
The Hills Have Eyes is a 1977 American exploitation-horror film written and directed by Wes... more6
377105A Nightmare on Elm Street
Johnny Depp, Robert EnglundReleased: 1984
Directed by: Wes Craven
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 American supernatural slasher horror film written and... more7
355105Final Destination
Ali Larter, Seann William ScottReleased: 2000
Directed by: James Wong
Final Destination is a 2000 American horror film directed by James Wong. It is the first... more8
27391The Ring
Naomi Watts, Pauley PerretteReleased: 2002
Directed by: Gore Verbinski
The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring... more9
23779House of 1000 Corpses
Rob Zombie, Chris HardwickReleased: 2003
Directed by: Rob Zombie
House of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 American exploitation horror film directed by Rob Zombie. Two... more10
23681The Cabin in the Woods
Chris Hemsworth, Sigourney WeaverReleased: 2012
Directed by: Drew Goddard
The Cabin in the Woods is a 2012 American horror comedy film directed by Drew Goddard in his... more11
24893The Strangers
Liv Tyler, Gemma WardReleased: 2008
Directed by: Bryan Bertino
The Strangers is a 2008 American horror film written and directed by Bryan Bertino and... more12
23787Misery
Lauren Bacall, Kathy BatesReleased: 1990
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Misery is a 1990 American psychological thriller film based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of... more13
17350It
Tim Curry, Seth GreenReleased: 1990
Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace
It is a 1990 psychological horror/drama miniseries based on Stephen King's novel of the same... more14
24493Hellraiser
Doug Bradley, Andrew RobinsonReleased: 1987
Directed by: Clive Barker
Hellraiser is a 1987 British horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based upon his... more15
20773Final Destination 2
Ali Larter, A. J. CookReleased: 2003
Directed by: David R. Ellis
Final Destination 2 is a 2003 supernatural American horror film directed by David R. Ellis.... more16
23994Jeepers Creepers
Justin Long, Eileen BrennanReleased: 2001
Directed by: Victor Salva
Jeepers Creepers is a 2001 American horror film written and directed by Victor Salva. The film... more17
22290The Exorcist
Max von Sydow, Ellen BurstynReleased: 1973
Directed by: William Friedkin
The Exorcist is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted... more18
18567Dawn of the Dead
Ving Rhames, Ty BurrellReleased: 2004
Directed by: Zack Snyder
This film is a 2004 American horror film directed by Zack Snyder in his feature film... more19
22696Insidious
Rose Byrne, Barbara HersheyReleased: 2010
Directed by: James Wan
Insidious is a 2011 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan, written by Leigh... more20
17060Wrong Turn
Eliza Dushku, Emmanuelle ChriquiReleased: 2003
Directed by: Rob Schmidt
Wrong Turn is a 2003 American horror film directed by Rob Schmidt and written by Alan B.... more21
17667Halloween
Jamie Lee Curtis, Kyle RichardsReleased: 1978
Directed by: John Carpenter
Halloween is a 1978 American independent slasher horror film directed and scored by John... more22
18372Final Destination 5
David Koechner, Tony ToddReleased: 2011
Directed by: Steven Quale
Final Destination 5 is a 2011 American horror film written by Eric Heisserer and directed by... more23
10523Saw VII
Betsy Russell, Chester BenningtonReleased: 2010
Directed by: Kevin Greutert
Saw VII is 2010 horror film written by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton and directed by Kevin... more24
16768Paranormal Activity
Katie Featherston, Micah SloatReleased: 2007
Directed by: Oren Peli
Paranormal Activity is a 2007 American supernatural horror film written, co-produced,... more25
11639Crawl
Kaya Scodelario, Barry PepperReleased: 2019
Directed by: Alexandre Aja
Crawl is a 2019 American horror film directed by Alexandre Aja. A young woman (Kaya... more
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