Top 10 Best Jump Scares in Paranormal Movies
#10: Lawnmower Scare
“Sinister” (2012) While this ghostly flick focuses primarily on Mr. Boogie, the most effective scare doesn’t feature him directly, though his refusal to stay in photos is admittedly terrifying. When struggling novelist Ellison moves his family into a new house, he seeks inspiration in the home videos left in the attic. But these aren’t of Christmas morning or school recitals - they’re brutal massacres of other families, each one more horrific than the last. They culminate in a terrifying, visceral lawnmower sequence that leaves you wondering where it’s going until it’s already too late. What makes it so effective isn’t just the shock factor, but the brutally violent image it conjures in your mind. Next time, just take the writer’s block.
#9: Here’s Annie!
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“Hereditary” (2018) The infamous tongue click is definitely the most recognizable scare of this family tragedy turned horror flick. But the film offers up a moment near the end that narrowly edges it out in pure, spine-tingling surprise. Viewers probably gasped when they first noticed a possessed Annie perched in the corner of the ceiling, but not even then could they prepare for the actual scare. Once Peter finally looks to the spot, Annie has vanished, only to reveal she’d crossed the room entirely by bolting out of the shadows. By cleverly toying with the audience’s expectations, the payoff of this reveal is satisfying in a way only a truly great jump scare can be.
#8: The Tall Man Appears
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“It Follows” (2014) Like the monster itself, this slow, dread-filled fright isn’t plain to see until it’s close enough for the kill. Jay’s right to be scared of the stalking entity that only she can see, especially when her friends are utterly oblivious to its threat. The scene simmers in deeply uncomfortable silence through the opening of a door not just once, but twice, each time with the breathless anticipation of a jolting scare. After plenty of steady, rising tension, the quiet is shattered when the entity steps out of the shadows in the form of an imposing, incredibly tall man. The disturbingly subdued payoff proved Jay had the right idea: when in doubt, never open the door.
#7: Red-Faced Reveal
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“Insidious” (2010) Most horror veterans feel it in their gut when a jump scare’s coming - but we’d wager few could have expected this one. It breaks almost every conventional rule - it’s in broad daylight, during an otherwise innocuous scene, and there’s little to no setup or rising tension. Yet it’s because it breaks those rules that it’s so harrowing. As the Lambert family battles the possession of the eldest son, this moment establishes the idea that they’re never safe from the demonic entity. It’s a scare that’s not just riveting in the moment, but sets a dangerous precedent that elevates even the quiet scenes of the film to almost unbearable levels of tension.
#6: Investigating the Attic
“The Grudge” (2004) A classic example of a jump scare done right, this moment epitomizes how effective the technique can be. There’s a masterclass of mounting dread on display here, since this early in the film, we aren’t sure what to expect from the grudge-bearing ghoul. As the innocent care worker investigates a strange noise, we’re left biting our nails and bracing for an unknown horror at every turn. By the time the corpse-like Kayako flashes on screen and drags her into the attic, it’s an equally satisfying and terror-filled release of built-up pressure. Refreshingly simple yet dangerously effective, this is a prime example of a jump scare at its best.
#5: Back From the Grave
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“Carrie” (1976) This legendary Stephen King adaptation about a tormented, psychic teen isn’t known for its jump scares, but that’s what makes its final moments all the more memorable. After Carrie stains the prom red and dies alongside her mother, remorseful teen Sue visits her grave, only for a hand to burst out and grab her forearm. It may have just been a dream, but in a film that relies on slow-burn tension and disturbing imagery, this surprising jolt certainly caught us with our guard down. Its placement just as we’re catching our breath after the film’s climactic, bloody spectacle makes it all the more effective as a last bow in a scary-good showing.
#4: The Clown Doll
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“Poltergeist” (1982) One of the most frightening scenes of this seminal haunted house picture sees an apparent moment of calm shattered through an unbearable bout of tension-fueled dread. Mom’s taking a bath and the kids are nearly asleep, but just as we’re lulled into a false sense of security, young Robbie realizes the clown doll has vanished. There’s an agonizing buildup of tension as Robbie checks under the bed to no avail, only to sit up and immediately be strangled by the terrifying clown. The scene stews in the looming fright for as long as possible before the inevitable release, maximizing the fear factor and going down as one of the most effective scares of its time.
#3: A Wardrobe Nightmare
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“The Conjuring” (2013) Based on the real stories of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, it’s no surprise few franchises execute nerve-shearing jump scares better than this one. There’s an embarrassment of riches to choose from here, like the iconic “hide and clap” scene, but the one that really sticks with us sees older sister Andrea investigating a noise from the wardrobe - but the demonic Bathsheba isn’t in it, she’s on top of it. The execution of this scene is brilliant, with an emphasis on empty space and shadowed lighting that leaves us scanning each corner of the room for the inevitable scare. Masterfully crafted, utterly terrifying, and with just enough twists to stay fresh, this is a hallmark of modern jump scares.
#2: “I Saw Her Face”
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“The Ring” (2002) Few jump scares are as genuinely out-of-nowhere as this one. When a tape that kills you seven days after viewing claims it’s first victim, there’s a seeming reprieve from scares as her Aunt Rachel attends the funeral. But as the victim’s mother describes finding the body, there’s a quick flash to the grotesque corpse, accompanied by a shrill score and impressive makeup. Not only does it shatter any illusion of calm for the remainder of the film, but it’s also a horrifying reminder of what’s at stake for Rachel and her son. For how brief it is, it’s alarmingly effective, and more than stands the test of time as one of the most gasp-worthy moments in all of horror. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. I Will Rip Your Soul Out, “Evil Dead” (2013) About to Be Burned Alive, This Demon Finally Reveals Itself in Terrifying Fashion Kyra’s Funeral, “The Sixth Sense” (1999) We Were Completely Unprepared for This Dead Girl to Reach Out From Under the Bed Kitchen Explosion, “Paranormal Activity 2” (2010) A Standout in the Lengthy Franchise, This One Is Shocking, Violent & Memorable
#1: Hospital Horror
“The Exorcist III” (1990) The original film is legendary in its own right, and features its own catalog of iconic jump scares, like the repeated flashes of Pazuzu’s face. But the best one doesn’t come until the third installment. Presented for the most part in a brilliant, tension-filled stationary frame, we can only watch with bated breath as an unknowing nurse walks back and forth between doorways. There’s plenty of misdirects here, and by the time it seems the danger has seemingly passed, a shears-wielding hooded figure appears behind her. The film itself may not be as legendary as the original, but this dread-fueled, expertly done jump scare certainly earns its status as one of the best in all the genre.
