Want to know which horror movies will literally make your heart race? Forget relying solely on opinions; one project is using science to determine the scariest films ever made!
We all love a good scare, but figuring out which horror movies are actually the scariest often comes down to subjective opinions. Even popular review aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes, while helpful, are ultimately based on a collection of individual viewpoints. But here's a twist: what if we could measure fear objectively?
Enter the Science of Scare Project, an intriguing, ongoing experiment spearheaded by MoneySuperMarket. This project aims to identify the scariest movies by tracking viewers' heart rate changes. The idea is simple: the more a movie messes with your heart, the scarier it is. Is it a flawless scientific method? Probably not. But it's undeniably a fun and fascinating way to rank horror films, and it's worth seeing how your personal favorites stack up.
So, how exactly does this 'Scare Score' work? Let's break it down.
The project's methodology combines two key metrics: heart rate (measured in beats per minute, or BPM) and heart rate variance (measured in milliseconds, or m/s). A higher BPM indicates a faster heart rate, reflecting the excitement and fear associated with the fight-or-flight response. Think of those jump scares that send your pulse skyrocketing!
And this is the part most people miss... Heart rate variance (HRV) tells a different story. It measures the time between each heartbeat. A lower HRV suggests increased stress and, crucially, a sense of slow-burn dread. This is the kind of fear that creeps under your skin and lingers long after the credits roll.
The average heart rate increase and HRV decrease are then combined to generate a 'Science of Scare Score' out of 100. To provide context, the project humorously uses Shrek as a baseline, giving the ogre a 'Scare Score' of just 3 out of 100.
Now, without further ado, here's the top 10 list of scariest horror movies, according to the Science of Scare Project:
1) Sinister – 96 Scare Score
2) Host – 95
3) Skinamarink – 91
4) Insidious – 90
5) The Conjuring – 88
6) Hereditary – 81
7) Smile 2 – 79
8) Smile – 78
9) The Exorcism of Emily Rose – 76
10) Talk to Me/Hell House LLC – 75
It's important to note that the Science of Scare project focuses specifically on English-language horror films. Each year, a limited number of new releases are added to the list. This year's additions included Smile 2 (which cracked the top 10), Bring Her Back (#24), The Conjuring: Last Rites (#49), and Weapons (#50). The project ranks the top 50 films overall, with titles like 28 Years Later, Together, and Ugly Stepsister failing to make the cut this time around.
I can totally understand why Sinister is at the top; that movie has one of the most effective jump scares ever. I'm still reeling from it! Host is a gem too – it's a found-footage horror movie set entirely on Zoom during the pandemic lockdown. It sounds ridiculous, but trust me, it's surprisingly effective.
But here's where it gets controversial... I suspect the most divisive entry on this list is Skinamarink. People seem to either love it or absolutely despise it. I get why it's included, though, given its focus on 'pervasive dread.' The entire movie is basically a masterclass in building tension, but admittedly, not a whole lot actually happens.
I was thrilled to see Smile 2 make the list. While I wasn't a huge fan of the first Smile, the sequel is genuinely fantastic, and Naomi Scott delivers an Oscar-worthy performance, in my humble opinion. And let's not forget Hereditary, which I personally consider one of the greatest horror films of all time.
In short, give any of these movies a watch! Honestly, most of the films in the top 50 are worth checking out. Happy Halloween!
Now it's your turn! Do you agree with the Science of Scare's rankings? Are there any movies on this list that you think are overrated or underrated? Which horror films actually scared you the most? Sound off in the comments below!
