What scares the individuals who make a residing from scaring us? On the annual Incredible Fest movie pageant in Austin, Texas, Polygon talked to plenty of horror administrators about their new motion pictures, so we took the chance to ask them about their very own experiences with scary movies.
Once we requested a unique group of administrators the identical query in 2023, they largely targeted on formative childhood scares. So this yr, we particularly requested each horror director we spoke to, “What’s essentially the most frightened you’ve been watching a horror film as an grownup?” Listed here are the films that bought into their heads and beneath their skins.
Bryan Bertino (The Strangers)
Bryan Bertino is the writer-director of the unique 2008 model of The Strangers, in addition to The Darkish and the Depraved, The Monster, Mockingbird, and the 2025 film Vicious.
I don’t get scared very simply, however As Above, So Beneath — that was an ideal found-footage film. I imply, large. I really like found-footage. There have been two or three pictures the place they caught one thing with the digital camera and I jumped. It actually gave me that feeling I am continually making an attempt to provide viewers members — they bought me one hundred pc.
The place to look at: As Above, So Beneath is offered on rental platforms.
Alex Ross Perry (V/H/S Halloween)
Alex Ross Perry is a writer-director recognized extra for emotional dramas (Queen of Earth), music movies and films about musicians (Pavements), and mixing all of the above (Her Odor) than for horror. He joins the darkish facet with V/H/S Halloween’s “Kidprint.”
Are you aware the film Der Fan, a couple of teenage lady who’s obsessive about a pop star? It is like a 10-out-of-10 masterpiece. However to even clarify why it is a horror film can be to provide away what occurs in it. The primary time I noticed it, it was in a giant previous puffy VHS field from a video retailer. I used to be twenty-something, and it simply felt unlawful. I might by no means heard of it, however there was a chunk of paper taped to the again of the field saying, “Do not learn the outline, it offers away what occurs.” So I used to be like, This have to be nice.
And it is change into an actual favourite. I really feel prefer it’s nonetheless an unheralded movie, however the locations it goes… It is utterly grounded in actuality, nevertheless it’s so excessive that I really feel like, to this present day, motion pictures like Pink Rooms are nonetheless doing 3-out-of-10 variations of what this film does. It’s simply the true deal for me. And I used to be like, I can not consider you’re allowed to look at this film.
The place to look at: Der Fan is offered on Blu-ray.
Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill (The Black Telephone 2)
Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill are longtime horror companions, working collectively on Sinister and Sinister 2, The Black Telephone and Black Telephone 2, and Physician Unusual.
Scott Derrickson: Probably the most frightened I’ve been watching a horror film as an grownup was the old-hag sequence in A Story of Two Sisters. I watched it alone in the dead of night in my residence. It is the one time I truly reached for the distant and tapped out. I used to be so “Fuck oh fuck oh fuck!” that I used to be climbing up the sofa. I bought so scared, I paused the film. I used to be like, I can not consider I simply did that, however that is so scary. That scene actually bought to me.
Polygon: Did you end watching the film, although?
Derrickson: Oh yeah, in fact.
C. Robert Cargill: I do not actually have one per se, as a result of I do not get scared watching horror motion pictures. However essentially the most scared I have been as an grownup as a consequence of a horror film was the primary time I watched Hell Home LLC.
Derrickson: Oh, that is truly up there. You turned me onto that one.
Cargill: Yeah, I am going to get to that! I watched it after which I bought up and I am like, I must get a drink. And I stroll into my lounge, and the lights are off, and I am simply seeing shadows in every single place. I am like, Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. And some months later, Scott texted me in the midst of the evening, like, “What is the scariest film I have not watched?” I stated, “Hell Home LLC.” He goes, “Popping it in now.”
Derrickson: And I watched it, and truly, I lied. That is the opposite time I tapped out. I used to be sitting exterior on the patio. It was Kevin Sorbo’s rental home, as a result of my home had burned down. I rented this home from Kevin Sorbo of all folks, and I used to be on the again patio watching it on my pc, and the wind began blowing, and I bought so fucking scared, I simply finally was like, “I can not end this film. There is not any method.” And I simply packed it in. Nice film.
Cargill: Yeah!
The place to look at: A Story of Two Sisters is streaming on AMC Plus; Hell Home LLC is streaming on Shudder.
Anna Zlokovic (V/H/S Halloween)
Anna Zlokovic is the director of Appendage and the V/H/S Halloween section “Coochie Coochie Coo.”
David Lynch’s Eraserhead. I noticed it in school. It gave me this deeply unsettled feeling, and I used to be like, Wow, I’ve by no means felt this fashion earlier than. Per week later, I used to be nonetheless feeling unusual and horrified and What the heck, man? I used to be like 19. Now I am like [giggles gleefully] about it, however on the time, I used to be very disturbed. I did not know motion pictures may make you are feeling that method. I do nonetheless discover that film disturbing.
The place to look at: Eraserhead is streaming on HBO Max.
Casper Kelly (V/H/S Halloween)
Casper Kelly is the director of Too Many Cooks, The Hearth, and the notably memorable V/H/S Halloween section “Enjoyable Measurement.” He’s additionally the creator of the TV sequence Your Fairly Face Is Going to Hell.
Mine’s form of fundamental, however I watched Paranormal Exercise at evening on my own, whereas residing alone. I preferred the movie, however then I used to be having a tough time going into my bed room. I am like, Are you severe, dude? The snobby a part of my mind was like, Dude. Why are you scared? However I was scared.
The place to look at: Paranormal Exercise is streaming on Paramount Plus and totally free with a library card on Kanopy and Hoopla.
Jalmari Helander (Sisu)
Jalmari Helander is the writer-director of Sisu, the 2025 sequel Sisu: The Highway to Revenge, and Huge Sport.
It was after I was watching the primary Scream. When Drew Barrymore died firstly — I used to be in a theater pondering, Oh, that is one thing the place now I do not know what to anticipate anymore. They broke the principles, in order that’s one thing I bear in mind.
Has that caught with you as a filmmaker, that concept of how a lot mileage you will get out of breaking guidelines?
I at all times attempt to do one thing totally different, so most likely.
The place to look at: Scream is streaming totally free with adverts on Pluto TV.
Ryan Prows (Lowlife)
Ryan Prows is the director of Lowlife and the upcoming horror/crime drama Night time Patrol.
I went to the theater for the American model of The Ring, as a result of I really like mysteries and that form of tone. However when the whole lot clicks by the tip of the film, when she’s within the precise properly, I actually bear in mind the hair standing up on my arms. I used to be like [comically prim voice] “Oh my goodness!” In order that bought me. I additionally suspect the theater cranked the AC to provide us all chills.
The place to look at: The Ring is streaming on Peacock.
Martín Mauregui (Pickpockets)
Martín Mauregui is the author of Angélica and Pickpockets, and the director of Love (Half One) and the upcoming Loopy Previous Woman.
I’m a scaredy-cat. A variety of issues scare me. After I was a teen, I cherished all of the gore, the exploitation, all these actually subversive style issues. However now, as an grownup, that style has modified, and my fears have modified.
I do not see new motion pictures very a lot. I am form of sluggish as an viewers. However one of many motion pictures that scared me essentially the most is The Blair Witch Venture. I’m not saying something new right here — we’ve all watched that film. However constructing that film with so few parts, and nonetheless being actually scary is fascinating. I’ve accomplished plenty of good issues with that concern sensation. That picture of a child standing within the nook, taking a look at nothing, it’s a really sturdy image.
Generally you watch a film and one picture will get caught in your thoughts. Each time I see a child play disguise and search, or somebody in detention, I keep in mind that scene, and the way typically folks can create only one easy picture that may make you shit your pants out of concern.
The place to look at: The Blair Witch Venture is streaming totally free on Plex and with a library card on Kanopy.
John Adams and Toby Poser (Hellbender)
John Adams and Toby Poser are the married filmmaking group behind Hellbender, The place the Satan Roams, Hell Gap, and The Deeper You Dig. They’re the co-stars, writers, and administrators of the upcoming Mom of Flies.
Toby Poser: I used to be oddly terrified within the film Watcher. I do not consider myself as a paranoid girl, however there was one thing about that — the insidiousness of being watched and never believed — that bought beneath my pores and skin, and for every week, it was nonetheless crawling there.
John Adams: The Harbinger. That film — the religious idea actually shook me and bothered me a ton. The thought you can be erased. You’d should see it, as a result of it is rather well accomplished — it is a terrific film. And it is about the concept perhaps you would be erased in all issues, and the folks that you simply love would by no means know you had been there. And that is a horrible, horrible, horrible factor.
What to look at: Watcher is streaming on Netflix; The Harbinger is streaming totally free on Plex.
