Many people love a good horror film. While some film fans can’t think of anything worse than feeling like they are constantly on edge and scared – but for others it makes them feel alive.
According to Dr Jonny Dudley, Psychology lecturer at ULaw, watching horror films can be “naturally stimulating” as it triggers out bodies’ fight or flight response. He explained it flood “us with neurotransmitters and hormones, as if we were in the scenario the characters face”. Dr Dudley added: “This adrenaline rush creates an increase in our heart and breathing rate, to ready our body both mentally and physically to respond to such a threat.”
But when it comes to which is the scariest film ever, it can cause a lot of debate. From The Conjuring to Insidious and The Exorcist, there are many horror films out there that have truly terrified film fans. But film fans were recently asked what they think is the scariest film in the last 10 years, and the top spot is one that’s made them feel “uncomfortable”.
Married couple Hannah and Benedict Townsend discussed the topic on their podcast Talk of the Townsends. In a clip posted to their @talkofthetownsends TikTok page, they revealed they had asked their followers what the “scariest movie created in the last 10 years” was, and over 100,000 people had watched their video.
5. Barbarian
Hannah revealed Barbarian received 4% of the votes. Barbarian is a 2022 film about a young woman who discovers the rental home she booked is already occupied by a stranger.
She revealed that had been her own top pick for the scariest film. “Barbarian is another one which is down to what scares you. Because I found lots of comments saying they didn’t find it scary,” she added.
Meanwhile, Benedict added: “But I think it’s undeniable that it’s a scary movie,” to which Hannah added: “It’s trying to scare you, it just depends whether you’re scared by it.”
4. Talk to Me
In fourth place, with 5% of the votes was Talk to Me. The film, which came out in 2022, follows a group of teenagers discovering they can contact spirits using a mysterious severed and embalmed hand.
“We really enjoyed Talk to Me,” said Benedict. The film received 94% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, with one person saying: “This one just gets better with each watch.” Another added: “One of the best horror films I’ve seen since The Conjouring!”
3. It Follows
It Follows received 8% of the votes. The horror film, from 2014, is about a young woman who is followed by an unknown supernatural force after a sexual encounter.
Benedict added: “I’ve not seen that. It’s supposed to be an absolute classic.” The film has a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. One audience reviewer wrote: “Classic for sure! What makes it really incredible is the tension building and the subtext. You are always looking for people walking in screen, thinking they can be the creature.”
2. Insidious
Insidious received 9% of the votes in their survey. However, as they were discussing it, they realised Insidious is technically “off the list” as it came out more than 10 years ago.
Insidious, from 2010, follows a family who tries to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm caller The Further. It’s the first film in the franchose, which includes Insidious Chaper 2, Chapter 3, The Last Key and The Red Door.
“That is one of those rare combos of silly, goofy horror but then it does actually scare you,” added Benedict.
1. Hereditary
The film that received 44% of the votes was Hereditary, which came out in 2018. The film, which has a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, follows a grieving family tormented by sinister occurances after the death of their secretive grandmother.
Benedict said: “Yay, all hail king Paimon,” which, spoiler alert, is a powerful demon king from Hell, who appears in the movie.
However, Hannah pointed out that even though it received a lot of votes, there was still a debate in the comment section about whether it was “boring”.
The top spot caused a huge debate in the comment section, with one person saying: “Hereditary was soo disturbing. I loved it.” Another added: “Hereditary is one of those movies that just makes you feel really uncomfortable.”
Some disagreed though, with one person saying: “I do not understand the hype around Hereditary. Absolute snooze fest of a film.” And another commented: “Hereditary was such a let down for me. I think because people had hyped it up so much. It’s was a vague, confusing mess.”