Berlin Syndrome

Name: Berlin Syndrome
Genre: Horror
Released: 2017-04-20

Released 20 April 2017

4.6out of 10

No. 1243 on the Scare Scale

Based on 1 rating

On a scale of 1 to 10, Berlin Syndrome scores 4.6 for how scary it is. Strong suspense and strong creepiness, with mild jumpscares.

Trailer

Where to stream it

Streaming data from JustWatch.

A passionate holiday romance leads to an obsessive relationship when an Australian photojournalist wakes one morning in an abandoned Berlin apartment and is unable to leave.

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
4.7 out of 10,Strong
Blood, injuries and body horror shown on screen. Violence that happens off-screen barely counts.
Gore 4.7 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- Bloody deaths and injuries shown clearly
- Happens fairly often, but doesn't linger
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Creepy
5.0 out of 10,Strong
Unsettling images, atmosphere and things that feel wrong. Not sudden shocks (Jumpscares) or waiting for something to happen (Suspense).
Creepy 5.0 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
2.3 out of 10,Mild
Sudden shocks designed to make you jump, usually a fast movement or a loud noise. Not slow-building dread (Suspense).
Jumpscares 2.3 is mild (1-2 on the scale):
- One or two jumpscares, mostly easy to see coming
- The film doesn't rely on them
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Suspense
5.8 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 5.8 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
4.4 out of 10,Moderate
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 4.4 is moderate (3-4 on the scale):
- Unsettling themes, moral dilemmas or a character you can't trust
- Makes you think, without leaving you shaken
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme

How the overall score of 4.6 is worked out

Scare weighting compares each kind of scare with other films, lifting what's stronger than usual and lowering what's weaker, so only the strongest get near 10. The Scare Scale score is the average of the three highest.

Kind of scare	Rated	Scare weighting	Score
Suspense (in the top 3)	5.8	−0.4	5.4
Gore (in the top 3)	4.7	−0.2	4.5
Psychological (in the top 3)	4.4	−0.5	3.9
Creepy	5.0	−2.8	2.2
Jumpscares	2.3	−2.3	0.0

The highlighted top 3 make up the score:

(5.4 + 4.5 + 3.9) ÷ 3 = 4.6

See the full breakdown and every rating

Berlin Syndrome parents guide

What to expect from each kind of scare, from the Scare Scale scores.

Gore: Strong: Bloody deaths and injuries shown clearly
Creepy: Strong: Disturbing images and an atmosphere that feels wrong
Jumpscares: Mild: One or two jumpscares, mostly easy to see coming
Suspense: Strong: High tension that keeps you on edge
Psychological: Moderate: Unsettling themes, moral dilemmas or a character you can't trust