Horror movies are practically defined by their endings. It's one last chance for the filmmakers to work in a good scare before the credits roll. Sometimes it's a classic jump scare, while other times it's a reveal that'll leave viewers unnerved for days after. Sometimes it's a combination of both. And sometimes it's nothing but good old fashioned fan service.
With Halloween just around the corner and plenty of time to sit at home and binge your favorite monster movies, let's rank the greatest horror movie endings of all time.
WARNING: Literally every entry contains major spoilers.
Sleepaway Camp
Most horror fans would say that Sleepaway Camp is not that great a film by almost all s, but its ending has endured through the years as one of horror cinema's most memorable, so any list of great horror movie endings would be irresponsible in not including it. THAT image of "Angela's" face is truly shocking.
That said, the twist's implications are a little more questionable when viewed through a 2020 lens, so to pack some hefty nostalgia goggles if you decide to give this one a watch.
Freddy Vs. Jason
Freddy vs. Jason is a bit "different" when considering the previous films in the two franchises. That said, it knows exactly what it is, so it also manages to be really fun. Plus, it delivers on the title fight in a way that other big name matchups have failed.
That final shot of Jason emerging from the water holding Freddy's severed head only to have Freddy wink at the camera is the stuff of fan service legend.
Shaun Of The Dead
While it parades itself around as a comedy, there are enough genuinely scary moments (with a hefty helping of gore) to earn Shaun of the Dead a place on this list. The ending of this movie is nothing short of BFF goals.
Insidious
After Josh returns from The Further having successfully rescued his son and seemingly defeated the spirits bent on possessing his body, all seems well. That is, until the last scene when Josh kills psychic Elise and it is revealed that he was taken over by the ghostly woman who haunted him as a child, a story continued in Insidious: Chapter 2.
Friday The 13th
In a last minute decision, Jason Voorhees was tacked on to the end of Friday the 13th, shown jumping out of Crystal Lake and claiming his first victim. Even though it turned out to just be a dream, it was still a crude introduction to one of horror's most enduring villains.
Jaws
There is something to be said for beauty in simplicity. How do you deal with a giant, murderous shark? Blow it up, of course.
The Descent
If you're from the UK where The Descent was made, then you got a version where Sarah wakes up from said jump scare to find herself still trapped in the cave. She sees her late daughter sitting across from her with a birthday cake, and finds a modicum of peace in this as she slowly goes insane and creatures begin to flood in around her.
Psycho
While some of the acting may be a little bit hokey and the practical effects may be a little outdated by today's standards, Psycho is still a masterclass in psychological horror. The final reveal of Norman Bates' dead mother and him in a dress and a wig with a knife has inspired countless twist endings.
Drag Me To Hell
Everything seems to finally be going right for Christine at the end of Drag me to Hell. She's beaten the curse, she's about to be engaged, she's got that promotion, and she's even got a fancy new coat. That is, until her boyfriend reveals a button she thought she'd seen the last of.
The final shot is on her boyfriend's face as he witnesses her being dragged from a train track into the fiery pits of hell.
The Mist
In one of Stephen King's darkest moments, The Mist ends with a brave David shooting his entire family - including his son - in order to to prevent them from getting overrun by the horde of monsters brought on by the mist.
Turns out, had he waited two minutes longer, they all would have been saved by the military.
