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Movie rating guide

This rating system categorises movies based on their level of scariness across five dimensions:

  • Gore
  • Creepy
  • Jumpscares
  • Suspense
  • Psychological

Each category is rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater intensity. Below are the criteria for each level in every category.

Categories & Scoring Criteria

Gore

  • 1-2 (Minimal Gore)

    • Little to no blood.
    • Injuries occur off-screen or are implied rather than shown.

  • 3-4 (Moderate Gore)

    • Visible blood and mild wounds.
    • Some violent sequences, but restrained.

  • 5-6 (Heavy Gore)

    • Graphic violence with realistic injury depictions.
    • Frequent bloodshed, but not extreme.

  • 7-8 (Extreme Gore)

    • Intense body horror, mutilation, and explicit depictions.
    • Close-up shots of wounds and injuries.

  • 9-10 (Ultra Gore)

    • Unflinching brutality; no censorship.
    • Extreme viscera and disturbing imagery.

Creepy

  • 1-2 (Mildly Unsettling)

    • A few eerie moments or unsettling visuals.
    • Slight discomfort but no lasting dread.

  • 3-4 (Moderate Creepy Atmosphere)

    • Consistent eerie vibe, disturbing characters or imagery.
    • Background tension but not deeply unsettling.

  • 5-6 (Strongly Creepy)

    • Frequent disturbing elements, unsettling ambiance.
    • Scenes that linger in the mind.

  • 7-8 (Deeply Unnerving)

    • Relentless disturbing themes, psychological unease.
    • Creepy silence, unnatural movements.

  • 9-10 (Overwhelmingly Creepy)

    • Skin-crawling dread throughout.
    • Disturbing visuals, deeply troubling concepts.

Jumpscares

  • 1-2 (Minimal Startles)

    • Few, predictable jumpscares.
    • Tension builds slowly, not reliant on sudden scares.

  • 3-4 (Moderate Jump Factor)

    • Several well-executed jumpscares.
    • Not overused, but effective.

  • 5-6 (Frequent Jumpscares)

    • Numerous moments of sudden shock.
    • Often tied to audio stingers.

  • 7-8 (Intense Startling Scenes)

    • Unpredictable jumpscares; tension makes them effective.
    • Dark spaces & rapid movement play key roles.

  • 9-10 (Relentless Jump Factor)

    • Near-constant, unpredictable jumps.
    • Sometimes aggressive or disorienting.

Suspense

  • 1-2 (Soft Suspense)

    • Some tension, but predictable storytelling.
    • Atmosphere remains safe overall.

  • 3-4 (Moderate Suspense)

    • Prolonged scenes of uncertainty.
    • Builds unease without overwhelming the audience.

  • 5-6 (Strong Suspense)

    • High levels of tension with limited relief.
    • Story progression keeps the audience on edge.

  • 7-8 (Edge-of-Seat Suspense)

    • Near constant unease; minimal moments of relief.
    • Unpredictable sequences heighten the dread.

  • 9-10 (Masterful Suspense)

    • Sustained fear that rarely lets up.
    • Deep psychological stress from drawn-out uncertainty.

Psychological

  • 1-2 (Light Psychological Themes)

    • Some emotional depth, but no deep mental strain.
    • A few manipulative moments.

  • 3-4 (Moderate Psychological Pressure)

    • Layers of ambiguity and emotional tension.
    • Moral dilemmas and unsettling themes.

  • 5-6 (Strong Mental Horror)

    • Mind-bending elements; disturbing thought patterns.
    • Leaves the audience questioning reality.

  • 7-8 (Deep Psychological Horror)

    • Persistent emotional manipulation.
    • Themes of sanity loss, paranoia, and existential terror.

  • 9-10 (Overwhelming Psychological Horror)

    • Profound emotional & mental distress.
    • Reality-breaking, existential crises.

Overall Score Calculation

To determine the Scariness Score for a movie:

  1. Identify the three highest-rated categories.
  2. Sum their scores.
  3. Divide by 3 to get the final score.

For example:

  • Gore: 9
  • Creepy: 8
  • Jumpscares: 3
  • Suspense: 8
  • Psychological: 6
  • Final Score = (9 + 8 + 8) / 3 = 8.3