Weapons that are or can be used in horror films

The Butcher Knife

The butcher knife is like Basic Killing 101. Every horror movie in the world has a serial killer or villain who uses a butcher knife. This is the kind of weapon that audiences are most familiar with. It's the kind of weapon that has been used time and time again in horror films.

Hooks

For some reason, killers who use hooks are exceptionally scary. Being hooked to death implies something much more cerebral than other weapons. This is perhaps because there aren't too many instances where a person would even encounter a hook. 

The Chainsaw

Chainsaw murders seem to have their own cult following. Simply mention the word 'chainsaw' and all sorts of torturous images come to mind. The noise of the chainsaw itself is enough to get theater patrons going. The clamor it produces makes people cringe. Obviously, this method of murdering is used in film to evoke the most shock and awe from audiences. 

The Ax Murder

A good hatchet job is pretty easy to come by these days. Hollywood directors love using the ax. In fact, this mode of "disposal" appears to have its own genre. Using an ax to kill someone has a certain lumberjack quality to it. The murderers are usually big, brawny, and full of repressed anger.

Ropes

We shouldn't forget ropes. Not only are ropes for binding the victims in horror films. But they also are used to strangle or hang them. Being killed in this manner is distressing beyond belief. However, it's not usually as scary as something that is particularly bloody.

Bare Hands

Murderers that get the job done with their bare hands are usually extremely angry. There is typically a lot of hand-to-hand combat in films where the bad guy actually touches his prey. In the American version of The Grudge (2004), the Japanese husband drowns his family. Watching him do this is quite disturbing. Most of the time, the murderer doesn't necessarily have any relation to the victim. 

Contrived Torture Contraptions

It is the Saw series that brings to mind the contrived torture contraption. Although previous films have used all sorts of items to create terrible imagery, the ones seen in these movies really top the cake. To say that the devices are horrible would be a huge understatement.