“What’s In The Box!” & 9 More Iconic Lines From Horror Films We Still Quote Today

“I see dead people.” As soon as someone hears that line, chances are they also immediately recall where it’s from. It originated in the 1999 M. Night Shyamalan psychological thriller The Sixth Sense, spoken by a young Haley Joel Osmont to Bruce Willis’ character. Many types of films, not just horror ones, have iconic and memorable lines: “You can’t handle the truth!,” “Show me the money!” and “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” are a few of the most notable ones. But horror flicks? Their lines are on another level.

And the most iconic lines from horror films will easily cause chills to run up your spine.

10 “What’s In The Box?!” (Se7en)

The line didn’t come until the very end of this 1995 movie about detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) trying to track down a serial killer who has a method to his madness: he uses the seven deadly sins as a motif for his kills.

All part of his plan, the killer beheads David’s wife in Se7en due to envy, delivering it to him in a box. This results in David shooting and killing the psychopath, which unintentionally completes the circle since the act represents wrath. As the killer tries to explain his plan, however, David stares in agony at the box, pleading and hoping against hope that it isn’t what he thinks it is.

9 “Heeeere’s Johnny!” (The Shining)

Alongside this disturbing line is that image of Jack Nicholson’s character in The Shining saying it. A once normal man, he slowly goes insane because of supernatural forces that occupy a hotel where he is staying and working.

Often called one of the scariest scenes ever in a film, the movie perfectly demonstrates the insanity of Nicholson’s character as he screams the line while on a killing hunt. Why? It’s a seemingly innocuous line, mimicking being the announcer introducing Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing this role and doing as good a job should the movie ever be remade.

8 “I Ate His Liver With Some Fava Beans And A Nice Chianti” (Silence of the Lambs)

One might think this line isn’t to be taken literally, but it actually is. In the iconic line spoken from arguably the best film based on the character, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, played beautifully by Sir Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, tells Clarice (Jodie Foster) that, when a census taker once tried to test him, he…well, the line says it all. Lecter was, of course, a cannibal and a total psychopath.

What made the delivery of the line that might otherwise just have been another piece of dialogue so memorable was the noise Hopkins made after saying it. It was a half slurp, half whistle, as though he were remembering the delicious flavor of the “meal” and the kill that came before it.

7 “Hello, Sidney” (Scream)

This 1996 film, one of the most influential in the slasher genre, opens with the iconic line when Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) answers her phone to a creepy voice greeting her with this line. He then proceeds to terrify her by asking if she likes scary movies and taunting her until she realizes that the call is actually coming from inside the house.

At its heart, Scream is a satirical black comedy that pokes fun at predictable horror movie tropes. But, the film is still pretty scary, and, when the new killer makes similarly chilling calls in the sequels, it makes you shudder as viewers fear for Sidney’s life each and every time.

6 “One, Two, Freddy’s Coming For You” (Nightmare on Elm Street)

It was one of the first times the juxtaposition of a sweet and innocent child’s voice was used alongside a terrifying character or happening. A little girl would sing these words as if they were a soothing nursery rhyme. But, in A Nightmare of Elm Street, it was more a warning that the creepy character of Freddy would be coming to terrify, and likely kill you, in your nightmares.

5 “They’re He-ere!” (Poltergeist)

Anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s and watched this terrifying horror film—when they were probably far too young to do so—likely still has nightmares about it. The sweet, innocent sing-song voice of the brilliant young actor Heather O’Rourke saying these two words combined with the terrible things that were happening—or about to happen—was utterly frightening.

If anyone ever declares “they’re he-ere” in a similar multi-syllabic, high-pitched tone, it’s instantly understood that this isn’t meant to describe anyone or anything good, thanks to Poltergeist.

4 “Do You Want To Play A Game?” (Saw)

If said in a deepened, sinister voice, it’s understood that this line comes right from the horrifying film Saw, when the killer Jigsaw, widely considered to be one of the most iconic horror movie villains of the current century, uses it to torture his victims with punishments he feels are befitting their crimes or moral sins.

From convincing a man to saw his own leg off to forcing a woman to desperately try and remove a contraption that would bust open her jaw if not unlocked in time, these are not the types of games anyone wants to play. But, to Jigsaw, the games were all about teaching bad people a lesson.

3 “The Power Of Christ Compels You!” (The Exorcist)

Widely considered to be one of the scariest horror movies ever—even if its sequel was widely panned—The Exorcist tells the story of a young girl who is possessed by a demon. When a priest is brought in to try and exorcise the demon, he gets more than he bargained for.

In that one iconic scene, he repeats this phrase, over and over again as the girl flails her body all over the bed, thrusting up and down, spinning her head completely around, until she eventually begins levitating. It’s a scene that created nightmares for viewers that they would experience for weeks to come.

2 “Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid” (The Fly)

This might be a line that a lot of people use but don’t even realize the origin of because it has existed so long and has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s actually from the film The Fly.

It’s both a tagline and quote from the 1986 sci-fi film starring Jeff Goldblum, who slowly turns into a fly-like creature after his scientific experiment goes wrong. The line has become so popular that it’s used in everyday situations when someone wants to heed a serious warning.

1 “A Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother” (Psycho)

His victims should have realized something was odd the second that Norman Bates said this line. While it’s one thing for a son to be close to his mother, it’s another to idolize and become obsessed with her in the way that Norman Bates was.

The big twist in the story, of course, is that his mother was not alive at all, but rather an alternate personality that Norman created. In reality, he murdered his mother and her lover out of jealousy and kept her corpse. Then, in retaliation, he would “become” her, even wearing her clothes, and murder anyone to which he got close. Despite being made for under a million dollars (back in 1960), this film remains one of the most iconic horror movies in history.

About The Author