I want to be frightened

[Vigil80]

I'm not easy to scare. Not trying to brag or anything, it's just a fact. I go to things like haunted houses and such around Halloween, and I think "hey, they did a good job with this." Scary movies make me go "I wonder what's next?" I play scary games and grin, "ooh, that's awesome!"

But I don't really ever get that thrill or fright, and it disappoints me. I really want that experience that makes me want to keep the lights on and double check the door locks.

I've seen some classic psychological thrillers from Hitchcock. I've seen some slasher flicks. I've caught the Blair Witch Project, the Grudge, the Unborn, Exorcism of Emily Rose, just to name a few.

I've played some of the classics, too. Doom 3, Bioshock, Silent Hill, Penumbra, F.E.A.R., etc. And I did it the way you're supposed to, lights off and all. But nothing ever made me say, "holy shit, got to turn this off for now." I appreciated the moments when I know I was supposed to be scared, but just didn't get there.

So recommend me some real winners, CoGers. If I come back with the shakes, I'll thank you for it.

[Hawkzombie]

I too am interested in some good old horror games. The only thing that ever truly got to me was one time I was working at Toys R Us and playing Resident Evil 3 in the breakroom during my lunch. When Nemesis broke through the wall of the Police Station for the first time I was wearing headphones and staring intently at the TV.

I screamed like a little girl and my manager came running in from the FRONT OF THE STORE (Breakroom was on the back wall) to see if I was alright :P...Never lived it down.

[Dark Prince]

I loved to be scared, and why I watch, play and love anything horror. Doom 3 was one game that got to me in the early levels, especially since it was the first kind of horror game I played with the lights down and all. I jumped when everything was popping out of the corners and dark corridors.

As far as horror movies go, Quarantine was one that recently got to me, give that one a try. It has the effect of the Blair Witch/Cloverfield thing with the handheld camera effect, which I think can work really well for horror movies.

It's one of those things that isn't utilized enough for horror films. For example, a movie like the Grudge would have been perfect for that kind of angle.

[Vigil80]

I would agree. Seems like it makes it easier to suspend disbelief. I'll check that one out.

That's just one reason why slasher flicks do nothing for me. I can't turn off my awareness that it's make-up and special effects. Also disgusted =/= scared.

[KamaItachi]

The last 20 minutes or so of Quarantine I thought were excellent. For the most part, I don't think the film did anything all that new. The more improvised style helped a good bit, but it still seemed to hit all the usual zombie film cliches.

On the flip-side, Cloverfield really did try to do something different with the giant monster attacking the city film, but it was so horribly over-produced that it did nothing for me.

[carnage11]

I disagree with Quarantine. That movie was horrible in my opinion. I couldn't even finish it, and that is unheard of for me and horror movies. Unheard of. Although, I don't care for the handy cam movies.

Anyway....I'm the same way as far as getting scared. I've seen just about every horror movie made, and I've played most of the horror genre of video games. My recommendations?

Games: Dead Space was excellent. For recent games, that one's been the best. The Silent Hill games can really give you the creeps sometimes. I would recommend SH 2 or 3, if of course, you haven't already played them. Condemned had it's moments. Best played by your self with stereo head phones in the dark, at like 2 am. Smoke some weed and you'll be looking over your shoulder a lot....lol.

Movies: I just recently saw The Haunting of Connecticut. It was pretty good. I would say I'm a tough critic with horror movies, because it's my favorite genre. Rob Zombie's Halloween was good. I'm looking forward to H2. The Shining? It's old, but if you haven't seen it, it's very creepy. There's a movie called August Underground. If you can get your hands on a copy, check that out. It can be difficult to find though.

edit: oh yeah, The new My Bloody Valentine movie was a blast in 3D. And also, Strangeland was pretty good, for another older flick.

edit 2: Insanitarium, a lesser known movie, was great, if you like the cheesy horror types.

[KamaItachi]

Oh yeah, another one mentioned in the Oh, The Horror! Thread was Session 9. Won't give too much away, but I found it insanely creepy. It's one of those films that people either love, or think is the dumbest non-event film they've ever seen.

[Banacek]

Originally Posted by Prizefighter

I'm not easy to scare. Not trying to brag or anything, it's just a fact. I go to things like haunted houses and such around Halloween, and I think "hey, they did a good job with this." Scary movies make me go "I wonder what's next?" I play scary games and grin, "ooh, that's awesome!"

But I don't really ever get that thrill or fright, and it disappoints me. I really want that experience that makes me want to keep the lights on and double check the door locks.

I think it's more of a mindset then anything else. If you're a grown person, and you will it you'll never be scared by a movie or a video game. You need to be willing to lose yourself in the experience or else it's never going to happen.

Here's a suggestion: if the visual medium doesn't do it, I would look into the written word. Sometimes the images you derive in your own mind is scarier then anything that you'd see on the screen.

[Hawkzombie]

I saw Quarantine and enjoyed it, but almost everyone I know tells me to see Rec (The Spanish film its based on).

[KamaItachi]

Originally Posted by Hawkzombie

I saw Quarantine and enjoyed it, but almost everyone I know tells me to see Rec (The Spanish film its based on).

Aw, fucking balls.

I meant REC instead of Quarantine.

[Banacek]

Oh, and this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audition_(film)

[carnage11]

Well I might have to check out this [REC]. It's still the shaky handy cam? Is it in english or subtitled?

[rinichanraar]

Honestly, I can't think of too many movies that might scare you if you don't scare easily. I was creeped out by Shutter (the original Thai version), but only at a couple of specific parts and because I'm easily frightened. I was going to suggest Suspiria, but in retrospect, it's not really all that scary aside from the creepy score by Goblin. (And even then, it's mostly just that one song.)

Originally Posted by carnage11

Well I might have to check out this [REC]. It's still the shaky handy cam? Is it in english or subtitled?

Yes to the shaky-cam. Also: Spanish with English subtitles.

[Vigil80]

Is it in subtitles or dubbed? That may be a problem if I'm too busy trying to understand to be scared. Ditto for japanese horror.

I looked up August Underground. I have no intention of casting dispersion on folks who see its merits, but for me...

Originally Posted by Prizefighter

disgusted =/= scared

If I would have the same reaction to the movie as I do to, say, being ninja-linked to goatse, then it doesn't really fit the bill.

I have tried the written word also, which brings me to The Shining. The scariest part of that movie for me was the way Kubrick butchered the original story.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Banacek

I think it's more of a mindset then anything else. If you're a grown person, and you will it you'll never be scared by a movie or a video game. You need to be willing to lose yourself in the experience or else it's never going to happen.

This is probably true. I suppose I should work harder to be a good audience.

[Shieldmaiden]

Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth. Seriously scary game and not in a "things jump out at you and startle you for a second before you kill them" way.

[Vigil80]

Watching Rec now, I'll report later.

[RandoM51]

Originally Posted by Prizefighter

So recommend me some real winners, CoGers. If I come back with the shakes, I'll thank you for it.

Hang out in IRC with Lekon around 4am.

[DarkDay]

Originally Posted by Prizefighter

I'm not easy to scare. Not trying to brag or anything, it's just a fact. I go to things like haunted houses and such around Halloween, and I think "hey, they did a good job with this." Scary movies make me go "I wonder what's next?" I play scary games and grin, "ooh, that's awesome!"

But I don't really ever get that thrill or fright, and it disappoints me. I really want that experience that makes me want to keep the lights on and double check the door locks.

I've seen some classic psychological thrillers from Hitchcock. I've seen some slasher flicks. I've caught the Blair Witch Project, the Grudge, the Unborn, Exorcism of Emily Rose, just to name a few.

I've played some of the classics, too. Doom 3, Bioshock, Silent Hill, Penumbra, F.E.A.R., etc. And I did it the way you're supposed to, lights off and all. But nothing ever made me say, "holy shit, got to turn this off for now." I appreciated the moments when I know I was supposed to be scared, but just didn't get there.

So recommend me some real winners, CoGers. If I come back with the shakes, I'll thank you for it.

The changeling, great old school story, all about the music and camera, no gore, and the entity, based on a true story, not the scariest in your face but creepy. Even if your not scared, they are just great movies even now a days, but the changeling is a tough one to find, but it scared the shit out of me on a different level for the first half.

both pull you in on a psychological level, but both are old, so heads up if you don't like older movies.

[Crowe]

Originally Posted by Hawkzombie

I too am interested in some good old horror games. The only thing that ever truly got to me was one time I was working at Toys R Us and playing Resident Evil 3 in the breakroom during my lunch. When Nemesis broke through the wall of the Police Station for the first time I was wearing headphones and staring intently at the TV.

I screamed like a little girl and my manager came running in from the FRONT OF THE STORE (Breakroom was on the back wall) to see if I was alright :P...Never lived it down.

It was year nine, middle of the day, I'm watching a mate playing that very section of the game and we both let a scream rip. Unbelievably funny.

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

Are there any particular horror themes/elements/creatures that you find more scary than others?

I say this because this makes a huge difference to how scary I find a game/movie; I find zombies just gruesome and not all that scary, but I shit my pants about ghosts for some reason (pretty sure I used to sleepwalk when I was little and have nightmares about ghosts). I can play RE games just fine but I can NOT play fatal frame alone, it turns me into a gigantic pussy and even with a group of people I occasionally have to hand over the controller.

I'm not a horror aficionado by any means so I don't have any real suggestions, but maybe if you know something that you tend to find a bit more scary then someone else here can point you to a suitable movie or game which uses that element well.