20 Scariest Horror Movie Moments Of The 21st Century

19. Heavy Load - Shutter (2004)

It Follows
GMM Grammy

Asian horror flicks seem to have a penchant for generating terror out of inanimate objects. There’s nothing like making us afraid of things we see every day to really get under our skin.

Throughout a series of increasingly frightening encounters and visions of his deceased, and slightly miffed ex-girlfriend Natre, protagonist Tun suffers gradually worsening pains in his neck and back. The cause is a mystery, but in the film’s climax we discover the answer.

After flinging his camera to the floor in a rage, the flash of the shutter facing back at him accompanies the printing of a handy polaroid. Staring at the photo of himself in shock, he sees Natre’s ghost parked comfortably on his shoulders, where she’s been all along.

It’s hard to feel much sympathy for Tun, having also been revealed to have stood by and watched as his friends gang-raped Natre in the past, even taking a picture of her after the act under duress.

Tun then tries to end the nightmare by jumping out of the window, but survives. Even this can’t shake the clingy spectre however, with the reflection in a hospital window showing her still clutching to him as he bears the weight of past ghosts, quite literally, on his back.

It’s a particularly bleak and chilling sight, because it’s a cold, tangible reminder that some sins are impossible to escape from.

Contributor

Chest thumping James Bond and Haruki Murakami fanatic living in China. Once had a fever dream about riding a rowboat with Davos Seaworth. He hasn't updated this section since Game of Thrones was cool, and boy does it show.