Top 10 Creepiest Hidden Details In Horror Movies

Sometimes the terror is in the details! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for those instances where something lurking in the shadows of our favorite horror flicks scared the bejeezus out of us! Given that we're going to be delving into heavy plot points here, a SPOILER ALERT is now in effect. Our countdown includes details from movies “Halloween”, “Midsommar”, “Jacob's Ladder” and more! Welcome to Viralworld Magazine, and today we’re counting down our picks for those instances where something lurking in the shadows of our favorite horror flicks scared the bejeezus out of us! Given that we’re going to be delving into heavy plot points here, a SPOILER ALERT is now in effect. Which lurking fear in the background gives you nightmares? Let us know in the comments! #10: The Figure “It Follows” (2014) One of the rules to David Robert Mitchell’s film “It Follows” is how those being stalked by an unknown supernatural entity can put some distance between its pursuit via sexual intercourse by passing on the chase to the person they’re intimate with. The ending shot shows Jay and Paul walking down the street, hand-in-hand after seemingly killing the entity. In the background, however, a figure can be seen, slowly following the couple. Exactly who this is is entirely up for speculation, but the general consensus among fans is that the entity is still out there. #9: Oblivious Tentacle “Jacob’s Ladder” (1990) WARNING: this sequence from “Jacob’s Ladder” is not for the faint of heart, epileptics or those with a fear of crowds. Tim Robbins’ Jacob attends a party as the throbbing funk of James Brown blares in the background. “Lake Mungo” (2008) It’s one of the most effective background scares in horror cinema, if you know where to look. The final shot of 2008’s “Lake Mungo” underlines the film’s conceptual themes of loss, grief and the hereafter. It does so via a haunting image of the young, deceased girl Alice, who still seems to be haunting the family home. This isn’t the only time Alice appears within the film, but it’s perhaps the most tragic since it presents a scenario where her spirit might very well remain in the house for an eternity. “Lake Mungo” may be about attempting to carry on, but we’ll never forget the look of Alice’s face in the window. advertisement #7: Blair’s Noose “The Thing” (1982) The object in this scene isn’t attempting to hide itself too much, instead relying upon the implications of its presence to unnerve the viewer. Blair has gone beyond the pale after what he discovers about The Thing at U.S. Outpost 31, becoming violent against his colleagues and ending up isolated as a result. When he makes attempts to rejoin the group, the rest of the Outpost are reticent. Then, during one brief visit, a makeshift noose is seen in Blair’s room, heavily implying that the biologist will soon choose self-destruction over assimilation by The Thing. #6: Club Sequence “Black Swan” (2010) This club scene from Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” possesses a vibe similar to that of Adrian Lyne’s “Jacob’s Ladder,” at least within its claustrophobic presentation of a crowded dance floor. The overall effect here is almost psychedelic, as “Black Swan” inserts subliminal images that meld creepily into the darkness of the club. The White Swan appears, then disappears. Thomas changes into Rothbart at one point, but the editing of “Black Swan” always makes the viewer question whether or not they can actually believe their eyes. It’s a perfect storm of loud music, disorienting lights and marvelous performances from the actors. #5: Sister, Sister “Midsommar” (2019) There are a number of easter eggs, subtle nods and hidden meanings lurking in the background of writer and director Ari Aster’s take on folk horror from 2019. One particularly effective example of this can be seen when Dani and her fellow students are in the rural Swedish commune. If one looks closely, the outline of Dani’s deceased sister can be seen within a backing line of trees. What’s even more disturbing is how said outline echoes the self-destructive nature of the sister’s death, further underlining Dani’s detachment from nearly everyone around her. #4: Hidden Demon “Poltergeist” (1982) It’s always fun for movie fans to muse exactly how many times they’ve watched their favorite film before finally noticing an easter egg that was hiding in plain sight. Tobe Hooper’s “Poltergeist” is a perennial Halloween favorite from 1982, but even the most ardent fans probably didn’t notice this little tidbit the first time around. It occurs when JoBeth Williams’ Diane Freeling is being attacked by the titular poltergeist in her bedroom. Eagle-eyed viewers (or those simply willing to pause the action) will notice a demonic face that’s inhabiting the formerly-innocent framed family photo. It’s a great little extra and adds just another layer of spookiness to this all-time horror classic. “Halloween” (1978) Alright, who taught the serial killer to drive? Even funnier is that he seems to actually be a careful driver. John Carpenter doesn’t draw any attention to the presence of Myers in this scene where Dr. Loomis is talking to Haddonfield sheriff Leigh Brackett. The famous “Halloween” theme is nowhere to be heard but, there, if you look closely, is Michael Myers, driving by the pair mid-conversation. It presents The Shape as even more of a calculating menace, a knowledgeable killer that seems to be playing cat-and-mouse with the entire town. #2: Behind You “The Strangers” (2008) It’s the ultimate invasion of privacy. Someone is inside the house, and he’s right behind you…but you have no idea. Fans of “The Strangers” can probably recall how creeped out they were the first time they watched this scene back in 2008. Liv Tyler’s Kristen McKay is alone in a darkened house, and the phone call she’s just put out to her boyfriend James has been silenced. She lights a cigarette to calm her nerves, but what she doesn’t know is that she isn’t alone. We the audience can see one of the titular “strangers” watching Kristen from the shadows. And it’s positively bone-chilling. The silence and framing of the scene is super effective, and immediately ramps up the tension and fear at play. #1: The Librarian “It” (2017) Do you guys think it’s scarier when a filmmaker draws attention to that creepy thing in the background, or simply leaves it be? We think, at least in this scenario, that it’s definitely the latter. How else could we explain how unsettling it is to see this terrifying librarian in the background of 2017’s “It?” This adaptation of the classic Stephen King story gets a lot right with its first chapter, not the least of which is the scene when Ben Hanscom is in the Derry library. The librarian on duty is normal one moment, completely monstrous the next, and then back to normal, without the movie ever making mention about exactly how many years said scene took off of our lives.