Scare Scale Scoring System📶

This rating system categorises movies based on their level of scariness across five dimensions. Each category is rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater intensity.

gore icon

Gore

Scoring Criteria
1-2
  • 1 Little to no blood
  • 2 Injuries occur off-screen or are implied rather than shown
3-4
  • 1 Visible blood and mild wounds
  • 2 Some violent sequences, but restrained
5-6
  • 1 Graphic violence with realistic injury depictions
  • 2 Frequent bloodshed, but not extreme
7-8
  • 1 Intense body horror, mutilation, and explicit depictions
  • 2 Close-up shots of wounds and injuries
9-10
  • 1 Unflinching brutality; no censorship
  • 2 Extreme viscera and disturbing imagery
creepy icon

Creepy

Scoring Criteria
1-2
  • 1 A few eerie moments or unsettling visuals
  • 2 Slight discomfort but no lasting dread
3-4
  • 1 Consistent eerie vibe, disturbing characters or imagery
  • 2 Background tension but not deeply unsettling
5-6
  • 1 Frequent disturbing elements, unsettling ambiance
  • 2 Scenes that linger in the mind
7-8
  • 1 Relentless disturbing themes, psychological unease
  • 2 Creepy silence, unnatural movements
9-10
  • 1 Skin-crawling dread throughout
  • 2 Disturbing visuals, deeply troubling concepts
jumpscares icon

Jumpscares

Scoring Criteria
1-2
  • 1 Few, predictable jumpscares
  • 2 Tension builds slowly, not reliant on sudden scares
3-4
  • 1 Several well-executed jumpscares
  • 2 Not overused, but effective
5-6
  • 1 Numerous moments of sudden shock
  • 2 Often tied to audio stingers
7-8
  • 1 Unpredictable jumpscares; tension makes them effective
  • 2 Dark spaces & rapid movement play key roles
9-10
  • 1 Near-constant, unpredictable jumps
  • 2 Sometimes aggressive or disorienting
suspense icon

Suspense

Scoring Criteria
1-2
  • 1 Some tension, but predictable storytelling
  • 2 Atmosphere remains safe overall
3-4
  • 1 Prolonged scenes of uncertainty
  • 2 Builds unease without overwhelming the audience
5-6
  • 1 High levels of tension with limited relief
  • 2 Story progression keeps the audience on edge
7-8
  • 1 Near constant unease; minimal moments of relief
  • 2 Unpredictable sequences heighten the dread
9-10
  • 1 Sustained fear that rarely lets up
  • 2 Deep psychological stress from drawn-out uncertainty
psychological icon

Psychological

Scoring Criteria
1-2
  • 1 Some emotional depth, but no deep mental strain
  • 2 A few manipulative moments
3-4
  • 1 Layers of ambiguity and emotional tension
  • 2 Moral dilemmas and unsettling themes
5-6
  • 1 Mind-bending elements; disturbing thought patterns
  • 2 Leaves the audience questioning reality
7-8
  • 1 Persistent emotional manipulation
  • 2 Themes of sanity loss, paranoia, and existential terror
9-10
  • 1 Profound emotional & mental distress
  • 2 Reality-breaking, existential crises
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Overall Score

Calculation Method

Learn how individual category scores are combined to create the final Scare Scale rating

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How It Works

Step-by-Step Process
  1. 1 Identify the three highest-rated categories
  2. 2 Sum their scores together
  3. 3 Divide by 3 to get the average score
  4. 4 Apply 0.5 point penalty for each top category scoring less than 3

    5. Our scoring system rewards films that excel in specific horror categories, without penalizing them for not emphasizing every aspect equally. However, when a category scores exceptionally low, it suggests that element was overlooked, and that’s when a deduction is applied.

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Example Calculation

Real-World Application
gore icon gore 9/10
creepy icon creepy 8/10
jumpscares icon jumpscares 2/10
suspense icon suspense 8/10
psychological icon psychological 6/10
7.8
Final Scare Scale Score
((9 + 8 + 8) ÷ 3) - 0.5 = 7.8