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Study Ranks The Scariest Movies To Watch This Spooky Season
Image by Annette from Pixabay
A new study has revealed the ten scariest horror movies of all time, to get thrill-seekers Halloween-ready.
The analysis, conducted by casino company VIP Grinders, used a series of factors from the number of jump scares to fear-related words used in the script to identify the most haunting Halloween horrors.
Data was also taken from Scary Meter, which asks horror fans to rank movies out of 10, based on how ‘creepy’, ‘jumpy’ and ‘gory’ they are, and Letterboxd reviews were searched for keywords relating to fear.
The scariest movie of all time was revealed to be
Don’t Listen (Voces) (2020), a Spanish-language horror with 27 jump scares. After a tragic accident in his new family home, Daniel hears a ghostly plea for help, leading him to seek out a paranormal expert to uncover the truth.
Maxing out the ‘gory, ‘creepy’ and ‘jumpy’ meters with an impressive 10 out of 10, this subtitled film is suitably scary even when subtitled and is definitely one to add to your Halloween horror watch list - if you’re brave enough.
In second place is
The Evil Dead (1981), the joint-oldest film on this list, which stunned viewers with its extreme gore, as director Sam Raimi reported approximately 300 gallons of fake blood were used during filming.
The original movie scores 9.3 out of 10 on the ‘gory’ Scary Meter, and has 22 jump scares over 80 minutes, making it another movie that will have you hiding behind your hands.
In third is
Evil Dead (2013), one of the more recent instalments of ‘The Evil Dead’ franchise, which once again sees five students take a trip to a remote woodland cabin and uncover an old book which awakens an evil entity.
Marketed as ‘the most terrifying film you will ever experience’, the film doesn’t quite top this list, but comes close, with 20 jump scares and a ‘gory’ score of 9.2 out of 10, just missing out on the score of its predecessor.
In fourth place is
The Beyond (1981), the joint-oldest entry on this list. A young woman inherits an abandoned hotel in Louisiana, but as she attempts to get it back up and running, she learns that the building was built over a gateway to Hell.
With a staggering 27 jump scares in less than 90 minutes, this is not a film for the faint-hearted, scoring 8 out of 10 on both the ‘creepy’ and ‘gory’ Scary Meter.
Reaching the top five,
It (2017) is a modern adaptation of Stephen King’s classic horror novel, following an ancient evil presented as a shape-shifting clown, who returns every 27 years to torment and feed on children.
Packed with 23 jump scares, stacking up 31 deaths, and glowingly reviewed by critics, this adaptation is certainly one to watch if you’re looking for a good scare.
In the sixth spot is
Scream (1996). The first film in a classic horror franchise, the movie follows Sidney, who is terrorised by a masked killer targeting her and her friends, one year after the death of her mother.
With 19 jump scares, and a score of 8.2 on the ‘gory’ Scary Meter, Scream’s iconic legacy has inspired countless sequels and modern adaptations, but the original is absolutely the most unnerving.
Host (2020) takes seventh place, and often ranks highly in scare rankings. When a group of friends hire a medium to hold a seance during a lockdown Zoom call, they accidentally attract the attention of a demonic presence, leading to a suspenseful and jam-packed 65 minutes.
With 20 jump scares and a low-budget lockdown setup that will look uncannily familiar to many viewers, Host will have you closing your laptop as soon as the credits roll.
In eighth position is
[Rec] 2 (2009), the sequel to the original [Rec] movie, which far exceeds its predecessor in terms of scare-ranking. With the movie racking up over 20 deaths, it makes for a strong sequel with plenty of spooks.
In ninth is
The Cleansing Hour (2019), which follows a staged exorcism after it takes a nefarious turn. Maxing out the ‘jumpy’, ‘creepy’ and ‘gory’ Scare Meter scales, The Cleansing Hour is a top hitter in this list.
In tenth place is
The Haunting in Connecticut (2009). When their son is diagnosed with cancer, Sara and Peter move to Connecticut to be closer to his doctors, only to find that their new abode is less than welcoming.
With a nerve-shattering 26 jump scares and a score of ten out of ten on the ‘creepy’ and ‘gory’ Scary Meter scales, this certainly isn’t an entry-level horror movie.
The ten scariest horror movies of all time
Rank | Movie | Number of Jump Scares | âCreepyâ Scary Meter Score (out of 10) | 'Goryâ Scary Meter Score (out of 10) | 'Jumpyâ Scary Meter Score (out of 10) |
1 | Don't Listen (Voces) | 27 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
2 | The Evil Dead | 22 | 8.6 | 9.3 | 6.3 |
3 | Evil Dead | 20 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 7.2 |
4 | The Beyond | 27 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
5 | It | 23 | 8.3 | 5.5 | 7.7 |
6 | Scream | 19 | 3.5 | 8.2 | 7.6 |
7 | Host | 20 | 8.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 |
8 | [Rec] 2 | 19 | 7.6 | 5.9 | 6.5 |
9 | The Cleansing Hour | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
10 | The Haunting in Connecticut | 26 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
Telma Casaca, the Head of Publishing at VIP Grinders, spoke on the findings:
“Whether you're a year-round horror movie fan, or you’re determined to get into the Halloween spirit, these movies are guaranteed to give you the thrills and chills you’re seeking.
“The question of what makes a movie scary is a difficult one, but this study spans a range of factors, so whether you’re looking for spooky soundtracks, shocks to the system, or slasher scenes, these films cover every element.
“Some classic names made the list, and others just missed out on the top spot, including Friday the 13th, Insidious, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, all of which are much-loved instalments of the genre. However, it’s great to see that the horror genre is still alive across a range of modern movies, from different countries.”