Sleep is overrated anyway! Join us as we count down the most jaw-dropping, nightmare-inducing moments that had viewers hiding behind their couches. From unexpected character deaths to disturbing plot twists that changed everything, these scenes pushed the boundaries of what's acceptable on television and left audiences traumatized for days.
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00:00Watch all episodes of The Bondsman, now streaming on Prime Video.
00:06Seems like you're trying to speak, but you just took a hell of a hit.
00:11Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at moments in horror TV shows that took us by surprise or left us completely terrified.
00:19Beware, some entries may contain spoilers.
00:23What's going on?
00:25Number 10. Angela is Reagan. The Exorcist.
00:29Since its release in 1973, William Friedkin's revered horror classic The Exorcist has continued to terrify audiences.
00:38Despite fears of a spin-off tarnishing its legacy, the 2016 sequel series delivers a gritty and intricately woven tale.
00:46You know, I don't think you know this, but everything started here.
00:51In the first season's fifth episode, the show dropped a bombshell when Angela Rance was revealed as none other than Reagan McNeil.
01:00My name is Reagan McNeil.
01:06I'm Chris McNeil.
01:09I've come to see my daughter.
01:11The demon-possessed girl from the 1973 film.
01:18Angela Rance is an anagram for a clean Reagan.
01:22I chose Angela.
01:26Angel.
01:28Like a name that would protect me.
01:30Starring Alfonso Herrera and Ben Daniels as exorcists, the show follows their investigations into cases of demonic possession.
01:39Few could have seen this head-spinning twist coming.
01:42Suddenly, Angela's deep knowledge of exorcism and her daughter's demonic possession make total sense.
01:48I reinvented myself.
01:50But it didn't matter.
01:51Though not as terrifying today, Hammer Studios' 1980 horror series was one of the creepiest programs ever shown in British television.
02:08Among its 13 eerie episodes, one in particular remains unforgettable.
02:14The house that bled to death.
02:15The tale follows a couple who buys an old house that was once a scene of a brutal murder.
02:20Creepy events ensue, culminating in a bloodbath at their daughter Sophia's birthday party.
02:26This hair-raising moment surely sent 80s kids scurrying under blankets.
02:34It turns out that, unknown to poor Sophia, the events were staged to provide material for a best-selling book.
02:41It takes a man of vision to know what the public wants.
02:44And how to give it to him.
02:46A million for the film rights says that guy's a genius.
02:48After she finds out, one last shock awaits the audience.
02:53Where the hell did you get there?
03:00Number 8.
03:01Demon Dean.
03:02Supernatural.
03:05You can't escape me, Dean!
03:07Across 15 gripping seasons, this live-action fantasy series chronicles the adventures of the Winchester Brothers,
03:14as they battle demons and other supernatural threats.
03:17None of this is real.
03:19Does that look made up?
03:24Now, these brothers have dodged death more times than we can count.
03:27But nothing could prepare fans for the Season 9 finale shocker.
03:32Dean dies.
03:33But thanks to the notorious Mark of Cain, he revives as a full-fledged demon.
03:40That spine-tingling, clicking sound as his eyes popped open made his demonic transformation downright scary.
03:48You can understand why I never spoke of this.
03:53Why set hearts aflutter at mere speculation.
03:56While hints of Dean's demonic storyline were dropped as earlier Season 3,
04:01the moment his eyes turned pitch black was still jarring.
04:06Number 7.
04:06Buffy kills Angel.
04:09Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
04:13Talk about a gut-wrenching moment.
04:16Angel's death at the hands of Buffy in the Season 2 finale hit fans like a ton of bricks.
04:22Kissing Angel goodbye before impaling him with a sword
04:30was without a doubt one of the toughest things Buffy had to do in all of her vampire-slaying years.
04:36But, putting humanity first, Buffy had to sacrifice Angel to save the world.
04:41A choice made even more painful by their forbidden and poignant love.
04:45I love you.
04:47I love you.
04:48Even decades later, that scene still packs an emotional punch.
04:53David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar's fantastic acting elevates the scene.
05:03Number 6.
05:04Mirror.
05:04The final scene.
05:06Twin Peaks.
05:07How's Annie?
05:09Skating between madness and brilliance,
05:12Twin Peaks stands as one of the greatest mystery shows of all time.
05:15Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost,
05:18this horror show follows the eccentric FBI agent Dale Cooper
05:22as he investigates the death of Laura Palmer in the quirky town of Twin Peaks.
05:27Wow, Bob, wow.
05:30One of the most mind-searing scenes comes when Agent Cooper smashes his own head into a mirror.
05:35In the reflection is the evil spirit Bob.
05:38It turns out we're seeing Agent Cooper's doppelganger, Bob's creation.
05:42The scene is bizarre and unnerving, yet quintessentially Twin Peaks.
05:48Bob, are you okay?
05:52Bob.
05:54How's Annie?
05:55How's Annie?
05:57How's Annie?
05:58The show's abrupt end after this scene might explain why it haunted horror buffs until its 2017 return.
06:05If you want even more shocking television moments, be sure to check out The Bondsman,
06:11starring Kevin Bacon as an undead bounty hunter.
06:15You're still a bounty hunter, but now you hunt demons.
06:20Watch all episodes now, streaming on Prime Video.
06:24You're stuck in this so-called job for how long?
06:26But...
06:26The hell runs out of demons, it seems like.
06:30What do you want to see?
06:31Number 5. Glenn and Abraham's Deaths
06:35The Walking Dead
06:36You can cry.
06:38In The Walking Dead's apocalyptic world, no one is safe.
06:41Not even fan favourites like Glenn and Abraham.
06:45Anybody moves, anybody says anything, cut the boy's other eye out, feed it to his father.
06:49Their soul-crushing deaths are stark reminders of the show's brutal nature.
06:54Adapted from Robert Kirkman's comic book series, this AMC's gem follows a group of survivors led by Detective Grimes
07:02as they navigate a zombie-infested world.
07:11Glenn's gory death at the outset of Season 7 was a huge blow to fans.
07:16So?
07:19Back to it.
07:23Just when he was about to become a dad, bam!
07:25His head gets bashed in with a bat.
07:28Buddy, you still there?
07:30Talk about devastating.
07:32Abraham's heroic death right before often gets overshadowed by Glenn's tragedy.
07:37Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Carl met his untimely end in Season 8.
07:43I love you, Dad.
07:44I love you, Carl.
07:55I love you so much.
07:58Number 4, The Peacock Family, The X-Files.
08:01Right.
08:02I'm ready.
08:03Even decades after its airing, Home stands out as one of the most disturbing episodes of The X-Files.
08:10Michael, get out of here!
08:12It's alright, ma'am.
08:13We're federal lasers.
08:14We're here to help you.
08:15We're here to help you.
08:16We're here to help you.
08:16In this unsettling episode, Mulder and Scully investigate the death of a baby born with birth defects.
08:23Oh my god.
08:27Mulder, it looks as if this child has been afflicted by every rare birth defect known as science.
08:34I'm going to have to order DNA typing from the crime lab.
08:37This leads them to uncover the inbred, deformed Peacock family.
08:41Their grotesque appearance, the graphic imagery, and hardcore subject matter scared the crap out of everyone.
08:48The episode's conclusion, where Mrs. Peacock discusses starting a new family with her surviving son, makes the episode even more disturbing.
08:57When you know your boy will do anything for his mother.
09:03Despite its controversial nature, Home received favourable reviews and quickly became a fan favourite.
09:14Revisit at your own risk.
09:16A new home.
09:18A brand new home.
09:28Number 3.
09:29Something on the Wing.
09:31The Twilight Zone.
09:35Originally airing on October 11th, 1963, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet has since become one of the most popular episodes of The Twilight Zone.
09:44It follows Robert Wilson, who spots a gremlin on a plane's wing.
09:48Because he had a nervous breakdown in the past, no one believes him.
09:52Here, quickly!
09:52The pacing, the cinematography and eerie score all escalate the episode's sense of unease.
10:04I guess I need a little sleep.
10:06It's testament of the series' knack for tapping into universal fears.
10:10Who hasn't had a crazy thought while flying?
10:12Or imagined being trapped in a situation where no one believes you.
10:27It's a similar premise to Mirror Image, where a young woman encounters a sinister doppelganger.
10:33Number 2.
10:42Violet is a Ghost.
10:43American Horror Story.
10:45Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story boasts numerous terrifying tales, making it tough to choose just one as the most disturbing.
10:55This is going to hurt.
10:56It was tempting to make this entry about Freak Show's Twisty the Clown.
11:00What happened to the rest of your mask?
11:04What the hell is this?
11:05Wait, you didn't hire him?
11:08But we decided to go with this infamous scene from Murder House.
11:12The season revolves around the Harmon family's move to a restored mansion in Los Angeles, unaware that it's haunted.
11:19So I assume you're here for Violet. I know she's missed a few days of school.
11:23Yes. Sixteen consecutive days.
11:27Sixteen?
11:29In episode 10, Violet is brought face to face with her own decomposing body, revealing that she's a ghost, having died when she took her own life midway through the season.
11:40I held you.
11:42You were safe.
11:45You died.
11:48Love.
11:49It's a moment so gross and chilling that it continues to haunt us today.
11:54I never wanted you to see this. I'm so sorry, Violet.
12:00Number one, Nell is the bent-neck lady. The haunting of Hill House.
12:05It's time to wake up, sweetheart.
12:06Mike Flanagan's loose adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel left audiences petrified.
12:19This miniseries follows the Crane family and their supernatural experiences in Hill House, switching between the past and present.
12:28What happened?
12:29Would you like to tell your sister what you did?
12:31I didn't.
12:32She says she didn't.
12:33As a child, Nell is haunted by the frightening bent-neck lady.
12:38In the present, she hangs herself, and it's revealed that this spectre was actually her future self all along.
12:49Mommy.
12:50The revelation was not only creepy, but also heart-wrenching.
12:54Poor Nell didn't deserve such a horrific end.
12:57We have a chill running down our spine just thinking about this shocking twist.
13:04What TV moments gave you sleepless nights?
13:07Let us know in the comments section.
13:09Sorry, Mommy. Show's over.
13:12Watch all episodes of The Bondsman, now streaming on Prime Video.
13:20The Bondsman, now streaming on Prime Video.