I'm going to have to take objection to the last part of your post
and insist you go and re-watch Alien, The Exorcist and Nosferatu
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 16 Mar 2010, 13:16, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I did like the Exorcist
but I thought the scariest bit was in the hospital with the big machines rather than the demonic possession.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 16 Mar 2010, 13:18, Reply)

I find the older horror films special effects let them down
They're too much like what you'd expect to see on a ghost train at a funfair
(wehttamman via B3ta for microwave, Tue 16 Mar 2010, 13:20, Reply)

In which case I'd second Darth's suggestion of rewatching Alien
(Just the first one, mind) The special effects are kept to a minimum, and it does build a wonderfully threatening atmosphere out of everything you can't see.
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 16 Mar 2010, 14:46, Reply)