15 Scariest ghosts from horror movies

Ghosts have been a big part of horror movies for years. They play on fears of the unknown and leave people uneasy long after the credits roll. Some ghosts creep around silently and wait for the right moment to scare their victims. Others never stop chasing and create a sense of panic that doesn’t let up. These spirits often come with dark pasts or deadly curses, which makes them even more terrifying. Movies like The Grudge and The Ring made people afraid of what might be hiding in plain sight. Films like The Shining used ghosts to mess with the mind and make the quietest scenes feel the most dangerous.

**Disclaimer: This article is entirely based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.**

1) Kayako Saeki (The Grudge, 2004)

Kayako Saeki is terrifying because everything about her feels wrong. Her pale skin and wide eyes make her look lifeless, and the way her body moves feels broken and unnatural. The croaking sound she makes is hard to shake off because it feels too close and too real. The scariest moment happens when she crawls down the stairs with her limbs twisted in ways that don’t seem human. She doesn’t rush but keeps coming closer, which makes it worse. Takako Fuji played Kayako and gave her an unsettling presence that stays with you after the movie ends.

2) Sadako Yamamura (Ring, 1998)

Sadako Yamamura doesn’t scream or lash out, and that’s what makes her so scary. She moves slowly and deliberately, which makes her feel more real and harder to predict. Her wet hair hides her face, and her clothes look like she just climbed out of the well where she died. The scariest moment is when she crawls out of the television and steps into the room. That scene destroys the idea of safety because the ghost doesn’t stay in her world—she comes into yours. Rie Inō played Sadako and gave her a dead-eyed stare that sticks with you.

3) Bathsheba Sherman (The Conjuring, 2013)

Bathsheba Sherman is disturbing because she doesn’t just haunt the house—she tries to possess people and use them to kill. Her rotting skin and hollowed-out eyes make her look half-dead, and her twisted smile feels cold and calculating. The scariest scene happens when she’s crouched on top of the wardrobe and leaps down without warning. That moment feels sudden but also builds on the tension that had been simmering for minutes. Joseph Bishara played Bathsheba, and the way she moved felt quick and violent, which made her presence even harder to watch.

4) Lady Sharpe (Crimson Peak, 2015)

Lady Sharpe is one of the terrifying ghosts haunting Allerdale Hall. Her skeletal frame, blood-red appearance, and decayed features make her unsettling to look at. She doesn’t just appear to scare—she warns Edith about the dark secrets buried in the house. Her movements feel slow and deliberate, almost as if she’s dragging herself from the grave. The scariest moment happens when she emerges from the floor, reaching out with her disfigured hand while her cracked skull glares in the dim light. Doug Jones portrayed Sharpe using practical effects and motion work that make her ghostly presence feel disturbingly real.

5) Parker Crane / The Bride in Black (Insidious, 2010)

Parker Crane’s ghost is horrifying because it mixes supernatural fear with real-world horror. Dressed in a black wedding gown with smeared makeup and lifeless eyes, Parker looks like someone who lost their sanity before they died. What makes him worse is that he was a serial killer before becoming a ghost, so his presence feels dangerous even in death. The scariest moment happens when he appears behind Renai and lunges forward without any buildup. That scene feels sharp and sudden, like an attack you can’t prepare for. Tom Fitzpatrick played Parker and gave him an unsettling focus that made every movement feel deliberate and personal.

6) Jennet Humfrye (The Woman in Black, 2012)

Jennet Humfrye is terrifying because she carries both rage and sorrow, which makes her feel unpredictable. Her pale face and dark eyes look hollow, but there’s anger behind them that feels ready to lash out. She doesn’t just haunt the house—she lures children to their deaths, which makes her presence even more disturbing. The scariest moment happens when she appears in the nursery, standing still as the toys move by themselves. Her silence in that scene feels heavier than any scream. Liz White played Jennet, and her empty stare makes the ghost feel deeply unsettling.

7) Mary Shaw (Dead Silence, 2007)

Mary Shaw is terrifying because her presence is tied to absolute silence, making every creak and whisper feel dangerous. Her pale, doll-like appearance and wide, frozen eyes make her look inhuman, and the way she moves feels deliberate and predatory. The scariest moment happens when she appears in the shadows, forcing a character to stay silent as she slowly approaches. Her connection to ventriloquist dolls adds another layer of fear since they move even when she’s not there. Judith Roberts played Mary Shaw and gave her an eerie calmness that makes her even scarier.

8) Mrs. Mills and Mr. Tuttle (The Others, 2001)

Mrs. Mills and Mr. Tuttle are terrifying because they seem normal at first, which makes their true nature feel like a betrayal. Their calm voices and polite manners make them seem safe, but there’s something about the way they stare too long or answer questions too carefully that feels off. The scariest moment happens when their secret is revealed, and they no longer try to hide the fact that they’ve been dead all along. Fionnula Flanagan and Eric Sykes played the characters, and their ability to switch from comforting to unnerving makes their performances hard to forget.

9) Madeline O’Malley (The Innkeepers, 2011)

Madeline O’Malley haunts the Yankee Pedlar Inn, where she died after hanging herself following a heartbreak. Her story is tragic, but it’s the way her ghost lingers that makes her so unsettling. Her pale, lifeless face and old-fashioned wedding dress give her an eerie presence, and her appearances often feel sudden and unavoidable. The scariest moment happens when Claire sees her reflection on a piano’s surface, frozen and watching. Sara Paxton’s performance captures raw fear, making Madeline’s presence feel even heavier. Her silence and slow movements make every moment she appears deeply unnerving.

10) The Nun (Valak) (The Conjuring 2, 2016)

Valak is terrifying because she combines religious imagery with pure evil, which makes her feel wrong on every level. Her black-and-white nun’s habit feels familiar, but her hollowed-out eyes and sharp features make her look like something out of a nightmare. The scariest scene happens when her shadow moves across the wall and steps into the light, revealing her face right before she lunges. That moment feels impossible to prepare for because the buildup is so slow. Bonnie Aarons played Valak, and her sharp facial structure gave the character a look that feels otherworldly and impossible to ignore.

11) The Twins (The Shining, 1980)

The twins in The Shining are terrifying because they don’t move or scream—they just stand still and stare. Their matching blue dresses and pale faces make them look lifeless, but it’s their calm voices that make them even worse. They don’t threaten or shout—they just ask Danny to play forever, like it’s a normal thing. The scariest moment happens when Danny sees them in the hallway, and flashes of their blood-covered bodies break through the scene. Lisa and Louise Burns played the twins, and their blank expressions make them feel like they’re already trapped in death.

12) Samara Morgan (The Ring, 2002)

Samara Morgan is horrifying because she feels unstoppable. Her wet hair hides her face, and her slow, jerking walk makes her movements look wrong, like her body is falling apart with every step. What scares people most is that she doesn’t just haunt places—she comes out of the television and into the real world. The scariest scene happens when she crawls out of the TV, and the static from the screen makes her look like she’s glitching in and out of existence. Daveigh Chase played Samara, and her stiff, mechanical movements made the character feel inhuman.

13) Kaylee’s Mom (Oculus, 2013)

Kaylee’s mom is terrifying because the mirror doesn’t just turn her into a ghost—it twists her into something unrecognizable. Her sunken eyes and bruised skin make her look like she’s rotting from the inside, and her slow movements make every step feel deliberate. The scariest moment happens when she appears in the reflection, staring at her daughter with glassy eyes before suddenly attacking. That moment hits hard because the mirror warps reality, leaving you unsure of what’s real. Katee Sackhoff played the role, and the way she shifts from a loving mother to a cold, unfeeling predator makes her even harder to watch.

14) The Woman in the Bathtub (The Shining, 1980)

The woman in the bathtub is disturbing because she tricks you into letting your guard down. At first, she looks young and beautiful, and her slow steps toward Jack feel seductive. Then her body changes, and she becomes a rotting, sagging corpse covered in sores. The scariest moment happens when she starts laughing, and her cracked skin and hollow eyes make her look less human with every second. Lia Beldam played her youthful form, and Billie Gibson played her decaying version. Their contrasting performances make the transformation feel sudden and impossible to stop watching.

15) The Woman in Room 5 (1408, 2007)

The Woman in Room 5 is horrifying because she appears suddenly and without warning, breaking the thin layer of safety the character feels. Her discolored skin and hollow eyes make her look drained of life, but it’s the way she stares without blinking that sticks with you. The scariest moment happens when she appears behind Mike in the mirror, and he realizes she’s not a reflection—she’s really there. Her slow, deliberate movements make the tension unbearable. Alexandra Silber played the ghost, and her stiff, unnatural posture adds to the sense that she’s not entirely human anymore.