The best horror films have the unique ability to get under our skin, send us chills, and even make us sleep with the lights on at night. But what is the scariest movie of all time according to science? The Science of Scare Project, which is now in its fourth year, has the answer. And it might surprise you.
While everyone has their personal pick for the scariest film ever made, this groundbreaking study determines the scariest movie scientifically, based on measurable physiological responses. The project equips 250 invited panelists with heart monitors to track their reactions (beats per minute and heart rate variance) while watching a curated list of terrifying films (all English-language). Heart rate spikes indicate jump scares, while HRV measures the stress levels caused by tension and dread. The data from these two factors is then combined to create a “Scare Score” out of 100. The higher the score, the more terrifying the film.
Well, science has spoken, and the winner is Blumhouse’s 2012 horror classic Sinister, which has a Scare Score of 96. The Scott Derrickson film continues to be the reigning champ each year, even beating out terrifying new horror films like Talk To Me, Smile, Skinamarink, and Hereditary. But don’t think your classic horrors have a chance either, Sinister also scored higher than classics like The Conjuring, Insidious, and The Exorcist.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, Sinister (which had a tiny budget of just 3 million dollars) centers around a true crime writer (Ethan Hawke) who discovers chilling 8mm footage of gruesome murders in the attic of his new home. Soon, he is haunted by a figure called “Mr. Boogie”.
While watching the film, the audience’s heart rate surged by 34%, from a resting BPM of 64 to 86, with the scariest moment spiking hearts to a shocking 131 BPM. The study also found that Sinister has the ability to create long-lasting emotional responses, not just simple jump scares that wear off quickly. This provides the right mix of scares and dread.
Host (2020), a Zoom-based horror, took second place with a Scare Score of 95. Even with its really simple setting, it managed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, with its heart rate going higher than any other film in this study.
The Science of Scare Project‘s top 10 list is packed with modern horror classics that keep viewers hooked and terrified throughout their running times:
- Sinister – 96 Scare Score
- Host – 95 Scare Score
- Skinamarink – 91 Scare Score
- Insidious – 90 Scare Score
- The Conjuring – 88 Scare Score
- Hereditary – 81 Scare Score
- Smile – 78 Scare Score
- The Exorcism of Emily Rose – 76 Scare Score
- Talk To Me – 75 Scare Score
- Hell House LLC – 75 Scare Score
Not every famous horror movie cracked the top rankings. While The Exorcist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, and A Nightmare on Elm Street all made an impact, their Scare Scores fell below 70. For reference, Shrek scored a mere 3, and the obscure horror film Longlegs came in at 54.
I’m sure there are many people reading this who will argue that they’ve seen much scarier films. But… the data doesn’t lie. Science proves that Sinister is the scariest movie of all time.
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