Dark Circles

Name: Dark Circles
Genre: Horror
Released: 2013-05-21

Released 21 May 2013

4.5out of 10

No. 1710 on the Scare Scale

Based on 1 rating

On a scale of 1 to 10, Dark Circles scores 4.5 for how scary it is. Strong creepiness and strong suspense.

Trailer

Where to stream it

Streaming data from JustWatch.

When new parents Alex and Penny retreat from the city and move into a place outside town, the stress and massive sleep-deprivation caused by their infant has both of them seeing things in the house that may or may not exist. Persistent sightings of a strange woman has each of them wondering if they are suffering from hallucinations, or if their new home holds a dark, supernatural presence. As their fragile grasp on reality spirals into delirium, Alex and Penny find themselves nearly helpless to deal with the horrific truth of what is really going in this house.

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
3.4 out of 10,Moderate
Blood, injuries and body horror shown on screen. Violence that happens off-screen barely counts.
Gore 3.4 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
5.3 out of 10,Strong
Unsettling images, atmosphere and things that feel wrong. Not sudden shocks (Jumpscares) or waiting for something to happen (Suspense).
Creepy 5.3 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
4.7 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 4.7 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
5.1 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 5.1 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
4.1 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 4.1 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 4.5 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
Jumpscares (in the top 3)	4.7	+2.2	6.9
Creepy (in the top 3)	5.3	−1.1	4.2
Psychological (in the top 3)	4.1	−1.7	2.4
Suspense	5.1	−4.1	1.0
Gore	3.4	−3.1	0.3

The highlighted top 3 make up the score:

(6.9 + 4.2 + 2.4) ÷ 3 = 4.5

See the full breakdown and every rating

Dark Circles 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: Strong: Disturbing images and an atmosphere that feels wrong
Jumpscares: Strong: Regular jumpscares, often with loud sound cues
Suspense: Strong: High tension that keeps you on edge
Psychological: Moderate: Unsettling themes, moral dilemmas or a character you can't trust