The Monkey's Paw
Released
4.9out of 10
Based on 1 rating
On a scale of 1 to 10, The Monkey's Paw scores 4.9 for how scary it is. Strong gore and strong suspense.
Where to stream it
Streaming data from JustWatch.
After Jake Tilton is given a mystical "monkey's paw" talisman that grants its possessor three wishes, he finds his world turned upside down after his first two wishes result in his malevolent coworker, Tony Cobb, being resurrected from the dead. When Cobb pressures Jake into using the final wish to reunite Cobb with his son, his intimidation quickly escalates into relentless murder - forcing Jake to outwit his psychotic friend and save his remaining loved ones.
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
5.4 out of 10,Strong
Blood, injuries and body horror shown on screen. Violence that happens off-screen barely counts.
Gore 5.4 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- Bloody deaths and injuries shown clearly
- Happens fairly often, but doesn't linger
- 1-2Mild
- 3-4Moderate
- 5-6Strong
- 7-8Intense
- 9-10Extreme
- Creepy
4.9 out of 10,Strong
Unsettling images, atmosphere and things that feel wrong. Not sudden shocks (Jumpscares) or waiting for something to happen (Suspense).
Creepy 4.9 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
- 1-2Mild
- 3-4Moderate
- 5-6Strong
- 7-8Intense
- 9-10Extreme
- Jumpscares
4.0 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 4.0 is moderate (3-4 on the scale):
- A handful of jumpscares that land
- Spaced out, with long gaps between them
- 1-2Mild
- 3-4Moderate
- 5-6Strong
- 7-8Intense
- 9-10Extreme
- Suspense
5.0 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 5.0 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- High tension that keeps you on edge
- Calm moments are short and don't last
- 1-2Mild
- 3-4Moderate
- 5-6Strong
- 7-8Intense
- 9-10Extreme
- Psychological
4.5 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 4.5 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
- 1-2Mild
- 3-4Moderate
- 5-6Strong
- 7-8Intense
- 9-10Extreme
How the overall score of 4.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gore (in the top 3) | 5.4 | +0.6 | 6.0 |
| Psychological (in the top 3) | 4.5 | −0.1 | 4.4 |
| Jumpscares (in the top 3) | 4.0 | +0.3 | 4.3 |
| Creepy | 4.9 | −3.2 | 1.7 |
| Suspense | 5.0 | −4.3 | 0.7 |
The highlighted top 3 make up the score:
(6.0 + 4.4 + 4.3) ÷ 3 = 4.9
The Monkey's Paw 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: Moderate
- A handful of jumpscares that land
- Suspense: Strong
- High tension that keeps you on edge
- Psychological: Strong
- Paranoia, madness or a story that makes you question what's real
Where it sits on the Scare Scale
The Monkey's Paw is number 1412 of 3356 rated films on the Scare Scale, with an overall score of 4.9 out of 10.
Every line is a rated film. Hover, tap or drag along the line to compare.
- Abominable4.9
- Elevator4.9
- The Monkey's Paw (this film)4.9
- Screamers: The Hunting4.9
- 13 Eerie4.9
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