UK-based BroadbandChoices has announced the results of a scientific study that claims to have found a way to definitively rank the scariest films of all time.
The results of the list are surprising with Scott Derrickson’s well-regarded 2012 horror film “Sinister” topping the chart, coming in way ahead of iconic classics like “The Exorcist” at #17 and “The Thing” at #25.
The study involved fifty people watching fifth horror films and during their time watching, their heartbeat is monitored. The study observes the changes in BPM and those which caused the most changes ultimately determined rank. Basically the more consistent jump scares, the higher it’ll rank.
Relatively recent titles all led the way with James Wan’s “Insidious” and “The Conjuring” coming in at second and third, while “Hereditary” and “Paranormal Activity” were in fourth and fifth. “It Follows,” “The Conjuring 2,” “The Babadook,” “The Descent” and “The Visit” round out the Top 10.
Older titles like “Halloween,” “Scream” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” ranked in the mid teens, whilst others films that made the Top 20 include “The Ring,” “Hush,” “28 Days Later,” “IT,” “A Quiet Place” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”.
The study also measured the single biggest jump scares across all the films with “Insidious,” “Sinister,” “The Exorcist Part III,” “The Conjuring” and “The Descent” topping the list. Click here to see the full study.
