1. Nosferatu
The most important horror movie ever made and the greatest film to ever come out of Germany. Nosferatu is a genius re-telling of the Dracula story that has the most haunting image in all of cinematic history. There is a moment in Nosferatu where Count Orlok, the film's surrogate for Count Dracula, is making his way up a flight of stairs to drink the blood of the protagonist's wife that is impossible to forget. The only thing the audience sees is Orlok's shadow ascending the steps with an outreached hand but the director, F.W. Murnau, gives this one simple moment such a potent combination of sound, image and importance to the story that it is utterly terrifying. Even by today's over stimulated senses Nosferatu still retains the power to frighten audiences because Murnau has given the world the greatest horror movie of the them all and it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Thanks so much for reading, I'd love to hear any films that have haunted you in the comments.