LIST: Phobia-inducing movies that could tap into your worst fears
Watching horror movies is a sure-fire way to give you new things to be terrified of.
While it's easy to pop a film in about supernatural entities or freakish monsters from the swamp, there's also a special kind of horror offerings that are crafted to prey on those who have particular phobias about certain things, which further adds to the fear factor and elevates it to a whole new level.
From fear of heights to spiders, clowns, and more, here are some phobia-inducing movies to watch this spooky season that will surely give you a terrifying—yet thrilling—experience.
Arachnophobia (1990)
Who in the world wouldn't be scared of something that has eight eyes, eight legs, and two large, venomous fangs?
These creepy crawlies are the main source of fear for Ross Jennings, a family physician who has moved to an idyllic town to take over a retiring resident doctor. Unbeknownst to him, a highly venomous spider has taken residence in his barn, having come all the way from the mountains of Venezuela.
The aggressive, newly discovered species of spider has set its eight eyes on producing offspring with their own lethal bite. As town residents start turning up dead, Ross believes that it's the work of the creatures he fears most, and he must now overcome his phobia of them if he wants to stop a deadly infestation.
Fall (2022)
Do tall heights make you dizzy? It's nothing compared to what you'll experience in this 2022 survival thriller film.
Fall is a suspenseful story about best friends Becky and Hunter, whose lives are all about conquering fears and pushing limits. Becky, however, lost her spark for thrilling adventures when her husband suffered a tragic death by losing his footing while climbing a mountain.
To cure Becky from being an alcoholic shut-in, Hunter invites her to climb the 2,000-foot abandoned radio tower so she can find peace and heal from the tragedy. But when the ladder breaks, both their friendship and survival skills are put to the test by the scorching heat, lack of supplies, and a sickeningly high drop below.
It (2017)
Despite their colorful appearance and bubbly personality, clowns have always been an inexplicable source of fear for many people. It, known as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, could elevate your fear of them even further.
An ancient, trans-dimensional evil entity, It primarily terrorizes the small town of Derry, Maine, preying upon children every 27 years. And now, the malicious monster has set its eyes on a group of seven outcast children who call themselves "The Losers Club."
Because of It's uncanny ability to change its form as it pleases, the children are subjected to nightmarish situations that exploit what they fear the most and force them to face their own personal demons.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
A timeless classic that still elicits screams to this day, A Nightmare on Elm Street will do you justice with its title and give you nightmares the second you close your eyes.
Like It's Pennywise, A Nightmare on Elm Street's Freddy Krueger is essentially fear personified, having the power to manipulate perception to create terror like no other. This is exactly what he does when he targets several Midwestern teenagers through their dreams—which, in turn, kills them in reality.
It's up to Nancy Thompson to investigate why the disfigured killer wants them dead, and the path soon leads her to a dark secret kept by her and her friends' parents.
The Descent (2005)
For those of you who have claustrophobia, this 2005 British horror film will make you feel suffocated even in the comfort of your couch, thanks to its dark and visceral setting.
The Descent tells the story of six friends who decide to go on a cave-dwelling adventure. After descending underground, things quickly take a turn for the worst when they get lost in an unknown cave system inhabited by grotesque predators that have a taste for human flesh.
The women must find a way out of the suffocating, horrifying, and hopeless environment they've trapped themselves in before the creatures sink their teeth into them.