This Is the Scariest Horror Movie of All Time, According to Science
Campy horror can be fun, but a new study reveals this terrifying movie will literally make your heart race.
With Halloween fast approaching, there's no time like the present to pencil in a few re-watches of your favorite scary movies. And while campy horror, pointless gore, and truly terrible special effects may hold a special place in many a horror-lover's heart, when it comes to being truly scary, not all horror is created equal. In fact, there's a clear victor when it comes to truly scaring the living daylights out of people. That's right: A scientific study has determined the scariest horror movie of all time, based on how much it makes your heart race.
Combining Reddit recommendations and critics' reviews of horror films, Broadband Choices came up with a list of the 50 best horror movies, which they screened for a group of 50 subjects wearing heart rate monitors. Movie watchers' average resting heart rates were compared to their average heart rates while watching each movie, with researchers also noting any notable spikes in heart rates during each screening. Then, the researchers ranked the movies accordingly. If you want to find out which movie truly terrified audiences, read on. And if you want to scare yourself silly with a new movie, check out The Best Horror Film of 2020, According to Critics.
Read the original article on Best Life.
20
Scream
Average resting heart rate: 65 beats per minute (BPM)
Average movie heart rate: 73 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 8 BPM
Highest spike: 81 BPM
And for more movies sure to scare you out of your seat, check out Every '90s Horror Movie, Ranked From Worst Reviewed to Best.
19
It
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 75 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 10 BPM
Highest spike: 89 BPM
18
Hush
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 76 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 11 BPM
Highest spike: 86 BPM
And if you're wondering where your favorite former horror stars are today, check out The Biggest '90s Horror Icons, Then and Now.
17
The Exorcist
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 77 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 12 BPM
Highest spike: 92 BPM
16
28 Days Later
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 77 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 12 BPM
Highest spike: 95 BPM
15
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 77 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 12 BPM
Highest spike: 98 BPM
And if you're wondering what your favorite stars were up to before hitting it big, check out these 30 Celebrities You Forgot Were in Horror Movies.
13
Halloween
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 77 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 12 BPM
Highest spike: 101 BPM
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13
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 78 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 13 BPM
Highest spike: 104 BPM
11
A Quiet Place
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 78 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 13 BPM
Highest spike: 122 BPM
11
The Ring
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 79 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 14 BPM
Highest spike: 107 BPM
10
The Visit
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 79 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 14 BPM
Highest spike: 100 BPM
9
The Descent
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 79 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 14 BPM
Highest spike: 122 BPM
8
The Babadook
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 80 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 15 BPM
Highest spike: 116 BPM
7
The Conjuring 2
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 80 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 15 BPM
Highest spike: 120 BPM
6
It Follows
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 81 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 16 BPM
Highest spike: 93 BPM
5
Paranormal Activity
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 82 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 17 BPM
Highest spike: 127 BPM
4
Hereditary
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 83 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 18 BPM
Highest spike: 109 BPM
3
The Conjuring
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 85 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 20 BPM
Highest spike: 129 BPM
2
Insidious
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 86 BPM
Average heart rate increase: 21 BPM
Highest spike: 133 BPM
1
Sinister
Average resting heart rate: 65 BPM
Average movie heart rate: 86
Average heart rate increase: 21 BPM
Highest spike: 131 BPM
