Best in Show: Geriatric Nightmares (Pt. II of II)

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5. Mary Shaw (Dead Silence)
Before horror director James Wan invested himself into the world of Insidious - feature a horrific ghost lady - he reinvigorated our fear of puppets and the ventriloquists who operate them in Dead Silence. Brimming with jump scares and a genuinely terrifying old lady in Mary Shaw, Dead Silence is deeply unsettling. She is a relentless entity with control over some horrifying dolls. Mary Shaw is easily one of the more underrated horror villains out there, often forgotten alongside bigger projects in Wan’s repertoire.


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4. Woman in Black (The Woman in Black)

Is the Woman in Black an old woman? Maybe not, but her dark, frumpy outfit and ghastly image certainly evokes a sense of geriatric horror. She's the type of character that isn't the most distinguishable in age; after death her ghoulishness isn't easily linked to what her age could have been. While she chases young people more than adults, she is all around scary and will stay caught in your brains for some time.

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3. Deborah Logan (The Taking of Deborah Logan) 

On the list of old people in horror, no one is more worthy of inclusion than Deborah Logan in The Taking of Deborah Logan. While Deborah's feeble stature and disarming personality may make you think you're about to rest easy, be warned, you're about to see something that'll surely keep you awake. Equally endearing as it is horrifying; this found-footage film will make you question the sincerity of your cuddly grandma, but also will you to hold her a little closer. Deborah is, by and large, one of the scariest old women in horror. Whether her mouth is agape or she is simply telling you off as many stubborn old women do, Mrs. Logan is anything but friendly.

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2. Mrs. Ganush (Drag Me To Hell) When Drag Me to Hell came out, it drew the attention of plenty horror fans. Featuring plenty of comical laughs and some eccentric imagery, the film was an enigma among off remakes and conventional horror films. Mrs. Ganush, the witchy villain that curses loan officer Christine is all types of spooky. Her haunting composure, visceral stare and wicked demeanor all make for an elderly character that should strike fear in viewers. The movie's comedy will certainly throw you off, but Mrs. Ganush will constantly remind you that what you're watching is most definitely a horror movie.

1. Nana & Pop Pop (The Visit)

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Talk about a plot twist. At the center of 2015's The Visit is what seems to be a loving - although odd - pair of grandparents, is instead something far more sinister. When Tyler and Becca go to visit the parents of their mother who hasn't seen or heard from them for many years, things start off well enough; cookies, games and plenty of grandparent activities. But, as things slowly unravel it becomes clear to both the siblings and the audience that things are really, really wrong. Nana and Pop Pop are weird, really weird. So weird in fact, that they do things like crawl around in the dark, chase their grandchildren under the porch and say things that aren't quite right. The Visit balances some more comical moments with absolutely terrifying ones. The grandparents are deceivingly old, but by far some of the scariest antagonist in horror history.