If you’re on the hunt for a film that will send shivers down your spine just in time for Halloween, science has got you covered. A recent study has pinpointed the most terrifying release of 2024, and it is currently available to stream at no cost.
The Science of Scare Project, established in 2020, sets out to determine the most frightening English language films ever produced. They equipped a group of 250 individuals with heart rate monitors and tracked their reactions as they watched a range of films, creating a ranking system.
The newest set of results have been released, revealing the 2024 film most likely to have you sleeping with the lights on.
Topping the list is the Irish horror film Oddity, directed by Damian McCarthy, with a ‘Scare Score’ of 69, narrowly beating other releases such as Terrifier 3 (68), Longlegs (54) and even The Substance (45). To put this into perspective, Shrek has a score of 3.
Oddity tells the story of a mourning doctor named Ted (Gwilym Lee), whose wife Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) is brutally killed in their new home, seemingly by one of his patients. On the anniversary of her death, her identical twin sister arrives with an unusual object, and the truth about what really happened begins to unravel, reports the Mirror.
(Image: Shudder)
One disturbed viewer hailed the film as their “top choice for best horror movie of the year.” They continued: “Damian McCarthy’s follow up to his impressive directorial debut Caveat, is just as atmospheric and dread inducing but with a much more linear and involving plot, plus much more frightening.”
Another viewer praised Oddity as “gripping from beginning to end”, dubbing it “a masterclass in film making”, while another fan expressed: “I was honestly SO surprised and totally gripped by this movie. There are SO many things going on… and homages to so many different horror genres – but somehow it feels extremely well contained, and the pacing and plot never suffer for it.”
For those daring enough to confront Oddity, there’s good news as it’s available on Shudder, which is offering new customers a seven-day free trial. By starting your trial later this week, you could watch the film at no cost on Halloween.
While Oddity has earned the title of 2024’s scariest release, the accolade for the most terrifying film of all time goes to the supernatural horror Sinister, boasting a Scare Score of 96. Following closely are Host with a score of 95 and Skinamarink at 91.
Oddity is now streaming on Shudder
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