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- The Science of Scare’s Methodology
- Why Is Sinister Technically the Scariest Movie Ever Made?
As a dedicated horror enthusiast who has spent countless nights huddled under blankets while watching chilling films, I can confidently say that Sinister stands out as one of the scariest movies ever made. The suspense and terror it evokes are unparalleled, leaving me with goosebumps even after multiple viewings.
Many people enjoy watching a well-crafted horror movie, and Halloween is undeniably the perfect season for it. However, what constitutes as truly terrifying can greatly differ from one person to another. But could we ever find a scientific approach to identify the scariest film of all time? Could there be a method to quantify the frightening aspects of a movie beyond individual experiences?
The Science of Scare team has honed their expertise, annually ranking top horror films based solely on their fright factor. For several years now, the Ethan Hawke movie “Sinister” (2012) has consistently held either the first or second position in these rankings. But why does this film leave such a haunting impression? And how is it that science can quantify the scariest movie of all time? Despite its strong standing within the horror community, “Sinister” hasn’t quite reached the same level as some of the genre’s most iconic franchises. However, if you’re a fan of truly terrifying films, make sure to add “Sinister” to your watch list before Halloween arrives!
The Science of Scare’s Methodology
Due to the subjective nature of what is considered scary, it can be challenging to establish a definitive winner in the horror genre using scientific methods. To address this question, the Science of Scare project was initiated in 2020. Each year, they compile a list of some of the scariest English-language movies as recommended by critics and viewers. Subsequently, a group of 250 volunteers are invited to watch these films. The screenings are scheduled throughout the year to prevent the overwhelming effect of watching too many frightening scenes simultaneously.
The team tracks both the viewers’ heart rates and their variability while watching films, as initially focusing solely on the rate raised concerns about favoring jump scare movies. Now, they measure the actual heart rate along with its fluctuation (or variation) and the time gap between each beat. A higher heart rate indicates fear, whereas a lower variance suggests growing apprehension and anxiety. A film’s Scare Score is determined by averaging the heart rate increase and the decrease in variance, ranging from 1 to 100.
In the year 2020, Sinister was crowned as the inaugural champion of the Scare Score. Despite finishing second to our Host from 2021 to 2023, Sinister regained the top position in 2024 with an astounding Scare Score of 96/100. Notable mentions include Host (95), Skinamirink (91), Insidious (90), and The Conjuring (88). It’s worth noting that timeless horror films such as The Exorcist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, and A Nightmare on Elm Street scored in the 60s. Nicholas Cage’s Longlegs, billed as the scariest modern movie ever made, managed a score of only 54. For a bit of humor, Shrek surprisingly reached a terrifying 3 out of 100 on the Scare Score scale.
Why Is Sinister Technically the Scariest Movie Ever Made?
Year after year, I firmly believe that “Sinister” stands tall as the cream of the crop, and here’s why: The story revolves around Ethan Hawke’s character, Ellison Oswalt, a once successful true crime writer who finds himself in a financial rut following a series of career setbacks. In an attempt to revive his fortunes, he moves his family into a new home that has a chilling past – it was the scene of several grisly murders. Unbeknownst to his wife and kids, Ellison intends to capitalize on these tragedies by writing about them.
Later on, Ellison finds a stash of old home movies depicting multiple murders concealed within the loft of the residence. Initially intending to report these findings to the authorities, he eventually decides against it and uses them as a source of inspiration for writing new books. Additionally, he notices occult symbols in certain videos, and strange occurrences start happening around the house. Despite attempting to leave, the Oswalt family suspects that the harm may have already been inflicted.
Upon its debut, the plot of “Sinister” received mixed reviews, with critics noting that it leaned heavily on horror genre tropes. However, the chilling atmosphere and Ethan Hawke’s captivating performance garnered significant acclaim. Words like “psychoparalyzing,” “deeply frightening,” and “undeniably scary” were frequently used by reviewers to describe their experiences with the film. Roger Ebert, for instance, gave it a rating of three out of four stars. A follow-up, “Sinister 2, was produced in 2015. This sequel introduced a largely new cast who moved into the Oswalt family home and encountered similar supernatural occurrences.
The second installment of “Sinister,” titled “Sinister 2,” didn’t fare well, earning a mere 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Unlike its predecessor, critics labeled this sequel as “unbearable,” “abysmal,” and one of the worst modern horror movies. In 2023, director Scott Derrickson expressed interest in creating a third film that capitalized on elements from the original. Additionally, there were discussions about combining it with the “Insidious” series.
If you didn’t know that a scientific method had determined the scariest movie of all time, now’s your chance to add Sinister to your watchlist before the end of October. Sinister is streaming now on Max.
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2024-10-30 02:31