Halloween is right around the corner and a scary movie is the perfect activity for gloomy autumn weather.
With October being the season for horror movies, the data team at Manhattan Mental Health Counselling (MMHC), analysed IMDB review data to rank the best horror movies for each emotion to help you find the perfect horror movie.
The reason we love horror movies so much is because they are an “emotional rollercoaster”, says Natalie Buchwald, a psychologist from MMCH.
She continued: “Horror fans love the endorphin rush that comes from a sense of danger and movies allow them to experience it from the comfort of their own couch.
“In some cases, it’s also an opportunity for the mind to explore concepts and thoughts that might seem weird and unsettling, but from a point of detachment.”
From thrills to the creeps to the downright disturbing, horror movies can scare us in a multitude of ways. Below are some of the best horror movies that experts say will cater to every level of fear.
Horror movies by emotion
Top 10 scary movies
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The Conjuring
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It
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Insidious
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Sinister
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Scream
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The Exorcist
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Halloween
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Friday the 13th
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
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Suspiria
Natalie said: “These movies tend to be the kind we find most genuinely scary. That sense of stimulation, even fearful stimulation, tends to appeal to those of us who prefer to seek out new experiences. The Conjuring is that perfect mix of the creepy supernatural factor with some excellent jump scares tossed in.”
Top 10 thrilling movies
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Scream
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Suspiria
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Friday the 13th
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The Exorcist
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The Conjuring
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Halloween
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Insidious
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It
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
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Sinister
“When it comes to thrills, jumps, and classic scares, this is where the endorphin and adrenaline stimulation come into play. Scream is one of the most iconic slasher thrillers for precisely that reason. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of shock, surprise, and the cathartic amusement that follows each chase.”
Top 10 disturbing movies
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
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Suspiria
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Sinister
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The Exorcist
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It
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Scream
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Friday the 13th
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Insidious
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Halloween
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The Conjuring
“A lot of people who love disturbing movies are those who want to have vivid imaginations and enjoy exploring concepts that put them outside of their comfort zone. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a perfect example of taking us into a place well outside our everyday reality, but just plausible enough to be intriguing with its backwoods setting.”
Top 10 shocking movies
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The Exorcist
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The Conjuring
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Suspiria
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Scream
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
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Halloween
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Friday the 13th
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Sinister
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It
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Insidious
“Shocking movies, aside from the regular fear and excitement responses, are often made to stand out within a social context. The Exorcist stands out as a taboo reflection of our values on religion, children, and a terrible interruption of mundane life with something beyond comprehension.”
Top 10 gory movies
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Friday the 13th
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Scream
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Suspiria
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
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Sinister
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Halloween
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The Exorcist
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It
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The Conjuring
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Insidious
“There are some theories that, aside from appealing to those who enjoy special effects of all kinds, gore in movies also helps us build our threat detection and avoidance habits. Friday the 13th is a classic slasher, the entire series well known for its grotesque kills, which engage the ‘disgust’ reaction in our brains, triggering its own sort of dopamine reward.”
Top 10 creepy and unsettling movies
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Insidious
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The Conjuring
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Sinister
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It
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Suspiria
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Halloween
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
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The Exorcist
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Friday the 13th
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Scream
“There’s an inherent pleasure in the tension that’s inspired by movies that are more subtly creepy. Insidious, wit hits mix of blink-and-you’ll miss it creepiness as well as its jump scares, builds up that tension very effectively indeed.
“Scary movies allow us to engage in some of our psychological triggers in a way that is safe and controlled, and they can be one of the most enjoyable ways to celebrate Halloween,” says Buchwald. “Taking the time to maximize fear in a way that’s safe and enjoyable is the key to making the holiday memorable.”
Best overall horror movies based on all scary emotions
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The Conjuring
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Insidious
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Sinister
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It
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Suspiria
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Scream
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
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Halloween
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The Exorcist
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Friday the 13th
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