Fear plays a key role in the lives of creatures that feel it. It helps you react and recognize dangers, which in turn allows you to protect yourself against threats and ensure survival. Many people, however, have a strong need to feel fear in controlled conditions, e.g. when watching horror movies.
This happens because of the rush of excitement and adrenaline rush. Our brains react to a threat seen on the screen in the same way as to a real one. According to Forbes magazine, when watching a horror movie, our heart rate increases and our senses become heightened. Scientists even claim that there are horror fans for whom movies help release negative emotions in a safe way. In turn, releasing suppressed feelings reduces anxiety and stress. For each viewer, it is also an opportunity for escapism and building social bonds that are strengthened by experiencing strong emotions together.
Scientists have chosen the scariest horror movie of all time
Interest in horror films increases every year around October. The autumn weather favors evening screenings, and horror movies are also an integral part of celebrating Halloween, which is becoming more and more popular in Poland. Productions that evoke fear in viewers are divided into numerous subgenres, such as gore, slasher and body horror. However, many viewers simply look for the greatest thrill possible in horror films.
The creators of The Science of Scare project are trying to answer the question of what horror films are the scariest of 2020. Analysts have created a scientific methodology that each year determines which horror film is the scariest. As research by unilad.com quotes, in 2023, production, dethroned for two years by “Host”, returned to the top of the list.
We are talking about the film “Sinister”, which has once again been recognized by researchers as the most terrifying film of all time. The 2012 production tells the story of Ellison Oswalt (played by Ethan Hawke), a writer of crime novels based on true events. The author, together with his wife and children, move into the house where the murdered family once lived. He also learns that 10-year-old Stephanie was never found after the tragedy and decides to investigate the matter. However, he does not do it selflessly; he intends to use the interesting case to write another bestseller.
“Sinister”. What is the horror movie about? Where can you watch it?
Shortly after moving, the writer finds recordings in the house that record murders of families from different cities over many years. However, the crime scenario was repeated – the murderer chose large families, and one of the children from each registered case could not be found after the crime was discovered. The writer realizes that this time he and his loved ones are in danger. The horror can be watched via megogo.net, rakuten.tv and cineman.pl.
How was it determined that “Sinister” was the scariest horror film ever made? Members of The Science of Scare project selected 250 willing viewers for research, and approximately 40 productions were presented to them. The films were selected based on viewership, critics’ ratings, statements of horror experts and online rankings. The subject of the research were only English-language productions. During each session, the researchers measured the participants’ heart rate and noted any deviations from the norm.
This year, analysts have improved their research method. The new measurement system combines the results of measuring the heart rate in beats per minute and examining HRV, sinus rhythm variability, i.e. the time intervals between individual heart beats. Both measurements gave researchers a score on a 100-point scale called the Scare Score.
The scariest horror movies of all time. Here are the most terrifying horror movies
“Sinister”, which took first place in the research, received as many as 96 points. The already mentioned “Host” took second place, and “Skinamarink” closes the podium. This is an interesting result because it is not a typical horror film or even a film aimed at a mass audience. The production is based on understatements. We are dealing here with fragments of images and sounds in which we must look for a plot. “Two children wake up at night and discover that their father has disappeared from the house, as well as all the doors and windows,” reads its official description.
The next places on the list of the scariest films of all time were taken by “Insidious” from 2010, “The Conjuring” released three years later, “Hereditary” from 2018 and “Smile” from 2022. In eighth place in the ranking was the considered horror film. classic movie “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”. The ninth place belongs to “Hell House LLC”, and the top ten is closed by “Talk to Me” – a cinema hit that premiered in Poland in August this year.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
