Get ready to be scared! It’s time to settle in for a night of some of the most terrifying movies to ever grace the silver screen. We’ve compiled a list of 13 must-watch horror films, all scientifically proven to give you the chills and keep you up at night.
So grab your popcorn, your blanket and get ready for a frightful journey!
1Host (2020) (BPM): 88
Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance via Zoom during lockdown — but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong. When an evil spirit starts invading their homes, they begin to realize they might not survive the night.
2Sinister (2012) (BPM): 86
True-crime writer Ellison Oswald is in a slump; he hasn’t had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims’ home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.
3Insidious (2010) (BPM): 85
A family discovers that dark spirits have invaded their home after their son inexplicably falls into an endless sleep. When they reach out to a professional for help, they learn things are a lot more personal than they thought.
4The Conjuring (2013) (BPM): 84
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case of their lives.
5Hereditary (2018) (BPM): 82
When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.
6Terrified (2018) (BPM): 82
Police commissioner Funes and three researchers of supernatural phenomena investigate inexplicable events that are occurring in the suburbs of Buenos Aires.
7It Follows (2014) (BPM): 81
When carefree teenager Jay sleeps with her older boyfriend for the first time, she learns that she is the latest recipient of a fatal curse that is passed from victim to victim via sexual intercourse. Death, Jay learns, will creep inexorably toward her as either a friend or a stranger. Jay’s friends don’t believe her seemingly paranoid ravings, until they too begin to see the phantom assassins and band together to help her defend herself.
8Dashcam (2022) (BPM): 81
At the start of the pandemic, an indulgent and self-deluded livestreaming improv musician abandons L.A. for London, steals her ex-bandmate’s car, and makes the fateful decision to give a ride to an elderly woman who is not what she seems.
9A Quiet Place Part 2 (2021) (BPM): 80
Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
10Paranormal Activity (2007) (BPM): 80
After a young, middle-class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be demonic but is certainly the most active in the middle of the night. Followed by five terrifying installments in the franchise, this is the original found-footage shocker that started it all.
11The Conjuring 2 (2016) (BPM): 79
Lorraine and Ed Warren travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.
12The Babadook (2014) (BPM): 79
A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
13The Descent (2005) (BPM): 79
After a tragic accident, six friends reunite for a caving expedition. Their adventure soon goes horribly wrong when a collapse traps them deep underground and they find themselves pursued by bloodthirsty creatures. As their friendships deteriorate, they find themselves in a desperate struggle to survive the creatures and each other.
It is clear that the 13 most terrifying movies of all time are scientifically proven to be truly frightening. These horror films have successfully utilized techniques such as suspense, shock and surprise to evoke fear in audiences around the world. If you’re looking for a good scare, these movies are sure to deliver – though they may haunt you long after watching! So gather some friends, switch off the lights and settle into a night of being scared out of your wits by these iconic fright fests.
You can check out the full list here.
BPM: Avg movie heart rate