The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2010s Horror Films. In this series of horror-themed articles, we’ll be reviewing the creepiest scenes from horror films by decade. These articles will showcase some of the subtle (yet terrifying) scares that gave you nightmares as a child and goosebumps as an adult.
Our fifth article covers a decade of horror that was known for three major themes: the rise of Found Footage Horror, the resurgence of Films About The Paranormal, Ghosts and Hauntings and a shift in Asian horror from J-Horror and K-Horror to Thai Horror and Indonesian Horror.
With the popularity and financial success of the Paranormal Activity and [REC] franchises in the 2000s, the 2010s saw the horror genre utilize even more of this ‘love it or hate it’ format throughout the decade. Though these films were cheaper to produce they eventually ran into ‘found footage fatigue’ due to overused and similar plots and an overreliance on jump scares. However, there were some bright spots for this horror subgenre from the emergence of the V/H/S franchise to truly creepy and scary found footage films such as The Bay (2012), The Sacrament (2013), Afflicted (2014), Creep (2014) and The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014). In addition, found footage became creative in the latter half of the decade as it shifted from the first person view of a camcorder or phone to other digital formats including webcams and video conferencing which were used to great effect in Unfriended (2015) and Livescream (2018).
While films about ghosts, the paranormal and supernatural had always been one of the top horror subgenres over the previous five decades, the 2010s saw this horror subgenre truly come into its own and dominate the horror genre. This domination occurred primarily through The Conjuring and Insidious franchises. These were some of the most popular mainstream horror films of the decade and further established James Wan (who was involved with both The Conjuring and Insidious) as a top director of creepy horror.
And finally, though Asian Horror continued its creepy streak in the decade with J-Horror standouts Lesson of the Evil (2012), I Am a Hero (2016) and One Cut of the Dead (2017) and K-Horror classics I Saw the Devil (2010), The Wailing (2016) and Train to Busan (2016) there was a noticeable shift in the latter half of the 2010s to Thai Horror and Indonesian Horror. Thai Horror films such as The Promise (2017) and Inhuman Kiss (2019) leaned heavily into creepy ghostly scares and Folk Horror while Indonesian Horror leaned much more heavily into splatter and gore with themes of exorcism and possession. Some of the best Indonesian horror of the decade was greatly influenced by the Evil Dead franchise whose influence can be seen in films from May The Devil Take You (2018) to The Queen of Black Magic (2019).
After we get through each decade, we’ll have a cumulative article with the 25 Creepiest Horror Scenes of All Time and you can find each article below as we post them over the following months:
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 1970s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 1980s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 1990s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2000s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2010s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2020s Horror Films
- The 25 Creepiest Horror Scenes of All Time
For our rankings we’re going to use some criteria to help define and refine our list. First, what is considered ‘creepy’ is often subjective. What might be creepy to some people might come off as boring to others. For the list we’ve compiled, we narrowed down the Top 25 to scenes that genuinely scared older members of KBZ to scenes that younger members recalled as their first horror experience.
Second, though we will feature a few found footage films, this was one horror subgenre that had only a few films we would consider classics of horror while most of the other films were forgettable (and in some cases, unwatchable). We’re also only going to include one segment from the standout found footage horror anthology of the decade, V/H/S.
Third, like V/H/S, we’re also only going to include one film from the popular Insidious, Sinister and The Conjuring franchises. The Conjuring Universe had over 6 films in the decade to select from, but we’re going to focus on the first (and best) film of the franchise.
Fourth, though this decade rivaled both the 1970s and 1980s in terms of quality and quantity of creepy horror films, we only have 25 spots for this specific list. However, we will likely release 2-3 follow-up videos later this year to the KBZ YouTube channel that includes honorable mentions that didn’t make this list. So, if you’re not a subscriber yet to our YouTube channel, now is a good time to sign-up!
Fifth, we’re going to try something new with our lists by embedding BlueSky video posts of the scenes. You won’t need an account with BlueSky to view the videos, but there are some great film and horror buffs you can follow on the social network on hashtags feeds MovieSky and FilmSky. You can also follow KBZ Film on BlueSky here.
And sixth, we had to follow our rule for all of KBZ’s film listings where we only list films that have a 4.0/10 or higher rating.
As we mentioned above, we’ll be releasing additional lists of the creepiest horror films of the decade over the next few months. You can refer to our schedule above or subscribe to our newsletter to get updated as we release each new article.
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
The 25 Creepiest Scenes from 2010s Horror Films
#25 Inhuman Kiss (2019) Where to Stream / Buy: YouTube
Scene: The Krasue Appears
#24 Lights Out (2016) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Red Light, Black Light
#23 Hush (2016) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Killer at the Window
#22 Backcountry (2014) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The Bear
#21 Get Out (2017) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Runner at Night
#20 The Crazies (2010) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The Hospital
#19 Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The Sentionaut’s Face
#18 The Visit (2015) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Grandma at Night
#17 The Void (2016) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: “This isn’t my face…”
#16 The Invitation (2015) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The Mirror
#15 The Cleansing Hour (2019) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The Demon Appears
#14 The Clovehitch Killer (2018) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: Killer in the Living Room
#13 The Babadook (2014) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The Babadook in the Bedroom
#12 The Queen of Black Magic (2019) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: What’s on TV?
#11 Annihilation (2018) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Scene: The Mutant Bear
#10
Train to Busan
Plot: Martial law is declared when a mysterious viral outbreak pushes Korea into a state of emergency. Those on an express train to Busan, a city that has successfully fended off the viral outbreak, must fight for their own survival.
Scene: The Zombie Military
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – Train to Busan (2016)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s #KHorror
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 5, 2025 at 6:44 AM
KBZ’s Take: Zombie film lovers have likely seen this film and have it ranked in their top 10 of all time. For other film fans, it’s one of the best Zombie films out there with exciting action sequences set against some innovative Zombie scares. There’s a ton of creepy scenes in the film, but the one that creeped us out the most is when the survivors realize they truly are alone.
Additional Lists: The Best 2010s Horror Films for Halloween #8
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#9
V/H/S/2
Plot: As they search for clues to the whereabouts of a missing student, a couple view the ghastly stories recorded on a collection of videotapes.
Scene: “Safe Haven”
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – V/H/S/2 (2013)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s #Cults #FoundFootage
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 9:05 AM
KBZ’s Take: The V/H/S franchise has some great creepy scares and segments from the first person viewpoint of a zombie in “A Ride in the Park” in V/H/S/2 (2013) to a multiverse of demonic horror in “Parallel Monsters” from V/H/S: Viral (2014).
However, nothing can top the creepy, gory and overall insane segment, “Safe Haven”, from Gareth Edwards. This is one segment you’ll never forget from the creepy cult to the adrenalized and horrific ending.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#8
It
Plot: In a small town in Maine, seven children known as The Losers Club come face to face with life problems, bullies and a monster that takes the shape of a clown called Pennywise.
Scene: The Storm Drain
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – It (2017)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s #StephenKing
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
KBZ’s Take: Easily one of the best Stephen King Film Adaptations, the 2017 remake of the original IT (1990) brings a more horrifying bent to the creepiness of Pennywise the Clown. Though both Tim Curry and Bill Skarsgård bring their own distinctive (and creepy) takes to the infamous clown, there’s no denying the remake’s iconic storm drain scene with Georgie and Pennywise that more effectively brings the horror of King’s work to screen.
Additional Lists: The Best 2010s Horror Films for Halloween #15
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#7
Hereditary
Plot: When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.
Scene: The Bedroom
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – Hereditary (2018)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM
KBZ’s Take: Hereditary came out of nowhere in 2018 to become one of the scariest films of the decade. It slowly builds a sense of dread that culminates in one of the most horrific endings of the horror genre. This is a great film to watch as a double feature with Midsommar (2019) which are both directed by Ari Aster. Just don’t expect any lighthearted horror with either film as they’re both as bleak and unsettling as you can get within the horror genre.
Additional Lists: The Best 2010s Horror Films for Halloween #7
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: The haunted Lambert family seeks to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.
Scene: “She Has Your Baby”
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
KBZ’s Take: James Wan is behind two of the most successful horror franchises of all time – Insidious and The Conjuring. While there’s ongoing debate as to which series of films are ‘scarier’, it’s like debating if the sky is filled with clouds or has an abundance of clouds. They’re both scary though if jump scares are your thing, Insidious has some of the most effective and unpredictable jump scares of the entire horror genre. We specifically went with the second installment of Insidious though which has one of the creepiest scenes of the decade.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#5
It Follows
Plot: After carefree teenager Jay sleeps with her new boyfriend, Hugh, for the first time, she learns that she is the latest recipient of a fatal curse that is passed from victim to victim via sexual intercourse. Death, Jay learns, will creep inexorably toward her as either a friend or a stranger. Jay’s friends don’t believe her seemingly paranoid ravings, until they too begin to see the phantom assassins and band together to help her flee or defend herself.
Scene: The Old Woman
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – It Follows (2015)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
KBZ’s Take: If we had to make a guess, we would say It Follows’ director David Robert Mitchell was a huge fan of John Carpenter. Of all the great horror of the 2010s, there’s no better emulation of Carpenter’s distinct style of unsettling creepiness than the slow, drawn out scene when Jay first sees the old woman approaching.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives.
Scene: The Doll
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – The Conjuring (2013)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
KBZ’s Take: While The Conjuring has its own share of terrifying jump scares (compared to its cousin Insidious), the film is much more rooted in narrative horror that complements its frequent scares. You can’t go wrong with either franchise, but if you want horror that’s based on pseudo-factual paranormal investigations, go with The Warrens and The Conjuring film. You also won’t forget the creepiest scene in the movie (shown above).
Additional Lists: The Best 2010s Horror Films for Halloween #2
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: A woman’s mother struggles with dementia but the family starts thinking something more sinister is at play.
Scene: Deborah in the Hospital
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 4, 2025 at 9:05 AM
KBZ’s Take: This is not only one of the best films of the Found Footage subgenre, but also one of the best Possession films you will ever see. The Found Footage format strengthens the scenes of the odd behavior of a family’s dementia-riddled mother. It has one of the most disturbing endings of all time with a terrifying scene you will never forget or ‘unsee’. Though we can’t show this scene as it’s a spoiler, we do have one of the creepier scenes in the film above.
Additional Lists: Top Films About Exorcisms & Possessions You Haven’t Seen #1, Top Scariest Halloween Films for Adults You Haven’t Seen #4, The Best 2010s Horror Films for Halloween #6
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#2
Sinister
Plot: Found footage helps a true-crime novelist realize how and why a family was murdered in his new home, though his discoveries put his entire family in the path of a supernatural entity.
Scene: The Home Movie
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – Sinister (2012)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
KBZ’s Take: Sinister is one of the underrated horror films of the decade despite being noted as the scariest film of all time (in a scientific experiment measuring viewers’ heartbeats while watching select horror films). While we still think The Exorcist (1973) will always be the scariest horror film of all time, Sinister does have it’s share of creepy and scary scenes – especially during the scenes where Ellison reviews the home videos of families being murdered by a mysterious cult leader.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Father and son coroners receive a mysterious unidentified corpse with no apparent cause of death. As they attempt to examine the beautiful young Jane Doe, they discover increasingly bizarre clues that hold the key to her terrifying secrets.
Scene: The Corpse in the Hallway
The Creepiest Scenes from Horror Films of the 2010s – The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
#FilmSky #MovieSky #Horror #Creepy #2010s
Other Creepiest Horror videos:
70s – youtu.be/NksBmOpfuM0
80s – youtu.be/W-L1dR0tkmM
90s – youtu.be/IDVd0XYIe28
00s – youtu.be/vFHBNaS6DLY— KBZ Film (@kbzfilm.bsky.social) June 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
KBZ’s Take: Like The Descent (2005), this is one of a handful of underrated and lesser known films we always recommend for people who want to be scared silly on Halloween or on a night of horror. This isn’t your typical film about witches like The Witch (2015) but rather a slow burn horror film with an increasing amount of sense of dread and jump scares.
Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch are amazing in this film as the father and son coroners who soon realize they’re in over their heads with a Jane Doe corpse. This film also isn’t for the squeamish as it does show some elements of an autopsy but it’s what comes after that’s more terrifying.
Additional Lists: The Best 2010s Horror Films for Halloween #1, Top Scariest Halloween Films for Adults You Haven’t Seen #3
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
