The best films are actually those that make us check every now and then who/what's behind us. They are those films that give us genuine chills and have our hearts pounding upon seeing Marion Crane being massacred in that famous shower scene or that grotesque entity that climbs up the well and comes out of the screen. These films are just genius. Here are the top 10 scariest movies ever, as compiled by film critic Benjamin Radford.

Psycho (1960)

This Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece can be considered as the "Mother" of modern horror. Its superlative and compelling shock value, plus the superb acting and direction, makes it the scariest film ever made. The most memorable moment is the brilliant bit in the shower scene just before the knife slashes the flesh. And who would forget that eerie score?

Seven (1995)

The title refers to the 7 Deadly Sins, the pattern used by the serial killer. This movie is not your typical serial killer chase as it provides a spine-chilling and absorbing plot coupled with a moody and decaying atmosphere. It also manages to bring surprises and new twists to the screen.

The Exorcist (1973)

This William Friedkin's film is, by a whisker, one of the most frightening experiences that moviegoers have enjoyed. We see how angelic Regan transforms into a horrific and violent girl possessed by the devil. The images of the girl crawling down the stairs upside down, the projectile vomiting of a green substance, masturbation with the crucifix, and that hair-raising voice, are no doubt the film's most memorable moments.

Frailty (2002)

This is among the scariest films no one has ever heard of. It's an excellent creepy gothic thriller involving an East Texas serial killer who claims to be the Hand of God. What's great about Frailty is that it shows that the horrors we experience in our daily lives can be the worst sometimes.

The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick's brilliant filmmaking plus Stephen King's twisted imagination equals the masterpiece, The Shining. This film tells the story of a writer who becomes insane as the evil spirits of the hotel urge him to kill his family.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one of the first Hollywood films to define gore, violence, and terror. It's about a murderous family in rural Texas who lure and kill lost passerby. This movie spawned numerous films featuring masked psychos.

The Stepfather (1987)

This film tells the story of a serial-killing stepfather who has a twisted view of the ideal family. A remake is being shot, scheduled for screening next year.

Jacob's Ladder (1990)

The eighth film in the list is about a soldier in Vietnam who, upon returning back to New York, has hallucinations of hell. Other veterans also say they also see demons. They're possibly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or unknowing military laboratory guinea pigs in a mind-altering experiment.

 Martin (1977)

This film, directed by George Romero, is one of the best (but least-known) vampire movies of all time. It follows the story of a troubled youth who believes he's a vampire. He sedates women with syringes and then slices their wrists so he can drink their blood.

Bug (2007)

Exorcist director Friedkin gave the audience another horrifying treat. Bug follows a drifter who believes he's a victim of military experiments. He soon starts scratching himself and complains that there are bugs in the room. The scratching only worsens his condition.

Many online users disagree with this list as it excludes films that they think are deserving to be included in the list: The Haunting (1963), Night of the Living Dead (1969), Salem's Lot (1975), Carrie (1976), The Amityville Horror (1977), Halloween (1978), Poltergeist (1982), The Thing (1982), The Unholy (1988), Ring (1998), etc.