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We Asked You What Movies Traumatized You The Most As A Kid: Here Are The Results
A little while back, Throwbacks posted a video to our Facebook page asking people to respond with a Gif of a movie that traumatized them as a kid. We took a look at them, and these 15 movies were the clear winners in terms of scaring all of you. Enjoy!
Salem's Lot (1979)
Based on Stephen King's best-selling followup to Carrie, the story is based on a simple question: what if Dracula didn't come to Victorian England, but rather a small town in Maine. The results are a TV mini-series that's pretty consistently creepy.
Most traumatizing moment: That creepy-ass vampire kid floating in his friend's window.
The Witches (1990)
Based on the Roald Dahl book, a young boy stumbles onto a convention of witches and has to stop them from eliminating all of England's children, even after one of them turns him into a mouse.
Most traumatizing moment: When the head witch reveals what she actually looks like.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
The big movie spinoff of Pee-Wee's Playhouse was mostly just a pretty silly adventure where Pee-Wee Herman tries to get his bike back, but it wasn't afraid to get dark at times (I mean, it was directed by Tim Burton).
Most traumatizing moment: When Pee-Wee Herman hitches a ride with Large Marge
Pet Sematary (1989)
When a couple's young son is tragically killed, they bury him in a cemetery in the woods that apparently has the power to bring back the dead. Unfortunately, what comes back is a monster.
Most traumatizing moment: When Zelda's twisted, grotesque corpse is shown in all its glory.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
A troubled young boy finds comfort in the world of a fantasy book, but it turns out that the world of the book might actually be real after all.
Most traumatizing moment: When Artax dies in the Swamp of Sadness. Who knew a horse could be that sad?
Stephen King's It (1990)
Man, sure are a lot of Stephen King adaptations here. In this miniseries, the children of a small town are stalked by a demonic force called Pennywise, who appears every 27 years. The story is so popular that a remake is due in theaters... 27 years after the miniseries...
Most traumatizing moment: When Pennywise first shows up in the sewer drain.
Gremlins (1984)
In this classic combination of comedy and horror, a young boy receives a pet Mogwai named Gizmo, with strict instructions not to give him water or feed him after midnight. He breaks the rules, and then all Hell breaks loose.
Most traumatizing scene: When the mutated Gremlins go nuts and often end up splattered all over the kitchen.
If you thought those were intense, wait'll you see the rest...
Watership Down (1978)
The animated story of a group of rabbits who have to flee certain doom and find a new home, we're pretty sure tons of kids were subjected to this dark, gruesome movie because their parents thought it was for kids.
Most traumatizing moment: It's honestly kinda hard to pick just one, but the scene where the cat catches one of the rabbits is pretty freaking rough.
Poltergeist (1982)
When a family movies into a lavish house that's built on an ancient burial ground, the angry spirits begin to torment them night and day.
Most traumatizing moment: Pretty much any of the scenes from when the hauntings kick into high gear is an option here, but for my money the clown scene was the worst.
Return To Oz (1985)
Dorothy has been unable to get back to Oz and has been submitted to psychiatric care. When she finally makes it back, the land has changed drastically, and for the worse.
Most traumatizing scene: The Wheelers. Literally anything with the Wheelers. Just look at these things.
The Exorcist (1973)
Supposedly based on a true story, a young girl becomes possessed by an evil force, and her mother has to turn to priests to save her. Often considered one of the scariest movies of all times.
Most traumatizing scene: The whole possession half of the movie is rough, but Reagan's head spinning around is probably the worst.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Bit of a change of pace from the rest of the list, this family-friendly classic by Stephen Spielberg is the heartwarming story of a young kid who befriends a stranded alien.
Most traumatizing moment: Any scene where you get a good look at E.T. himself and just how weirdly he movies (thanks to, y'know, being a puppet) was enough to creep out tons of kids.
Child's Play (1988)
A convicted killer's soul enters a children's toy, only to be bought by a small child and his family. Of course, the doll comes to life, and the rest is horror history.
Most traumatizing moment: The slow build to revealing that Chucky is very much alive.
Creepshow (1982)
A series of creepy short stories meant to evoke the era of horror comic books (some of which were of course written by Stephen King, who even stars in one of them), this movie has something to creep out everybody.
Most traumatizing scene: Definitely the death via cockroaches
Critters (1986)
A race of small, furry aliens land in a tiny midwestern town, and they decide that the residents look pretty tasty.
Most traumatizing moment: Any time you see the Critters ripping people apart
Bambi (1942)
Talk about "one of these things is not like the other!" Seriously though, the scene where Bambi loses his mom is pretty rough when you're a kid, as we don't tend to think about death when we're that little.
Most traumatizing scene: Bambi losing his mom. Seriously, this is really rough.