10 Most Terrifying Jump Scares In Horror Movie History
4. Psycho (1960)
The Movie: In Alfred Hitchcock's vast and celebrated filmography, Psycho may be the movie he will be remembered for more than any other. The film follows a secretary called Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) who retreats to a secluded motel after embezzling her employer. Little does she know that the motels disturbed owner (Anthony Perkins) and his housebound mother are watching her closely...
The Scare: Marion's sister Lila (Vera Miles) ventures out to the motel in search of her sister. In fear of being discovered, she hides in the cellar and discovers Norman's mother sitting in a rocking chair. Mrs Bates doesn't respond to Lila's calls, but as she approaches, the chair turns round to reveal that Mrs Bates is in fact a decomposed corpse.
As if that wasn't surprising enough, Norman suddenly enters the basement wearing a dress and a wig, rushing at Lila with a large knife just before she is saved by her boyfriend Sam Loomis (John Gavin). Today, the majority of movie lovers know the twist ending of Psycho long before they actually see the film, but for audiences at the time, this big reveal was one of the earliest and most terrifying jump scares ever used.
No wonder Hitchcock went out of his way to keep all of the plot twists a secret, convincing theater owners worldwide to lock their doors after each viewing began so latecomers could not be admitted.