While horror movies aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, those who do enjoy them are true connoisseurs of the genre. They are the ones most likely to go looking for the most haunted movie in the world to get their next horror fix. There are two types of horror movie enthusiasts — those who savour every moment of the thrill and those who are terrified but enjoy watching the movies anyway. So, if you’re wondering which horror movie to watch next, this list packs in some worthy recommendations. Movie rating websites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb have ranked some of these super hit horror movies as the ‘most dangerous horror movies’. Take a look.
1. Sinister (2012)
This 2012 horror film is scientifically proven to be the “scariest movie ever”! The heart rates of viewers were tracked in a study called ‘Science of Scare Project’. While watching Sinister, participants experienced heart rates of 86 BPM (beat per minute), more than 32% of their resting BPM. The film, starring Ethan Hawke and Juliet Rylance, narrates the story of a true-crime writer who discovers some shocking truths about the house he just moved into.
2. Insidious (2010)
With Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne in the lead, Insidious is the tale of a couple that tries tooth and nail to protect their child from an evil spirit. Directed by James Wan, this film is the second most scary movie according to the ‘Science of Scare Project’. According to the participants, the jump scare in Insidious is the best of any horror movie. Wan, popularly known as the ‘king of horror’, is also behind the Saw and Conjuring series — in case you want to add more nail-biting movies to your watchlist.
3. The Conjuring series (2013-2021)
The ‘king of horror’ James Wan has made some more contributions to the list of most haunted movies in the world. The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2 and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It make up The Conjuring franchise. Starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in the lead, the movies follow two paranormal investigators as they help people get rid of evil spirits. The Conjuring (2013) is part of Rotten Tomatoes’ list of ‘10 scariest horror movies ever’.
4. The Exorcist (1973)
Starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Linda Blair in the lead, The Exorcist is about a mother who seeks the help of an exorcist to free her daughter from an evil spirit. The movie, based on a novel, is directed by William Friedkin. It’s the first horror film to receive an Oscar nomination for ‘Best Picture’ and was nominated in a total of 10 categories that year.
5. The Shining (1980)
The movie, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd, narrates the tale of a family who is possessed by a spirit. During their vacation, Jack Torrance (Nicholson) is influenced by a sinister presence and resorts to violence. Meanwhile, his psychic son sees horrific incidents from the past and future. The Shining is directed by Stanley Kubrick and is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. It’s considered one of the greatest horror movies and is lauded for its exceptional production and sound design.
6. It (2017)
Another movie based on Stephen King’s novel features on our list of horror movies worth watching. It, starring an ensemble cast of actors like Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis and Jeremy Ray Taylor, narrates the chilling tale of a group of kids who pursue a demonic presence. Directed by Andy Muschietti, the movie packs in some spine-chilling moments that make it a must-watch. It is also the highest-grossing horror movie of all time, beating the collections of The Exorcist (1973).
7. Paranormal Activity (2007)
The movie, starring Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat, follows a couple who experience a demonic presence in their new house. The Oren Peli horror film enthrals audiences with its grippy storyline and unexpected jump scares. It is the most successful film of the Paranormal Activity (2007-2021) franchise.