movies

The four scariest documentaries ever made. Would you dare to watch them?

There are few things as useful as a great documentary recommendation.

We’ve looked at the best docos on Netflix right now. We’ve established the definitive list of the best docos of all time. And we’ve even crowned the single greatest doco of the last 20 years.

And now – on Friday the 13th – with Halloween just around the corner, here are the four scariest documentaries ever made.

There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane, 2011.

The car accident of Diane Schuler made headlines all over the United States. She was a suburban mother from New York, who suddenly began driving the wrong way up the Taconic Parkway.

She crashed into an SUV, killing not only herself, but seven others.

POST CONTINUES BELOW: Clare Stephens and Laura Brodnik talk about the terrifying real-life murder mystery, The Keepers, which you can watch on Netflix. 

The media represented Schuler as a drunk and a flawed mother. But it would seem that isn’t the whole story.

There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane explores the mystery surrounding this enormous tragedy.

You can watch it on iTunes, here, or Amazon, here.

The Nightmare, 2015

For anyone who has ever experienced sleep paralysis, The Nightmare is a must-watch.

Sleep paralysis is when one is either falling asleep or on the brink of waking up, and they are entirely aware of their surroundings, but unable to move.

One might hear or see things that aren’t actually there, which can result in panic. It usually doesn’t last more than a few minutes, but the experience can be incredibly distressing.

The documentary follows eight people who suffer from sleep paralysis, and recreates their visions with professional actors.

ADVERTISEMENT

You can watch it on iTunes, here, or Amazon, here.

The Nightmare. Image via Gravitas Ventures.

Who Took Johnny, 2013

Johnny Gosch was 12 years old when he went on his usual paper route in Iowa, and never returned.

He was the first child ever to appear on a milk carton, and in the 30 years since he disappeared, there have been unexplained sightings, photographs, revelations and bizarre clues.

Who Took Johnny explores all the evidence,  including the conspiracy theories and the person who claims to have helped abduct Johnny.

Filmbuff has called it, "the most spellbinding missing person's case in U.S. history," and the documentary itself will stay with you for weeks to come.

ADVERTISEMENT

You can watch it on iTunes, here, or Amazon, here.

Johnny Gosch. Image via Rumur Inc.

Cropsey, 2009

The cover of the 2009 American documentary film reads, "the truth is terrifying."

Cropsey begins by investigating the mythologies surrounding a boogeyman figure from New York City who had long been a feature of urban legend.

By the end, the story becomes about five missing children, and a convicted child kidnapper from Staten Island named Andre Rand.

David Kwok wrote of the film, "The eeriness of the mystery pulsates through the film as they journey into the underbelly…  As more information and clues unravel, Zeman and Brancaccio become more immersed in shocking surprises and revelations. The reality they uncover in this uniquely hair-raising documentary is more terrifying than any urban legend.”

ADVERTISEMENT

You can watch it on iTunes, here, or Amazon, here. 

Cropsey. Image via Breaking Glass Pictures.

... Good luck sleeping tonight.

What's the scariest documentary you've ever seen?

You can listen to the latest episode of The Binge, here.