Key Highlights
- The 2012 film “Sinister” reclaimed its title as the scariest movie this year.
- Halloween-related spending is expected to reach a record $13.1 billion, with costumes being one of the biggest expenses.
- Horror movies that use jump scares trigger faster heart rates, while slow-burn psychological horror films cause higher stress levels through heart rate variability.
- “Immaculate,” a 2024 psychological thriller, ranks at number 42 on the list of scariest movies based on its HRV and heart rate measurements.
Halloween Horror Season is Upon Us
With Halloween creeping closer than ever before, the retail season for all things spooky has officially kicked off. Since August, stores have been selling Halloween items, giving families more time to shop and increasing pressure to spend on costumes, decor, and treats. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), each person will spend about $114 for Halloween this year, with overall spending valued at a record $13.1 billion. Of that, $4.3 billion is expected to be spent on costumes.
Heart-Racing Horror Movies
The entertainment industry has also jumped into the spooky spirit, as MoneySuperMarket released its list of the top 50 scariest movies that will get your heart pounding and make you jump out of your seat. The 2012 supernatural horror film “Sinister” has reclaimed its title as the scariest movie this year. In the film, Ethan Hawke stars as a controversial true crime writer who moves his family into a house where an unknown serial killer committed horrific crimes.
The decision ultimately puts him and his family at risk. Audiences of the film had an average heart rate of 86 beats per minute, which is 34% faster than the average resting heart rate of 64 beats per minute.
At the movie’s scariest moment, viewers’ heart rates skyrocketed to 131 beats per minute. This demonstrates how horror movies that use jump scares can trigger a rapid increase in heart rate. However, not all horror films rely on such quick shocks; some follow slow psychological burns that cause higher levels of stress.
Measuring Stress Through Heart Rate Variability
MoneySuperMarket measures these stress levels through heart rate variability (HRV), which is the variation in time between successive heartbeats. A lower HRV indicates a more stressed viewer. For example, the 2024 psychological thriller “Immaculate” follows an American nun embarking on a new journey to a remote convent.
The journey later becomes a nightmare, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats as the sinister secret unravels. Audiences’ heart rates peaked at 101 BPM, but had an HRV of 13 milliseconds, ranking the movie at 42.
Three 2025 horror films managed to crack into the top 50: “Bring Her Back,” “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” and “Weapons.” “Bring Her Back” was the highest-ranked of the three at number 24, with audiences having an average heart rate of 78 BPM. The article invites readers to see if their favorite horror films made it into the top 50.
The list highlights how different types of horror movies can affect viewers in distinct ways.
Whether you prefer the quick adrenaline rush from jump scares or the lingering tension from psychological horror, these films are designed to test your limits and keep you on the edge of your seat during spooky season. So, as you plan your Halloween movie marathon, consider which type of scare will give you the most thrilling experience.
