New study reveals the scariest horror movie of all time

Duke

Open-minded critical thinker
Staff
Joined
May 11, 2018
Messages
10,609
Reaction score
20,773
Points
203
Location
Dayton, OH
As a big horror movie fan I'm not sure the methodology used in this study is entirely sound. I get the idea of using heart rate but that is only an immediate reaction to the current stimulus. This could skew the study towards movies with more jump scares than actual frightening stories. I'd be interested in a similar study that measured the viewers vitals for a period of time after watching the movie. Maybe show them the movie late at night and measure how quickly they are able to fall asleep.
 
Has anyone seen "Rec?" Short for record. It was done in the style of Blair Witch Trials but seriously made me scared to go to sleep. Not a lot of films have that effect on me!

And I agree, Debi - The Exorcist and The Shining should have made it on that list.
 
Has anyone seen "Rec?" Short for record. It was done in the style of Blair Witch Trials but seriously made me scared to go to sleep. Not a lot of films have that effect on me!

I really liked REC. What started out as looking like a generic horror film with well know movie tropes quickly surpassed my expectations. The found footage style of camera work is something many movies have done but few have done well. The biggest issue is "Why are they still filming?" In such a horrific situation why not ditch the camera and run? REC has a logical, in universe reason why the person holding the camera is filming everything they do. Which is really refreshing to see. Then there is the story itself, it starts as a typical zombie movie but offers a really interesting twist on the genre at the end which elevates the story beyond the typical "zombies eating brains". This is really evident if you watch the American remake called Quarantine. It completely changes the story at end but still includes same night vision climax. In REC this final scene was terrifying but it in Quarantine it's just confusing as it doesn't fit within the new context of the plot changes.
 
For me, it's Paranormal Activity, hands down. I couldn't sleep for ages after seeing that :O

Very gratifying to see it made number 5 on the list :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: garnetsilver
I really liked REC. What started out as looking like a generic horror film with well know movie tropes quickly surpassed my expectations. The found footage style of camera work is something many movies have done but few have done well. The biggest issue is "Why are they still filming?" In such a horrific situation why not ditch the camera and run? REC has a logical, in universe reason why the person holding the camera is filming everything they do. Which is really refreshing to see. Then there is the story itself, it starts as a typical zombie movie but offers a really interesting twist on the genre at the end which elevates the story beyond the typical "zombies eating brains". This is really evident if you watch the American remake called Quarantine. It completely changes the story at end but still includes same night vision climax. In REC this final scene was terrifying but it in Quarantine it's just confusing as it doesn't fit within the new context of the plot changes.
Exactly! The end is what made it so terrifying. Glad you liked it too!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stevedog
The Exorcist didn't even make it on here??? Nor did "IT"!
I agree. After all these years, The Exorcist is number 1 for me. Back in the 70's, I had to see it in the drive-in because I was too young to see it in the theatres.

Nowadays it takes a lot to scare me, but I do have favorites. I really liked "The Others" as I imagine that it may be relevant to what I've encountered on investigations.
 
  • Like
Reactions: garnetsilver
Two I would have included are the original "Carrie," and "Repulsion." The latter is the most disturbing movie I've ever seen, a psychological horror film about a young woman's decent into madness. It was made in the early 60s by Roman Polanski.
 
  • Like
Reactions: garnetsilver
I agree. After all these years, The Exorcist is number 1 for me. Back in the 70's, I had to see it in the drive-in because I was too young to see it in the theatres.

Nowadays it takes a lot to scare me, but I do have favorites. I really liked "The Others" as I imagine that it may be relevant to what I've encountered on investigations.
Yes, The Others was great!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donna Lee