This is one of the first horror/sci-fiction films that I ever saw in the theater. I was only 9 or 10 years old and it (as we say in my family) "scared the tar out of me". Even upon revisiting it as an adult, this 1982 John Carpenter remake stands the test of time. The sheer level of suspense that is held throughout the entire flick, is enough to give you premature rigor in your buttocks. The special effects are a little dated, but are still pretty special.

I won't revel any details of the plot in my recommendation. Because if you haven't seen it, and you like scary movies, you really should. (via deepdiscount.com)

Amazon.com
Director John Carpenter and special makeup effects master Rob Bottin teamed up for this 1982 remake of the 1951 science fiction classic The Thing from Another World, and the result is a mixed blessing. It's got moments of highly effective terror and spine-tingling suspense, but it's mostly a showcase for some of the goriest and most horrifically grotesque makeup effects ever created for a movie. With such highlights as a dog that splits open and blossoms into something indescribably gruesome, this is the kind of movie for die-hard horror fans and anyone who slows down to stare at fatal traffic accidents. On those terms, however, it's hard not to be impressed by the movie's wild and wacky freak show. It all begins when scientists at an arctic research station discover an alien spacecraft under the thick ice, and thaw out the alien body found aboard. What they don't know is that the alien can assume any human form, and before long the scientists can't tell who's real and who's a deadly alien threat. Kurt Russell leads the battle against the terrifying intruder, and the supporting cast includes Richard Masur, Richard Dysart, Donald Moffat, and Wilford Brimley. They're all playing standard characters who are neglected by the mechanistic screenplay (based on the classic sci-fi story "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell), but Carpenter's emphasis is clearly on the gross-out effects and escalating tension. If you've got the stomach for it (and let's face it, there's a big audience for eerie gore), this is a thrill ride you won't want to miss. --Jeff Shannon

I don't remember watching this movie when I was a kid but I do remember that part about the decapitated head sprouting legs. A real horror show. This movie has been deemed the No. 1 scariest movie by Boston.com.

Cult classic remake of movie by the same name. Some of the most intense horror scenes.