9 Scariest Horror Movie Monsters

What truly scares people isn’t just sharp fangs or nasty tentacles; it’s the feeling that something smart, hungry, and uninvited is out there to get them. The best horror monsters don’t merely slash and dash—they infiltrate homes, small towns, research stations, and sometimes even delightful, harmless toys. They twist comfort into dread, then grin while you blame the cat, only to then realize you don’t even own a cat.

Below are nine nightmares that specialize in scaring the crap out of us.

Valak—The Conjuring 2 (2016)

When a nightmarish nun begins to appear in front of you, you know something is wrong. Valak uses blasphemy and timing as its weapons, proving that faith is nothing more than a delusion. This creepy demon’s power is all about infiltration and turning holy places into dread-filled stages for its ultimate performance. Valak enjoys playing with its food, whether it’s photobombing Sister Charlotte or spelling its name like it’s playing demonic Scrabble, before destroying it. It’s a prankster with an apocalypse budget, the cold whisper at your shoulder that knows you won’t admit you heard it.