Ever wondered which movie is the scariest of all time? MoneySupermarket’s annual Science of Scare study has the answer. Conducted every year since 2020 and published during the spooky szn, the study ranks horror films using heart rate monitors on 250 volunteers. The total Scare Score is derived from factors like heart rate and heart rate variance (the time between each heartbeat). Curious to find out if your favorite horror movie is part of the list? Here are the top 8 movies from this year’s results:

8. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Highest spike (BPM): 131
Scare store: 96

At the number 8 spot sits cult classic The Exorcism of Emily Rose. The story revolves around Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter), a 19-year-old student suffering from severe ailments that led her to believe a demon possessed her. Desperate for help, she turns to Father Moore (Tom Wilkinson), a priest. However, things take a tragic turn, which leads to Emily Rose’s untimely death. Convinced of foul play, Prosecutor Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) decides to investigate. While Father Moore insists on demonic possession, Bruner believes neglect is the actual cause.

7. Smile (2022)

Highest spike (BPM): 114
Scare store: 78

Parker Finn’s chilling horror film Smile follows Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a therapist haunted by a disturbing suicide she witnessed. Convinced a sinister entity is out to get her and her friends, Rose’s mental health quickly spirals. With her signature eerie smile, Caitlin Stasey‘s chilling performance as Laura Weaver is a standout. And now everyone’s trained to flinch every time we see a photo of her on social media. Earning the seventh spot on the Science of Scare list, this movie is guaranteed to have you peeking through your hands while watching it. And if you loved the thrills this movie delivered, you’ll be glad to know Smile 2 just premiered last October 18, 2024.

6. Hereditary (2018)

Highest spike (BPM): 104
Scare store: 81

Would you really believe any horror movie list that doesn’t include Ari Aster’s Hereditary in the Top 10? Sitting in the sixth spot, this A24 masterpiece has been the standard for a long time, even winning Toni Collette multiple Best Actress awards. Hereditary is a psychological film that follows a grieving family tormented by sinister occurrences after the death of their secretive grandmother. Slow burn and full of hair-raising moments, Aster’s film is a masterclass of how horror should be done.

5. The Conjuring (2013)

Highest spike (BPM): 132
Scare store: 88

Jump scares? Check. Eerie build-ups? Check. You probably watched The Conjuring at the cinema with your friends and collectively experienced the heart-pounding moments the film expertly jumps on the audience. The movie is set in 1971 when the Perron family moved into a farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. After having terrifying supernatural encounters, they call on demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) to investigate.

4. Insidious (2010)

Highest spike (BPM): 133
Scare store: 90

Being jumpscared by the red demon in that scene is a rite of passage for horror lovers. There’s a reason Insidious nearly sits at the top of the Science of Scare list. This supernatural horror film follows the Lambert family whose son, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), falls into a coma. They soon learn Dalton’s spirit is trapped The Further, an astral plane filled with malevolent spirits seeking to possess his physical body. It’s up to Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) to confront his demons and save his son.

3. Skinamarink (2022)

Highest spike (BPM): 113
Scare store: 91

Although only earning a 4.8/10 score on IMDB, Canadian experimental psychological horror Skinamarink has a 91 scare score on the Science of Scare chart. The 2022 movie follows siblings Kaylee and Kevin (Dali Rose Tetreault and Lucas Paul), who wake up one night to discover that their father is missing and the doors, windows, and rooms to their house are slowly disappearing. Skinamarink is a slow-burn movie that relies heavily on sound design and unsettling visuals to create a sense of dread. With only a $15,000 budget, the film was a box office success, grossing $2 million. Worth the watch!

2. Host (2020)

Highest spike (BPM): 130
Scare store: 95

When the pandemic hit in 2020 and working from home became a norm, it was only a matter of time before someone made a horror film based on a Zoom call. Host, a 2020 British independent supernatural film, follows the horrific events after a group of friends accidentally summon a demon during an online seance. Rob Savage, the director, shot the film over 12 weeks and directed the actors remotely from his home. The found-footage format evokes a surprisingly effective and chilling horror experience.

1. Sinister (2012)

Highest spike (BPM): 131
Scare store: 96

Topping the list once again is the 2012 horror film Sinister. This chilling tale follows true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke), who moves his family into a Pennsylvania home haunted by a gruesome murder. Unbeknownst to his family, Ellison is bent on investigating the crime in hopes of writing a book about it. But uncovering the truth opened the door to horrifying occurrences, and Ellison soon discovers more than he bargained for.

Check out the full Science of Scare 2024 list here.

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