Television has grown leaps and bounds over the years, particularly in the wake of the
horror revamp that is currently occuring, with shows like The Haunting of Hill House,
and Black Mirror.
Yet, many people still don’t think of shows as a primary source of horror, but I have
a feeling that is quickly going to change.
So, today on Top 5 Scary Videos, I’m going to be counting down our list of the Top 5
Scariest TV Show Moments.
A note before we dive in though, I’ll be highlighting specific episodes, and then delving
into particular moments within that episodes.
So, saying that, lets jump in.
5 Twin Peaks - Lonely Souls
Also known as Episode 14, this season 2 episode 7 episode of Twin Peaks is renowned for being
one of the scariest episodes in television history.
And, if you’re a Twin Peaks fan, you will know that this is one of the most important
episodes that finally revealed to us, who killed Laura Palmer?
Many fans have gone on to cite Lonely Souls as David Lynch’s finest work, now, I agree
that it is superb, but let’s be honest, his finest work is Eraserhead and Inland Empire,
but I digress.
It’s worth noting that prior to Lonely Souls, Twin Peaks’ ratings had dropped significantly,
with only hardcore fans sticking around to find out the truth about the murder of Laura
Palmer, and they got it, in one of the greatest episodes ever created.
Now, spoilers ahead, if you haven’t seen Twin Peaks, please skip ahead to our next
number, or better yet, pause the video, go binge watch all of Twin Peaks and then come
back to me.
Ok?
Good.
The moment that traumatized us for years to come came towards the end of the episode in
a four-minute sequence, in which it’s revealed to us that Leland Palmer, Laura’s father,
was in fact her killer.
However, in a shocking turn of events, not only did Leland kill her, but he was also
possessed by the entity Bob.
And in those closing moments, and through the use of jump cuts, we get to see both Leland
and Bob at the murder scene, creating an absolutely horrifying moment that has lingered with Twin
Peaks fans for years.
4 Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Hush Now, you may be surprised that this episode
isn’t further up our list, but you’ll see why very, very soon.
In the tenth episode of season 4, the entire town of Sunnydale suddenly loses their voice,
resulting in the Scooby Gang silently solving the mystery of the monsters who stole their
ability to speak.
And, these monsters are perhaps some of the scariest creatures to ever grace our screens.
These fairy tale characters known as The Gentlemen float just slightly above the ground as they
move from home to home collecting the hearts of victims, making the inability to speak
or scream an absolutely horrifying idea.
With the exception of the opening and closing minutes of the show, “Hush” is an entirely
silent episode, aside from the music, of course.
Making it one of the scariest TV show moments in history.
Removing our senses during a purge of organs is not a concept any of us want to fathom.
3 Black Mirror - White Bear It’s difficult to describe Black Mirror
to someone who has never seen it, with most of us falling back on the description, “It’s
like The Twilight Zone, but with technology...and much, much darker.”
Yet, that doesn’t seem enough, because quite honestly, there is no fitting way to describe
Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, the only thing to do is just watch.
It’s somewhat of a parody of modern times, a warning in a way, of the harsh reality we
may one day be met with if we don’t control ourselves, or our technology.
However, White Bear is the one glowing exception to the rule.
In season 2, episode 2, White Bear seems to be a modern take the twilight zone.
It begins with a woman waking up, only to discover she doesn’t remember who she is.
She quickly finds herself in a terrifying situation when the entire population of her
town begins to hunt her down, with reasonings unknown.
Can you imagine, waking up with amnesia, desperately seeking help, or for someone, anyway to explain
to you what is going on...but no one will listen, they watch and then they hunt.
Yeah, this is what makes this episode of Black Mirror absolutely horrifying, and its twist
actually makes the story better every single time you watch it.
White Bear, check it out!
And, if you haven’t seen any Black Mirror, just start with season one, and enjoy.
Also, just know that I envy you, because if I could rid myself of my memory of Black Mirror,
just to be able to watch it again, I would.
2 Masters of Horror - An Incident On and Off A Mountain Road
Now, for those that don’t know, Masters of Horror is an American anthology TV series
first created back in 2005 and ran for two seasons.
It’s quality varied, however, there’s no debating that An Incident On and Off A
Mountain Road was the shows greatest episode, it was also the shows premiere episode, and
has remained a fan favorite ever since.
The episode was written and directed by Don Doscarelli of Phantasm fame, and follows a
young woman who crashes her car, and then encounters a physically and mentally twisted
serial killer named Moonface.
Now, if you’ve seen the film You’re Next, you will love this episode, with the film
drawing many similarities to the show.
The classic horror premise is turned on its head when the young woman is revealed to be
highly trained in survivalist skills, and is more than capable of defending herself.
Yep, very You’re Next.
Now, don’t expect that revelation to ruin the horror effects of this episode, because
it doesn’t.
The design of Moonface is enough to linger in your mind, as well as the expertly implemented
moments of terror throughout the episode.
And, of course, there has to be a twist ending, which, for those who haven’t seen it, I
will not spoil.
Just watch it, and then you will understand why this TV moment made it onto our list,
1 The X-Files - Home
In season four The X-Files, we were blessed with one of the most terrifying episodes of
TV to ever grace the silver screen.
The episode, Home, is something straight out of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Wrong Turn,
a little different to what the show typically presents.
However, different doesn't mean bad, it means absolutely terrifying.
This episode takes place in the small town of Home, Pennsylvania, after a woman gives
birth to a deformed baby.
Three similarly deformed men then bury the baby near a dilapidated home during a rainstorm.
Enter, Mulder and Scully, who are forced to investigate the home, during which time they
discover some incredibly frightening things, which unleashes some catastrophic events,
including one of the men sneaking into the Sheriff’s home during the night and murdering
him and his wife.
Yes, this episode is bloody, disturbing, and just downright horrifying to feast upon.
But, remember, it is The X-Files and has the same stylistic tones and themes were so accustomed
to seeing.
The moments worth noting are the aforementioned burial scene, as well as the home invasion
scene -- something that has lingered with me for many, many years.
And, quite shockingly, it is a surprise that “Home” was even able to reach the airwaves,
with the implications at the end of the episode being quite possibly the most twisted episode
of TV ever aired in history.
Well, there we have it!
Do you guys agree with our list?
Were there any scary TV show moments that we missed?
Leave us all your thoughts and feelings in the comments down below and perhaps we can
do a part 2.
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turn on notifications so you never miss another scary vid.
And until next time, see ya later.