From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishspine-chillingˈspine-ˌchilling adjective FRIGHTENEDa spine-chilling story or film is very frightening in a way that people enjoy► see thesaurus at frightening —spine-chiller noun [countable]
Examples from the Corpus
spine-chilling• As for the promise to ban fox-hunting, it was given with such a blithe nonchalance as to be spine-chilling.• Recollection of the day it visited Millbrook is especially spine-chilling.• The only journalist to witness the rebellion gave a spine-chilling account of atrocities carried out by both sides.• The collection includes a spine-chilling ghost story by Edgar Allan Poe.• Head for the roller-coasters for a spine-chilling ride.• He opened his eyes and was instantly aware of utter, spine-chilling silence.• She talked about her boyfriends in a tone of most frightful, spine-chilling, whimsy determination, and they took it. 