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Gen X childhood TV and film moments that felt genuinely frightening

203 replies

Txutxioyigx · 14/09/2026 18:44

Gen X scary things:
Noseybonk
Mr Bronson -‘kendalllllll’
Triffids
Chocky
Tripods
Worzel Gummidge when he changed heads
Daleks
The Wheelers in Return to Oz
Any others ?

OP posts:
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Txutxioyigx · 14/09/2026 18:46

Sapphire and Steel - the episode with the whistling soldier
Tales of the unexpected

OP posts:
LurkyLarry · 14/09/2026 18:46

The Omen
Poltergeist

Saw both of them far too young!

Txutxioyigx · 14/09/2026 18:47

Salem’s Lot !

OP posts:

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Daisypod · 14/09/2026 18:48

Watership down!

BlackCatsAreBrilliant · 14/09/2026 18:48

The bit of Survivor with the rabid dogs.

Txutxioyigx · 14/09/2026 18:49

Daisypod · 14/09/2026 18:48

Watership down!

How could I forget that ?!!!
And Threads

OP posts:
OverpricedCupcake · 14/09/2026 18:49

Freddy Krueger.

PartyHard · 14/09/2026 18:49

Yes to the Daleks and the Wheelers (horrifying!).

The Skesis (?) in The Dark Crystal

Hatty65 · 14/09/2026 18:50

Agree with Sapphire and Steel - but also the one where people were trapped in old photographs in a spooky old shop!

Terrifying.

Public Information Films, particularly 'The Apaches' - where every child on a farm died horribly. I grew up on a farm...

PartyHard · 14/09/2026 18:50

Oh God, Freddy! <shudder>

Lomonald · 14/09/2026 18:50

Threads ! I read they were remaking it or reshowing it i gave it a wide berth!

That spoof ghost programme, was it Ghost live or something the girls were supposed to be possesed , bloody terrifying.

Hammer House Of horror, was allowed to watch it on a Saturday night.

MrsPapillon · 14/09/2026 18:51

Txutxioyigx · 14/09/2026 18:44

Gen X scary things:
Noseybonk
Mr Bronson -‘kendalllllll’
Triffids
Chocky
Tripods
Worzel Gummidge when he changed heads
Daleks
The Wheelers in Return to Oz
Any others ?

All of these!

Plus: The Hills Have Eyes, Carrie, The Omen and above all else, Threads.

Parents of Gen X were extremely laissez faire with our viewing materials.

Lomonald · 14/09/2026 18:51

Hatty65 · 14/09/2026 18:50

Agree with Sapphire and Steel - but also the one where people were trapped in old photographs in a spooky old shop!

Terrifying.

Public Information Films, particularly 'The Apaches' - where every child on a farm died horribly. I grew up on a farm...

Oh god yes the PIF where they all died in horrific farm accidents.

PartyHard · 14/09/2026 18:52

We watched weird educational programmes on the big wheel-out telly at school back in the 80s.
Most had a creepy vibe.

Dark Towers.
the Iron Man
The Boy from Space.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 14/09/2026 18:52

I literally used to hide behind the sofa in Doctor Who.

CuppaWhiteTea · 14/09/2026 18:53

Magic Box of Delights
The Hooded Claw from Penelope Pitstop

SereneFinch · 14/09/2026 18:53

I was scared of The War of the Worlds - not a TV show but an audio thing - an album maybe?

’Slowly, they drew up their plans against us….’ or something equally terrifying

Txutxioyigx · 14/09/2026 18:54

This, Lonely Water public information film
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xZWD2sDRESk&pp=ygUbRGFyayB3YXRlciBkb25hbGQgcGxlYXNhbmNl&ra=m

OP posts:
SereneFinch · 14/09/2026 18:55

Also, the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

PartyHard · 14/09/2026 18:56

CuppaWhiteTea · 14/09/2026 18:53

Magic Box of Delights
The Hooded Claw from Penelope Pitstop

I have a DVD of the box of delights I still watch at Christmas 🤣

Definiteiy creepy as hell, but so evocative of my childhood.

Lomonald · 14/09/2026 18:56

SereneFinch · 14/09/2026 18:55

Also, the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Yip ! he was so creepy.

ilovepixie · 14/09/2026 18:56

Quicksand

Quartzfairy · 14/09/2026 18:56

Nightmare on Elmstreet
Pinnochio
The safety films we were shown at school
Quicksand
Pirhannas
Getting square eyes from sitting too close to the telly
Chewing gum staying in your tummy forever if you swallowed it
Ronald McDonald

heymammy · 14/09/2026 18:58

Definitely Hammer House of Horror! The one where the wee girl is having a birthday party and the pipes burst and blood comes pouring out 😱

I don't know why we were allowed to watch this stuff, I was maybe only 4ish when I watched the above episode.

Mind you, I watched all kinds of horror growing up and was rarely scared beyond the age of 7 or 8

OttersOnAPlane · 14/09/2026 18:59

Pfft.

They were reasonable compared to the first couple of series of Doctor Who - Are You My Mummy and the Weeping Angels.

I am GenX but those scared me more than any of the stuff we had back then. Literally nightmares.

Although which lunatic gave us access to the Flowers In The Attic series? They needed a stern talking to.

Also the animated version of The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, which my primary teacher decided was appropriate. Nutter.