Most Terrifying Horror Moments in New York City

When it comes to horror films, our minds often conjure up images of small, eerie towns, haunted houses, or creepy woods. However, we shouldn’t overlook the dangerous potential of big cities. New York City, aka “The Big Apple,” has served as the backdrop for some of the most spine-tingling moments in horror cinema. As proven in Scream VI, even being surrounded by people in the busiest of environments, it doesn’t mean that you’re safe.

In this feature, we delve into the hair-raising horror movie moments set in the heart of New York City. Prepare to be terrified as we explore films like Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989), Cloverfield (2008), Panic Room (2002), and more.

Warning – major spoilers ahead for Scream VI!

Scream VI

In the newest bloody instalment of the iconic slasher franchise, Ghostface ventures into an entirely new territory—the bustling streets of New York City. Scream VI proves that even amidst the chaos of a metropolis, no one is truly safe from a relentless killer. Ghostface takes advantage of the crowded setting, lurking seamlessly in plain sight on a subway among other Ghostface mask-wearing Halloween revellers. The tension intensifies as the subway lights flicker on and off, casting fleeting shadows on Ghostface’s menacing figure, who inches closer and closer to his next victim—Mindy. The most harrowing part of this scene is the realisation that Mindy, although desperately seeking help, goes unnoticed by those around her.

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

This film is another stark reminder that even in a bustling city, danger can lurk right in front of your eyes. In this gripping scene of the 1989 film, Friday the 13th Part VIII, Jason relentlessly chases Renee and Sean through a busy subway train. Renee’s desperate cries for help fall on deaf ears and when Sean pulls the emergency stop on the train, it only seems to aggravate engers who voice their annoyance of the delay, instead of showing concern. The chase continues as Jason’s victims seek refuge inside a diner. Renee urgently pleads with the waitress. “You don’t understand… there’s a maniac trying to kill us!” Yet, the waitress responds with an unconcerned reply, “Welcome to New York,” – as if being pursued by a deranged killer is an ordinary occurrence. This scene shows the unsettling reality of how self-absorbed society can be and the isolation of city life.

Cloverfield

The dangerous nature of a big city can become magnified when combined with towering skyscrapers and a colossal monster. Such is a recipe for disaster in the 2008 sci-fi horror Cloverfield. As the monster descends upon New York City, it callously severs the head of the Statue of Liberty, deeming inedible, and hurls it onto a street in Broadway. Instead of fleeing the perilous scene, people gather round the decapitated head, capturing the surreal moment on their phones. Through the use of handheld cameras, Cloverfield’s cinematography displays the reality of chaos and terror that can happen in a city gripped by destruction, as well as mirroring the events of 9/11. Cloverfield encapsulates the terrifying idea that even in the face of danger, humans can be inexplicably drawn to not only witness, but document the incomprehensible.

Panic Room

The aptly named 2002 thriller Panic Room demonstrates the irony that even living in a luxurious mansion equipped with a fortified panic room and extensive security system cannot guarantee safety from intruders in New York City. In this anxiety-inducing film, Meg and her diabetic daughter Sarah find themselves seeking refuge in the sanctuary of their newly-purchased house’s safe room on their very first night, when three intruders forcefully break in searching for a missing fortune. What amplifies the terror in this film, is the unsettling realisation that a home invasion is a real threat that countless individuals face daily. Even a room specifically designed to ensure safety, cannot keep you safe from the dangers that can breach even the most secure defences.

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions

You’ll never want to ride the subway again after watching 2021’s Escape Room: Tournament of Champions. In this second instalment of the survival horror franchise, Zoey and Ben embark on a journey to the desolate Minos Corporation headquarters in New York. Their troubles escalate when Zoey’s mother’s necklace is stolen, and they find themselves on a subway train – nothing scary here, right? Wrong. ed by past winners of escape rooms, the pair soon realise that they have once again become pawns in Minos’ deadly game. Their subway carriage detaches from the rest of the train and arrives at a creepy abandoned station. The group are trapped and left with no option but to solve the perilous puzzle and escape death. This time their survival relies on collaboration, rather than isolation, as they band together to escape and cheat death by the skin of their teeth.

American Psycho

It doesn’t matter where you are trying to hide with a serial killer on the loose – especially if that serial killer is living a double life, disguising himself as a slick businessman. American Psycho manages to capture the essence of ‘New York’ horror, despite most of it being filmed in Toronto. The 2000 horror film has its fair share of horrifying scenes, but none quite as terrifying as the moment Patrick Bateman pursues Christie, his latest female victim. From five stories above, he drops a chainsaw on her, killing her in a gruesome fashion. Covered in blood, he looks down at her lifeless body with a scream that sends shivers down the spine. His deranged scream and monstrous expression is terrifying, as it’s clear how unhinged he has become.

Scream VI is available to & Keep and on DVD, Blu-ray™ & 4K Ultra HD™ now.