The scariest A24 movie, according to science
Over the past few years, A24 has carved a distinct niche within the horror genre, birthing a trove of innovative, eerie, and boundary-pushing films that have captivated audiences. Unlike many other studios, the A24 approach isn’t just about eliciting jump scares but providing a deep dive into the human psyche, often exploring themes of grief, trauma, and existential dread.
Daniel Katz came up with the idea for A24 just over a decade ago when he was driving down the motorway of the same name in Italy. Struck by an idea to establish a fresh independent film venture, he decided he would create the company with industry peers David Fenkel and John Hodges. Fast forward to today, and A24 is a dominant force not solely in independent cinema but globally.
From day one, A24 seemed like a dream come true for horror fans. Devoted horror genre fans would always be there, but here was a studio dedicated to bringing to life some of the most complex, nuanced, and deeply disturbing concepts for big and small screens. From the cult classics Hereditary and Midsommar to the more recent Talk To Me, A24 has solidified itself as one of the freshest new contributions to the film industry.
We all know what makes a horror film scary – jumps, ghosts, or demonic activity – but what about the science behind it all? In general, contemporary filmmakers assert that they’ve decoded the horror genre to a point where it’s become formulaic, resulting in repetitive releases that feign horror. However, a team of researchers identified which of these modern films genuinely provoke fear among audiences.
Each year since 2020, Broadband Choices updates its ‘Science of Scare’ project, which comprises a list of films based on suggestions from public forums and the general audience. It analyses their impact on viewers, providing information on the scariest films.
In terms of the methodology, the research team explains: “Our scientific study tracked heart rates throughout some of the world’s most iconic horror films, to study the science of scary, and find the undisputed scariest horror film of all time! We invited 250 ‘victims’ to watch 40 of world’s scariest horror movies, including new entries to the genre from the past 18 months selected from Reddit recommendations (thanks r/horror) and critic’s best of lists.”
While this measurement doesn’t evaluate the film’s overall quality, it provides insight into the movies that delivered the most impactful jump scares. In their 2021 iteration, they revealed Hereditary as one of the world’s scariest films, which makes complete sense when you’ve seen the film yourself — centring around a family who are already dealing with varying levels of trauma and grief, the film journeys through various psychological terrors and eerie occurrences enough to leave you on the edge of your seat.
