Horror is a genre that has captivated audiences for generations. From a lurking monster, a chilling call, a haunted mansion, a cunning killer, a ghost… But, What is the scariest scene in the cinema? Answer this question and be close to the party eve of all saints is more than ideal, it was founded in 2020 The Science of Scare Project (SSP), an experiment to categorically find the scariest movies in existence, based essentially on what makes us afraid: our pulse quickens, we sweat, hormones like cortisol or adrenaline are released, our pupils dilate. ..
The next year, for the fourth year in a row, they repeated the experiment of finding the scariest scene and the scariest movie in the history of horror cinema. To that they placed 250 study participants, heart rate monitors that monitored their vital signs while they watched special screenings for this experiment, allowing the researchers to see which films increased the volunteers’ fear and arousal.
According to science, the scariest scene in the history of cinema
This year’s experiment scored heart rate and heart rate variation. “With pulse rate (BPM), the higher the number, the faster the film gets our audience’s blood pumping, an indicator of excitement and fear as part of their fight-or-flight instinct.”, he shared The Science of Scare Project. On the other hand, heart rate variation (HRV) measures the time between individual heartbeats. “The smaller the heart rate variation, the more stressed our viewers were, which is a good indicator of slow fear and dread,” they explain.
The scariest
The team found that the scariest scene in film history is in ‘Insidious’ and that the scariest film of all time is ‘Sinister’. And while Insidious came in fourth on the list of scariest, the researchers found that the 2010 film had the highest peak overall. As a spoiler-free summary, the story of Insidious centers on a married couple whose son inexplicably falls into a coma and becomes a vessel for various demonic entities on the astral plane.
Is this your favorite scary movie?
Top 20 scariest movies according to SSP:
- Sinister
- Host
- Skinamirink
- Insidious
- The Conjuring
- Hereditary
- Smile
- The Exorcism of Emily Rose
- Hell House LLC
- speak with me
- Descent
- The Conjuring 2
- It follows
- Demoníaca (dark and evil)
- Paranormal activity
- The Babadook
- Quiet place 2
- Autopsy of Jane Doe
- Insidious 2
- Ring
10 more movies every horror fan should see:
Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock’s film, which tells the story of a secretary who ends up in a remote motel, revolutionized the genre with its iconic shower scene and unforgettable twist at the end. It is a timeless classic of horror cinema.
The Exorcist (1973), Directed by William Friedkin, it’s a chilling tale of demonic possession whose special effects and disturbing themes of corrupted faith and innocence continue to terrify audiences today.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) This Tobe Hooper film introduced us to Leatherface and his cannibalistic family. The rawness of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” combined with unrelenting tension and brutality is hard to forget.
Jaws (1975) The great Steven Spielberg created a worldwide fear of the water with his terrifying portrait of a great white shark terrorizing a small coastal town. It’s another horror classic with an unforgettable soundtrack.
Halloween (1978). John Carpenter introduced one of horror’s most iconic villains, Michael Myers. It’s a testament to Carpenter’s skills that this movie still manages to send chills down our spines with a few piano notes.
The Shining (1980) Stephen King’s adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” is a masterclass in psychological horror. Jack Nicholson’s dispassionate performance is as disturbing as it is fascinating.
The Alien (1979) Here, Ridley Scott combines science fiction with horror to create a truly terrifying creature.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) This film pioneered the found footage subgenre. Its realistic portrayal of fear and uncertainty, along with its unique marketing campaign, made it one of the most successful independent films of all time.
The Ring (2002) Gore Verbinski brought Japanese horror to Western audiences. It was one of the scariest movies of the 2000s.
Let Me Out (2017) Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” combines social commentary with horror to create a deeply disturbing film. Racism and terror, all in one.
Reference:
The Science of Scare: The Scariest Movies of All Time 2023
