A scientific study was done this past year to determine which of the top highest-rated horror movies was the scariest. 50 viewer’s heart rates were monitored while watching the movies, with average heart rate being taken into account as well as measuring any spikes in the BPM. The film that won the highest score based on the scientists’ measurements was 2012 horror thriller Sinister.
Many of the movies that topped the list skewed modern and were ones that packed in jump-scares, with slow burns falling to the bottom of the ranking. The study was done by broadbandchoices and makes sure to clarify that being rated the scariest does not necessarily make it the best. Upon release, Sinister received decent reviews from critics while also taking its fair share of deserved criticisms. Still, many critics found that the movie hit the right notes when it comes to horror. It’s hard to argue with scientific data, but even if a study hadn’t ranked it as the scariest horror movie it’s still a movie worth checking out.
Anyone who hasn’t seen Sinister before may be wondering how exactly the movie beat the science. For starters, the very opening shot of the film is grainy footage of a family being hung by a tree as they struggle fruitlessly for air. While this shot seems out of place at first given the following scenes are completely unrelated to what has just been shown, its relevance quickly makes sense. As an opening shot for a horror movie, it’s shocking imagery that puts the viewer ill-at-ease and keeps them tense, worried about what horrors may befall the protagonist and their own family.
Sinister manages to continue conveying this sense of dread in no small part with the help of its eerie soundtrack and creepy premise. Ethan Hawke gives a great performance as the movie’s protagonist, even when the scene just involves him watching home videos on a dusty old projector. There’s also a central mystery to the plot that is both intriguing and frightening.
Hawke’s character, Ellison Oswalt, is a true crime novelist who moves with his family into a new home, making the morally questionable decision to not disclose to them that the previous homeowners were murdered and the real reason they moved there was so he could write his next book about it.
Moving can be an anxiety-inducing affair even when it doesn’t involve a grisly murder. It’s not just stepping out of one’s comfort zone but relocating it entirely. There is also the fact that moving one’s life to a new house, city, state, or country altogether opens the possibilities for all sorts of unfamiliar situations. This is why so many horror movies begin with the designated victims arriving at their new home. It makes them a fish out of water and puts them at the mercy of whatever the movie throws at them. Suddenly, they can’t just run home and hide because, now, they are home.
While doing his research, Ellison Oswalt discovers a box of Super 8 home videos in the attic, all labeled innocuous names like “Sleepy Time ‘98” or “Family Hanging Out ’11”. Upon watching these movies Ellison discovers that they actually contain horrific footage of different families being murdered in various ways. The danger only grows as Ellison works to get to the bottom of these deaths, putting himself and his family in harm’s way.
Another way the movie won over other movies in the study was its sporadic use of jump scares. People tend to either love them or hate them, but regardless of where one stands on that subject they still cause quite the spike in one’s heart rate.
Perhaps the most significant jump scare happens at a pivotal moment when the viewer might be particularly engrossed by what’s happening on the screen. As Ethan Hawke’s character watches the footage of these brutal murders, one of the videos makes it apparent that a lawnmower is the weapon of choice for its murder. The camera thankfully cuts away to Ellison Oswalt’s horrified reaction right as the lawnmower is about to run over the bodies, sparing the viewers the ghastly sight. While the movie may extend this courtesy to the viewers, it does play an overpoweringly loud, demonic scream that is sure to startle anybody watching, and caused the highest spike in heart rate in the study.
The movie is notable for its lack of on-screen violence considering the subject matter, much like the first Saw movie. Also, like the Saw franchise, the sequel puts a much heavier emphasis on showing on-screen violence and gore. How Spiral, the newest entry in the franchise will handle its violence remains to be seen. Sinister 2 suffered from poor critical reception and sales so there were never any additional sequels produced. Jason Blum, CEO of Blumhouse Productions, has spoken more recently in an interview about intentions to do a crossover film with Insidious, though it remains to be seen if anything is to materialize. The crossover at least makes sense from the standpoint that both film titles are synonyms for each other. It’s also worth noting that Insidious came in second place in the aforementioned.
Having the main character’s occupation be a true crime writer is a smart choice because it allows for them to more believably pursue courses of action that the average person might wisely avoid. Getting to the bottom of deadly mysteries is Ellison Oswalt’s bread and butter, so it makes sense that, even after learning what kind of footage is on the tapes, he would watch them over and over again to look for clues. This helps to keep moving the plot along too, as diving deeper into the mystery is what ultimately propels the story to its inevitable conclusion.
Whether or not an Insidious crossover ever happens or if its victory in the study encourages Blumhouse to produce another sequel is up in the air, though it is clear that they are always looking for any opportunity to capitalize on an established IP. Sinister as a film has a goal and manages to succeed with smart filmmaking choices and a strong concept. The ultimate answer to the mystery behind the shocking videos and the unfortunate family whose home Ellison Oswalt now occupies may be a letdown depending on how an individual feels about the nature of the reveal, but it’s a fun ride all the way through.
Sinister has managed to stay in the mind of those that watch it because it hits upon certain primal fears and has a very solid presentation, opting for the “less is more” route of filmmaking and doing it very well. It’s a testament to how even a remarkably scaled-down movie can still manage to be the most terrifying, at least as determined by science.
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