10 Horror Movies That Don't Rely On Jump Scares

TV & Film

Oct 13

Do you love horror but hate jump scares? Or are you just bored of its overuse by the current generation of filmmakers? Here is a list of horror movies with little to no jump scares so you can turn out the lights and reach for the popcorn in complete safety.

10. 'Psycho' (2 Jump Scares)

Hitchcock’s iconic psychological horror is still scary despite being filmed back in 1960. It has just two jump scares. The first is when Arbogast ascends the stairs, and someone comes out of the bedroom and stabs him. The iconic second one is when Lila turns around the figure sitting on the chair, and it is revealed to be the corpse of Norman’s mother. Both are in the last thirty minutes of the movie.

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9. 'Carrie' (1 Jump Scare)

The original movie adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is jump scare free until the very end. Sue reaches down to put flowers on Carrie's grave, and a bloodied hand comes up from the dirt and grabs her. It’s a big jump scare, but if you turn it off before the last few minutes, you can avoid it. They always come back…

8. 'The Omen' (1 Jump Scare)

The 1970s classic was written by David Seltzer, who weirdly penned the box office Goldie Hawn smash Bird on a Wire. The British-made supernatural horror about a child antichrist is a cult classic and a must-watch for any horror fan. There’s only one jump scare, right at the end of the movie, where Robert (Gregory Peck) sees the 666 on Damien’s head and is attacked from behind.

7. 'The Devil’s Rejects' (0 Jump Scares)

Rob Zombie’s sequel to House of 1000 Corpses. The slasher movie is about a family of murderers on the run and the sheriff who tries to apprehend them. Read the reviews before viewing them, as it is extremely violent (including depictions of sexual assault) and gratuitously gory. However, fans of the original will enjoy the follow-up. There are absolutely no jump scares.

6. 'Sleepy Hollow' (1 Jump Scare..but it’s Disney)

Tim Burton’s gothic horror has a single jump scare. Johnny Depp’s character disturbs a sleeping witch, and she charges at him. Despite being rated R, this movie is relatively tame, but like all Burton movies, it looks fantastic and has an eerie quality.

5. 'Wolf Creek' (0 Jump Scares)

Another slasher movie. A group of friends go into the outback and get lost, kidnapping and murder ensues. The villain of this film is especially creepy, and as far as slashers go, it’s a Marmite film that you will either put into your top 10 of all time or rush to flame online. There are no jump scares, but if you have a problem with gore, this might not be the movie for you.

4. 'Leprechaun 2' (1 Jump Scare…but it’s Warwick Davis)

Starring Warwick Davis (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Willow), this is one of those horror flicks that is so bad that it’s comedy gold. It’s perfect for fans of the 80’s B movie genre, which was never meant to be taken seriously. There’s one jump scare, but to be honest, the plot holes will give viewers a bigger fright. There’s absolutely no continuation from Leprechaun, so don’t worry if you haven’t seen the first one.

3. 'The Blair Witch Project' (0 Jump Scares)

The Blair Witch Project changed the face of the genre when it was released in 1999. Not only did its marketing campaign do a good job of convincing cinemagoers that it was real, but it was one of the first uses of found footage. The Blair Witch Project scared audiences to the point where they were vomiting in the theatre. However terrifying it may be, there is not a single jump scare in the whole film.

2. 'Look Away' (0 Jump Scares)

Canadian horror directed by Assaf Bernstein (The Debt) is a hidden gem with Jason Issacs (Harry Potter) doing what he does best: playing a problematic daddy. From a distance, this movie looks like a basic teen horror, but the psychological twists and turns give it an extra dimension. And it’s jump scare free.

1. 'Silence Of The Lambs' (0 Jump Scares)

It’s still the only horror movie to win a Best Picture Academy Award, and there’s not a single jump scare in the film. The movie relies on incredible performances from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins to create an atmosphere of fear instead.

Horror is a wide genre, so hopefully, there’s something in this list to tempt you, whether it’s a thriller, a cheesy B movie, or a bloody slasher. Proof that you don’t need to jump out from behind a bush with a knife to scare the audience.

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