Black Mountain Side

Name: Black Mountain Side
Genre: Horror
Released: 2016-01-26

Released 26 January 2016

8.4out of 10

No. 36 on the Scare Scale

Based on 1 rating

On a scale of 1 to 10, Black Mountain Side scores 8.4 for how scary it is. Intense psychological horror and intense creepiness, with moderate jumpscares.

Trailer

Where to stream it

Streaming data from JustWatch.

A group of archaeologists working in Northern Canada uncover a strange structure dating over ten thousand years before the present. The team soon finds themselves isolated when their communication systems fail and they begin to feel the effects of solitude.

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
4.3 out of 10,Moderate
Blood, injuries and body horror shown on screen. Violence that happens off-screen barely counts.
Gore 4.3 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
6.5 out of 10,Intense
Unsettling images, atmosphere and things that feel wrong. Not sudden shocks (Jumpscares) or waiting for something to happen (Suspense).
Creepy 6.5 is intense (7-8 on the scale):
- Deeply unnatural sights, sounds and movement
- Unsettling for most of the film, with little relief
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Jumpscares
3.8 out of 10,Moderate
Sudden shocks designed to make you jump, usually a fast movement or a loud noise. Not slow-building dread (Suspense).
Jumpscares 3.8 is moderate (3-4 on the scale):
- A handful of jumpscares that land
- Spaced out, with long gaps between them
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Suspense
6.4 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 6.4 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
6.7 out of 10,Intense
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 6.7 is intense (7-8 on the scale):
- Disturbing ideas about the mind, identity or reality
- Present throughout, and leaves you uneasy long after
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme

How the overall score of 8.4 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
Psychological (in the top 3)	6.7	+2.4	9.1
Creepy (in the top 3)	6.5	+2.0	8.5
Suspense (in the top 3)	6.4	+1.3	7.7
Gore	4.3	−1.6	2.7
Jumpscares	3.8	−1.4	2.4

The highlighted top 3 make up the score:

(9.1 + 8.5 + 7.7) ÷ 3 = 8.4

See the full breakdown and every rating

Black Mountain Side parents guide

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

Gore: Moderate: Visible blood and wounds in a few scenes
Creepy: Intense: Deeply unnatural sights, sounds and movement
Jumpscares: Moderate: A handful of jumpscares that land
Suspense: Strong: High tension that keeps you on edge
Psychological: Intense: Disturbing ideas about the mind, identity or reality