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THE SCARIEST MOVIES, SAYS SCIENCE
Something called Broadband Choices did a study to find the scariest movie – at least, the one that makes your heart race. In their “Science of Scare” study they compiled a list of 30 horror movies based on Reddit recommendations, and had 250 participants watch all 30 movies while hooked up to heart rate monitors. Here are the top 20 (including the ties):
1. Host (2020) – Viewers’ average heart rate throughout the movie was 88 beats per minute, 24 beats more than the resting average of 64 bpm.
2. Sinister (2012) – Average heart rate of 86 beats per minute.
3. Insidious (2010) – The average was lower, but some viewers’ heart rates climbed to 133 beats per minute at some point during the film.
4. The Conjuring (2013) – 84 bpm
5. (tie) Hereditary (2018) and Terrified (2017) – 82 bpm
6. It Follows (2014) – 81 bpm
7. (tie) A Quiet Place Part II (2021) and Paranormal Activity (2007) – 80 bpm
8. (tie) The Conjuring 2 (2016), The Babadook (2014) and The Descent (2005) – 79 bpm
9. (tie) Hush (2016), A Quiet Place (2018) and The Ring (2002) – 78 bpm
10. (tie) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Halloween (1978) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – 77 bpm
11. It (2017) and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) – 76 bpm