An American Haunting

Name: An American Haunting
Released: 2005-05-05

Released 5 May 2005

7.2out of 10

No. 48 on the Scare Scale

Based on 1 rating

Trailer

Where to stream it

Streaming data from JustWatch.

An invisible entity haunts a 19th century family, and family secrets soon begin to surface. Based on the true events of the only case in US History where a spirit caused the death of a man.

How it scares

Each kind of scare is rated out of 10. Hover over a score, or use the info button, to see what it means.

Gore
4.0 out of 10,Moderate
Blood, injuries and body horror shown on screen. Violence that happens off-screen barely counts.
Gore 4.0 is moderate (3-4 on the scale):
- Visible blood and wounds in a few scenes
- The camera cuts away before the worst of it
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Creepy
6.0 out of 10,Strong
Unsettling images, atmosphere and things that feel wrong. Not sudden shocks (Jumpscares) or waiting for something to happen (Suspense).
Creepy 6.0 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- Disturbing images and an atmosphere that feels wrong
- Comes back often, and some scenes stay with you afterwards
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Jumpscares
5.0 out of 10,Strong
Sudden shocks designed to make you jump, usually a fast movement or a loud noise. Not slow-building dread (Suspense).
Jumpscares 5.0 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- Regular jumpscares, often with loud sound cues
- A real part of how the film scares you
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Suspense
6.0 out of 10,Strong
Tension and dread while you wait for something to happen. Not the scare itself when it arrives (Jumpscares or Gore).
Suspense 6.0 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- High tension that keeps you on edge
- Calm moments are short and don't last
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Psychological
5.0 out of 10,Strong
Horror that gets in your head: paranoia, madness, doubting what's real and ideas that stay with you. Not how a scene looks (Creepy) or feels in the moment (Suspense).
Psychological 5.0 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- Paranoia, madness or a story that makes you question what's real
- A big part of the film, and it stays with you afterwards
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme

How the overall score of 7.2 is worked out

A film's three strongest kinds of scare count, with some weighted. Averages bunch up in the middle, so the result is then spread out from the average across every rated film.

Each kind of scare is weighted: gore loses a point, and creepy and jumpscares gain one.
- Gore 4.0 − 1 = 3.0
- Creepy 6.0 + 1 = 7.0
- Jumpscares 5.0 + 1 = 6.0
- Suspense 6.0, unchanged
- Psychological 5.0, unchanged
The average of the 3 highest (creepy, jumpscares, suspense): (7.0 + 6.0 + 6.0) ÷ 3 = 6.3.
The average film scores 5.4, and the gap from it counts 2 times, so scores use the whole scale: 5.4 + (6.3 − 5.4) × 2 = 7.2.