The 20 Scariest Movies Ever Made, According to Science

If you happen to’re a devoted horror movie buff, you’ve in all probability skilled the letdown of ending a scary movie with out having been scared at all. The most effective ones actually get your coronary heart racing—and because of BroadbandChoices’ “Science of Scare” study, we all know precisely which of them these are (and even how briskly your coronary heart could race whereas watching them).

As Bloody Disgusting reports, researchers first compiled an inventory of 30 must-see horror films based mostly on Reddit suggestions, critics’ picks, and final 12 months’s “Science of Scare” record. They then had 250 contributors watch all 30 films whereas hooked as much as coronary heart price screens, so they may assess how pulse-pounding every program truly was.

The winner was Host, a 2020 British film filmed fully over Zoom and launched on Shudder. It’s not even an hour lengthy, however you’ll be able to plan on being in a state of fright from starting to finish: Viewers’ common coronary heart price all through the film was 88 beats per minute, an excellent 24 beats greater than the resting common.

Sinister (2012), the Ethan Hawke-starring supernatural horror film known for its bounce scares, got here in second place with a mean coronary heart price of 86 beats per minute (which was ok to land it within the prime spot final 12 months). As for the best single spike, third-place finisher Insidious (2010) took the blue ribbon: Viewers’ coronary heart charges climbed to a downright alarming 133 beats per minute sooner or later in the course of the movie.

Classic horror movies made appearances, too. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Halloween (1978), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) all tied in tenth place with a mean of 77 beats per minute. However usually, the record was dominated by newer choices—14 of the highest 20 had been launched in 2010 or later.

See the remainder of the highest 20 under, and discover extra stats from the examine here.

1. Host (2020) // 88

2. Sinister (2012) // 86

3. Insidious (2010) // 85

4. The Conjuring (2013) // 84

5. Hereditary (2018) // 82

5. Terrified (2017) // 82

6. It Follows (2014) // 81

7. A Quiet Place Half II (2021) // 80

7. Paranormal Activity (2007) // 80

8. The Conjuring 2 (2016) // 79

8. The Babadook (2014) // 79

8. The Descent (2005) // 79

9. Hush (2016) // 78

9. A Quiet Place (2018) // 78

9. The Ring (2002) // 78

10. A Nightmare on Elm Avenue (1984) // 77

10. Halloween (1978) // 77

10. The Texas Chainsaw Bloodbath (1974) // 77

11. It (2017) // 76

11. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) // 76

[h/t Bloody Disgusting]